There once stood a large horse chestnut tree on the corner of Fauquier and Charles Street in Fredericksburg. It was noted as one of the thirteen legendary Washington horse chestnut trees planted by George himself. By the 1930s, it was becoming clear that the tree needed some help, so the Daughters of the American Revolution … Continue reading The Last of Washington’s Horse Chestnut Trees?
Nature
Exploring Nature at Ferry Farm
In April 1738, an advertisement in the Virginia Gazette described the 100 acres of land later purchased by Augustine Washington as “a beautiful situation” with “a very handsome dwelling house.” Located about 2 miles below the falls of the Rappahannock and near the public ferry, this unique landscape became George Washington’s boyhood home. “The Old … Continue reading Exploring Nature at Ferry Farm
The Flora and Fauna of Ferry Farm [Photos]
On a recent summer Saturday morning, a group of photographers came to George Washington’s Ferry Farm for a hike on the trails around the property. A lot of wildlife call Ferry Farm home, and we hoped to capture some of it. We saw many birds, a turtle, and a rabbit eating breakfast in the grass … Continue reading The Flora and Fauna of Ferry Farm [Photos]
The Fossils of Ferry Farm
Archaeologists have one pretty big hang up, and that is when people ask us if we dig for dinosaurs. We’re so obsessed with making sure that people know we don’t dig dinosaurs that you can find shirts, coffee mugs, keychains, and other merchandise that all say “Archaeologists Don’t Dig Dinosaurs.” But we get it: dinosaurs … Continue reading The Fossils of Ferry Farm
Ferry Farm’s Bird Life: An Update
Between September 2017 and February 2019, the Fredericksburg Birding Club (FBC) conducted 12 bird surveys at George Washington’s Ferry Farm. We did three in spring, one in summer, three in fall, and five in winter. During that time, we saw 78 of the 136 species listed in the “Checklist of Birds at Ferry Farm” pamphlet … Continue reading Ferry Farm’s Bird Life: An Update
The Hazards of Winter in Washington’s Day
Many people find winter miserable. It can be hard dealing with freezing temperatures, inclement weather, and long nights. With much of the nation experiencing record-breaking cold and windchills today and the current temperature at George Washington's Ferry Farm as we publish this post only 20 degrees Fahrenheit. it may not feel like it but our … Continue reading The Hazards of Winter in Washington’s Day
A History of Trees at Ferry Farm
The moment anyone mentions trees and George Washington, you probably think of the famous Cherry Tree Story. However, this tale of young George taking a hatchet to his father's cherry tree and, when confronted about the act, asserting "I cannot tell a lie" is probably just that -- a story meant to demonstrate the integrity … Continue reading A History of Trees at Ferry Farm
Spring at Historic Kenmore! [Photos]
Sunny days. Blue skies. Blooming flowers. Spring at Historic Kenmore is a beautiful time! To plan your next visit to Kenmore, go to kenmore.org/visiting.
Surveying the Bird Life at George Washington’s Ferry Farm
Recently, on a gray overcast March morning, four members of the Fredericksburg Birding Club bundled up against the unseasonable cold to trudge across the open fields and through the forests of George Washington’s Ferry Farm to conduct their latest bird survey. It was their fourth such survey in the past seven months. During these surveys … Continue reading Surveying the Bird Life at George Washington’s Ferry Farm
Snow at George Washington’s Ferry Farm & Historic Kenmore
Historic Kenmore and George Washington's Ferry Farm experienced a snowstorm on Wednesday, March 21, 2018. Our staff took these photos of the snowfall from around the Lewis and Washington homes. We also setup a timelapse camera at the Ferry Farm Visitors Center to capture the snowfall over the course of the storm. Closely watch the … Continue reading Snow at George Washington’s Ferry Farm & Historic Kenmore
Lives & Legacies 