Mary Washington's House - Virginia
N 38° 18.292 W 077° 27.783
18S E 284633 N 4242511
The frame house George Washington bought for his mother in 1772 where she lived out her final days is a point of interest in the American Guide Series for Virginia.
Waymark Code: WM75DA
Location: Virginia, United States
Date Posted: 09/04/2009
Views: 11
| MARY WASHINGTON'S HOUSE(open 9-12, 1-6 weekdays; 1-6 Sun. only in summer; adm. 2$), NW. corner Lewis and Charles Sts., is the simple white frame structure in which Washington's mother lived from 1772 to 1789. The middle section, built by Washington in 1772, rises two stories from a simple doorway to a plain gable roof. The south wing, part of the original house, has a gabled garret with dormers above the main floor; the north wing, added after Mary Washington's death, has a steep gambrel roof with shallow 'Dutch' dormers. The interior is restored and furnished as it might have been when Mary Washington occupied it. Beyond wide porches at the rear is the old-fashioned garden with the original sundial and part of the box-bordered brick walk along which Mrs.Washington went each day to her daughter's home near by. The boxwood she planted still flourish. Here also is the old stone kitchen with the equipment Colonial cooks used along with 'conjur' perhaps to prepare the food that helped to create Virginia's reputation for hospitality. Preceding the Revolution Washington persuaded his mother to move from Ferry Farm on the river to the comparative safety of a town house. Virginia: A Guide To The Old Dominion 1940 |
In 1891, the APVA (Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities) acquired the house and saved it from being disassembled and sent to the Chicago World's Fair for display. It was restored and opened to the public. Thanks to the APVA's efforts, Mary's house still sits on the corner of Lewis St. and Charles St. in a quiet neighborhood in the heart of Fredericksburg.
According to the American Guide, in 1940 the house was only open in summer for the admission of 25¢*. Today, the hours are:
Summer (Mar 1 – Nov 30)
- Mon-Sat 9 AM to 5 PM
- Sunday 11 AM to 5 PM
Winter (Dec. 1 – Feb. 29)
- Mon-Sat 10 AM to 4 PM
- Sunday 12 PM to 5 PM
Closed Thanksgiving, December 24, 25, 31 and January 1
Admission is $5 for adults and $1.50 for students.
It is also noted in the American Guide that George Washington rebuilt the middle section in 1772. No other reference could be found to verify this, although a cornerstone embedded in the brick foundation says
· HOME · OF · MARY ·
· MOTHER · OF ·
· WASHINGTON ·
· 1772 ·
although this was likely added during restoration.
A sign and a 13-star American flag at the front door distinguishes this white frame house with the white picket fence from the rest of the neighboring homes.
*The Guide actually lists 2¢ as the admission, but this is probably a typo since admissions to other similar attractions in the Guide are listed as 25¢.