How to Take a Historical Tour of Fredericksburg, Virginia

Fredericksburg, Virginia is located about halfway between Washington D.C. and Richmond, Virginia. The town was the birthplace of George Washington. It's also been home to President James Monroe and naval hero, John Paul Jones. Four Civil War battlefields surround the area.

Instructions

1. Visit the James Monroe Museum and Library. Located in the heart of Fredericksburg, the James Monroe Museum and Library is home to hundreds of papers and artifacts from America's fifth president, best remembered as the author of the Monroe Doctrine.

2. Tour the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania County Battlefield Memorial. This military park, administered by the National Park Service, encompasses four Civil War battlefields: the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Battle of Chancellorsville, the Battle of the Wilderness, and the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse. Visitors can walk the now-quiet fields; tour Ellwood, the house where Stonewall Jackson died; and visit the National Cemetery at Fredericksburg, where over 15,000 United States soldiers are buried.

3. Walk through the George Washington Birthplace National Monument. Located about 35 miles east of Fredericksburg, lies the plantation where George Washington was born and where he lived until he was three years old. The estate, now managed by the National Park Service, was originally developed by President Washington's great-grandfather and many members of the Washington clan are buried there. Visitors can tour the property, see exhibits and films about George Washington's life and view the Washington family burial site. (George Washington and his wife, Martha are buried at their home in Alexandria-Mount Vernon.)