Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop

08/28/2026

History is brewing! Join us on September 4th for a Fredericksburg First Fridays event at the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop! Between the hours of 5 to 8 p.m., we are thrilled to welcome 1781 Brewing Company who will offer four authentic farmhouse ales for sale in the garden at the Apothecary.

Then, stay for a little history with a lively BREW TALK exploring beer’s surprising role in everyday life during the Revolutionary era. Discover what people were drinking in 1781—and why beer was often more than just a pleasure. Set inside one of Fredericksburg’s most historic sites, this event blends craft beer and Revolutionary-era culture for an evening that is equal parts flavorful, fascinating, and fun.

No reservations are required to enjoy a beer in the Apothecary garden. However, space is limited inside for the Brew Talk, so we ask that you reserve your spot at the link below. There is no admission charge for the Brew Talk, though a suggested donation of $2.50/person is appreciated in honor of America’s 250th anniversary. Fredericksburg Main Street

https://washingtonheritagemuseums.networkforgood.com/events/104644-1781-brew-talk-first-friday

08/27/2026

08/23/2026

Your support directly strengthens the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop, helping Washington Heritage Museums preserve this historic site and provide hands-on educational experiences for children, adults, and our community.

Watch the video, share it with friends and colleagues, and consider joining us as a sponsor. Together, we can support the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop, preserve our nation's history, and inspire future generations.

See the link below to learn more!

08/19/2026

⛏️ FREE PLANTS! We’re getting ready to break ground at the Mary Washington Monument, and before work begins, we’re inviting plant lovers and garden enthusiasts to join us for DIG DAY at the Monument!

Bring your own shovel and choose from available plants to dig up and take home for FREE. Plants are available on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limit of four plants per household. The event will be held on Saturday, August 29th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please bring bags, tarps, or other materials to safely transport your plants.

Come early, bring your shovel, and take home a living piece of Mary Washington Monument history to grow in your own yard. Available plants include:

- Korean Spice Viburnum
- Orange and Yellow Day Lilies
- Autumn Sedums
- Spiderwort
- Blue Mistflower
- Lenten Roses
- Spiderflower
- Japanese Anemone
- Tall Wood Phlox

08/17/2026

⭐The first annual HOMESCHOOL HISTORY DAY is coming to Washington Heritage Museums!⭐

Bring 18th-century Fredericksburg to life with engaging tours designed especially for homeschool students ages 6 and up. On Tuesday, November 3rd, families can explore one, two, or all three historic sites—the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop, Rising Sun Tavern, and Mary Washington House—for just $2.50 per person, per museum in honor of our nation’s 250th anniversary.

Students will meet historic site interpreters in period attire, discover 18th-century medicine, experience tavern life, learn about Mary Washington, and connect with the people and places that shaped early America.

Plan your visit and choose the tour combination that works best for your family. We look forward to welcoming young historians to Washington Heritage Museums for a day of discovery, curiosity, and connection.

To learn more, be sure to visit us at the FXBG Homeschool Connections event tomorrow, August 18th at the Dorothy Hart Community Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. You can also find out more and reserve your spot by clicking the link below. Please tag and share with other homeschool families!

https://washingtonheritagemuseums.networkforgood.com/events/104314-homeschool-history-day

08/11/2026

Santé! What a captivating Fredericksburg First Fridays event at the Apothecary! Guests not only explored the fascinating history of absinthe, but they also experienced the classic 19th-century French ritual. Once used as a medicinal remedy and later banned for decades, this enigmatic green spirit took center stage as we uncovered its legacy and dispelled enduring myths.

The ritual offered an elegant lesson in tradition: attendees slowly poured absinthe over a sugar cube, then diluted it with ice-cold cucumber or mint water to soften the bitter wormwood and release its herbal aromas.

The evening concluded with a special toast from Oliver, one of our newest Apothecary Site Interpreters, who recited Paul Verlaine’s 1869 poem in its original French. Verlaine, arguably history's most famous absinthe drinker, nicknamed the liquor the "Green Fairy" (la fée verte) and spent a massive portion of his life drinking it heavily in Parisian cafés.

Special thanks to Susan Barnes and Kate Martin for their enlightening presentations, and to our dedicated staff for working behind the scenes to make the evening such a success!

Images:
1) Susan Barnes' presentation explored the history of absinth and dispelled many of its myths.
2) Handcrafted absinthe from France was served as part of the 19th century ritual.
3) To dilute the high-proof spirit, guests carefully poured absinthe and ice-cold water over a sugar cube.
4) Special poem recitation and toast - Santé!

Look for more special events in the future as part of Fredericksburg First Fridays!

https://www.washingtonheritagemuseums.org/calendar

Fredericksburg Main Street

08/07/2026

The Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop will close at 3 p.m. today (August 7) due to a private event. We look forward to welcoming you back tomorrow!

07/28/2026

🏵️ Join us this Thursday at 9:00 a.m. (July 30) for a special Seed Harvesting event at the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop garden. WHM Gardener, Ian Bugay, and several Master Gardeners will be on-hand to share information and help as we contribute to the upkeep and preservation of the medicinal garden. By participating, you’ll help us carefully harvest seeds from a variety of beneficial plants, including:

🏵️ Calendula
🏵️ Rue
🏵️ Fever Few
🏵️ Marshmallow
🏵️ Mullein, and more!

After the harvesting, we will organize the seeds, and you will have the chance to take a packet home for your own garden. This is a free event and no need to RSVP. We look forward to seeing you there!

07/23/2026

Experience history in a meaningful way during "Voices of the Past: A Slave Dwelling Project Weekend", September 11–13, as historic sites across the Fredericksburg area come together to honor the stories, labor, and lives of enslaved people. As part of the weekend, we hope you will join us on Saturday, September 12th at the Mary Washington House for a special hearth-cooking demonstration in the garden near the historic kitchen.

Living historians will prepare period dishes over an open hearth using traditional tools and techniques, while sharing the culinary knowledge and skilled labor of the enslaved cooks who shaped colonial foodways and sustained households like Mary Washington’s. This program invites visitors to look beyond the table and into the kitchen—where enslaved men and women transformed rationed ingredients into meals through expertise, creativity, and labor too often left out of the historical record.

Location: Mary Washington House, 1200 Charles Street, Fredericksburg, VA
Event: Traditional Hearth-Cooking Demonstration
Time: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Complimentary tours of the Mary Washington House will be given throughout the day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

RSVP is encouraged but not required at the following link:
https://www.simpletix.com/e/colonial-cooking-demonstrations-tickets-283591

Learn more and plan your weekend: https://fxbg.com/slave-dwelling-project/