Mary Washington House

09/01/2026

[September 1] in 1789, George Washington received the news of his mother's passing. Mary Ball Washington, a woman of remarkable resilience and strength, had succumbed to breast cancer a week prior. At the time, President Washington was residing in New York City, where he was dining with two former generals of the Revolutionary War. The somber news arrived via a letter from his cousin, Burgess Ball, who provided a poignant account of Mary’s final days.

Washington ordered mourning cockades and ribbons for the presidential household and temporarily suspended his weekly levees or receptions. On September 13, President Washington wrote to his sister, seeking to comfort Betty: "Awful, and affecting as the death of a Parent is, there is consolation in knowing that Heaven has spared ours to an age, beyond which few attain, and favored her with the full enjoyment of her mental faculties, and as much bodily strength as usually falls to the lot of four score. Under these considerations and a hope that she is translated to a happier place, it is the duty of her relatives to yield due submission to the decrees of the Creator—When I was last at Fredericksburg, I took a final leave of my Mother, never expecting to see her more."



Image 1: Mary Ball Washington was buried at her own request at the rock near the Lewis mansion (Kenmore) where she often went to meditate.
Image 2: The Mary Washington Monument, dedicated on May 10, 1894, honors the mother of George Washington.

08/31/2026

Join us for a very special Tea Talk on Tuesday, October 20th as we welcome public historian Amanda Roper. Amanda will explore the often-overlooked role women have played in preserving America’s historic places, cultural heritage and collective memory. From George Washington’s Mount Vernon to the Mary Washington House and the Mary Washington Monument, Amanda will reveal how women have protected not only treasured landmarks, but also the voices, identities, and experiences that connect past and present.

MEET OUR SPEAKER:
Amanda Roper is a public historian who has dedicated her career to preserving historic places and sharing stories that have often been underrepresented in the American historical narrative. She holds a degree in history from the College of Charleston and has worked with several leading cultural and preservation institutions including the National Park Service, the Smithsonian Institute and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. She was also Director of the Lee-Fendall House Museum and Sr. Manager of Public Programs & Interpretation at Woodlawn & Pope-Leighey House in Alexandria, Virginia.

Amanda is currently researching and writing a book about the history of women in preservation. She is a 2025-2026 Research Fellow at the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon.

Special thanks to the historic Ironclad Inn & Bourbon Tasting Room for supporting our Tea Talk series. Traveling from outside Fredericksburg—or planning a special local getaway? The Ironclad Inn offers beautiful overnight accommodations just one block from the Mary Washington House.

Tickets will go on sale Monday, September 14th at 9:00 a.m.

https://washingtonheritagemuseums.networkforgood.com/events/104865-tea-talk-saving-america-s-revolutionary-past-women-in-preservation

08/27/2026

Introducing our NEW ⭐Star-Spangled⭐ sponsorship level for this year’s signature event, Bourbon and Boxwood!

At just $250, this level was created in honor of America's 250th anniversary. It is a special opportunity to make an even bigger difference.

The Star-Spangled sponsorship level includes one ticket valued at $150—and for just $100 more, your extra support helps Washington Heritage Museums preserve and protect our five historic sites for generations to come.

Individual tickets will go on sale at noon tomorrow [8.28.26] and we hope you will consider increasing your support. Join us on October 3rd as we raise a glass to 250 years!

08/27/2026

08/26/2026

HOMESCHOOL HISTORY DAY - Due to the incredible response to our inaugural Homeschool History Day on November 3rd, we have decided to add a fourth TOUR TIME. This additional tour will take place from 2:15 to 3:00 p.m. at all three historic sites. Admission is just $2.50 per person (adults and children), per museum. For tickets, follow the link below:

THANK YOU to all the enthusiastic young historians and parent educators who visited our table last week at the FXBG Homeschool Connections event. Your interest and engagement made the day special for us!

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

08/25/2026

(August 25) in 1789, Mary Ball Washington passes away after a battle with breast cancer at her home in Fredericksburg, Virginia. As the mother of George Washington, she holds a significant place in our history, not only for her role in shaping one of the founding fathers but also as a resilient woman of her time.

Burgess Ball, the cousin of George Washington, wrote to the president in New York to inform him of the death of his mother: "I am sorry that is devolvs [devolves] on me to communicate to you the loss of your Mother who departed this Life abt 3 oClock today. This cause of her desolution (I believe) was the Cancer on her Breast, but for abt 15 days she has been deprived of her speech, and for the five last days she has remain'd in a Sleep. She has lived a good Age &, I hope, is gone to a happier place than we live at present in."

As we mark this anniversary, we take a moment to reflect on Mary's legacy and enduring impact. In the coming months, work will begin at the Mary Washington Monument, her final resting place, to revitalize the site, improve accessibility, and share her story with a wider audience. At Washington Heritage Museums, we honor Mary Ball Washington not only by preserving her memory, but by ensuring her strength, sacrifice, and story continue to inspire generations to come.

Images:
1) Interior of the Mary Washington House at 1200 Charles Street.
2) Portrait of Mary Ball Washington by Robert Edge Pine. Historical records show no verified life portrait exists of Mary Ball Washington.
3) Mary's final resting place at the Mary Washington Monument site in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

08/23/2026

Andrea Hickman Meleski, Chairperson of Bourbon and Boxwood 2026, shares her sentiments about this truly special occasion in the beautiful gardens at the Mary Washington House.

We hope you will be able to join us on Saturday, October 3rd at a new time, 6 to 9 p.m. Together, we will raise a glass to commemorate 250 remarkable years and celebrate our nation's semi-quincentennial in grand style.

In addition, we are seeking both individual and corporate sponsorships as we work to preserve our five historic sites for future generations to enjoy and learn from. To find out more about how you can get involved, please click the link below:

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS will go on sale this Friday, August 28th at noon!

https://bit.ly/Bourbon-and-Boxwood-2026 See less

08/21/2026

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!

We are excited to share some updates aimed at enhancing your experience at the Mary Washington House. To ensure a more streamlined and enjoyable visit, we have introduced timed tours throughout the day. Each tour will begin at 15 minutes past the hour, with the final tour starting promptly at 3:15 p.m.

To make the ticket purchasing process as smooth as possible, all tickets will now be available online through the Simpletix platform. This system is widely used by many museum organizations in Fredericksburg and beyond, ensuring a seamless experience for our visitors. Given the limited capacity for each tour, we highly recommend securing your tickets online in advance. For more information or to purchase tickets, follow the link below.

NOTE: Guided tours of the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop and the Rising Sun Tavern are offered as guests arrive and do not have predetermined start times.

https://www.washingtonheritagemuseums.org/museum-details

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