Historic Germanna

05/29/2026

We're just a little less than two months away from our 70th Anniversary Reunion and Conference, on July 16-18, 2026! We can't wait to celebrate Historic Germanna's 70th year of preserving and sharing the stories of this incredible place. As we look towards the next 70 years of Historic Germanna, we also look back on our past, including more than 70 years of reunions at the Siegen Forest. Join us for a weekly flashback to a reunion of days past!

This week's Reunion Flashback takes us to 1989. This photograph highlights two very special guests at that year's reunion: Hanne-Lore and Dieter Arnold of Siegen, Germany. Hanne-Lore and her husband travelled to Virginia specifically to present at the then-Germanna Foundation's annual reunion. She shared stories and photographs of her hometown of Siegen with the reunion attendees, many of whose ancestors originally hailed from that region in what is now Germany. The Arnolds were even accompanied by a German reporter, who covered the story for people back home. The 1989 Reunion was highlighted in the Culpeper News, which you can view here thanks to the Virginia Chronicle, a digital database of newspapers by the Library of Virginia.

Like Hanne-Lore talked about Siegen and its "children" -- the Germanna colonists -- you can dive into learning about the fascinating world that the Germanna colonists inhabited as we celebrate our 70th anniversary. Learn about ironworking on the eve of the American Revolution, Germanna descendants in the Culpeper Minute Men, and hear recounting of reunions of days past at our Historical and Genealogical Conference.

Don't wait to register -- early bird rates expire soon!

https://secure.everyaction.com/0Rr5N0bL_Uir-JmZe-I-Kg2

05/22/2026

We're less than two months away from our 70th Anniversary Reunion and Conference, on July 16-18, 2026! We can't wait to celebrate Historic Germanna's 70th year of preserving and sharing the stories of this incredible place. As we look towards the next 70 years of Historic Germanna, we also look back on our past, including more than 70 years of reunions at the Siegen Forest. Join us for a weekly flashback to a reunion of days past!

This week's Reunion Flashback takes us to 1972. This photograph highlights five of the attendees, including Dr. Carl Bowman (front row) and Mr. and Mrs. Spillman (back row and far right). Reunions of Germanna's past include speakers by scholars and politicians, including even the Governor of Virginia. Luckily for us, our speakers will be presenting in the air-conditioned Daniel Technology Center, instead of outside in the July heat.

Our slate of speakers is no less impressive this year! Check out the full line-up on our website.

Register now: https://secure.everyaction.com/0Rr5N0bL_Uir-JmZe-I-Kg2

05/20/2026

On Tuesday May 19, Historic Germanna hosted a press conference organized by Piedmont Environmental Council to announce that the nine-county corridor of Valley Link’s proposed 765 kilovolt transmission line project (aka Joshua Falls-Yeat) has been named to Preservation Virginia's list of Virginia’s Most Endangered Historic Places for 2026.

PEC and the American Battlefield Trust made the nomination with eight other partners across the Commonwealth: Central Virginia Battlefields Trust, Central Virginia Land Conservancy, Fluvanna Historical Society, Friends of Buckingham, Friends of Wilderness Battlefield, Historic Germanna, Preservation Piedmont and Scenic Virginia.

Historic Germanna’s place along Virginia Route 3 is emblematic of the many varied resources threatened by the transmission line proposal. Its Siegen Forest woods lie within what was the first German settlement in colonial Virginia and were named by the 42 German immigrants who crossed the Atlantic from the Siegerland area of Germany in 1714. A shallow Rapidan River crossing here, still called Germanna Ford, later bore witness to the Civil War as one of few places large groups of infantry and cavalry could cross the river quickly.

Germanna Ford today hosts a publicly accessible boat launch, part of the Rapidan-Rapphannock River Water Trail, a navigable “blueway trail” with several put-in and take-out points along the way. Meanwhile, Siegen Forest today holds rich ecosystems of flora and fauna and several archeological sites that provide insight into early German immigrants and 18th century Native American and African American histories on the land. The Joshua Falls-Yeat line would cross the Rapidan River and Virginia Route 3 near the location of the historic Germanna community and Historic Germanna's visitor center campus.

We are proud to be part of this crucial moment in our Commonwealth's history. You can read the full press release by visiting PEC's website: https://www.pecva.org/resources/press/proposed-transmission-line-corridor-named-one-of-virginias-most-endangered-historic-places/

Photo courtesy of Hugh Kenny, PEC

05/15/2026

We're just a little over two months away from our 70th Anniversary Reunion and Conference, on July 16-18, 2026! We can't wait to celebrate Historic Germanna's 70th year of preserving and sharing the stories of this incredible place. As we look towards the next 70 years of Historic Germanna, we also look back on our past, including more than 70 years of reunions at the Siegen Forest. Join us for a weekly flashback to a reunion of days past!

This week's Reunion Flashback takes us to 1965. Featured in this photograph are "happy" Germanna descendants Mary Lane and Tim Fincham, and Charles, Ann, and Connie Broyles, "making merry on [an] odd-looking swing" in the Siegen Forest. This swing, known as "The Half-Moon," was constructed by Mr. J. B. Carpenter.

A swing appears in each account of each official Germanna reunion. In 1956, the swing was fashioned out of "a 20 or 30 foot cedar pole, swinging free from iron work mounted on a horizontal limb, with foot rests at the free end. It swings like a pendulum and can make a mighty arc if you wish." At each subsequent reunion, it seems that Mr. Carpenter improved the swing; this 1965 photograph shows the most complex version of this swing.

While the swing no longer exists, plenty of fun awaits you at this year's conference and reunion!

Register now: https://secure.everyaction.com/0Rr5N0bL_Uir-JmZe-I-Kg2

05/14/2026

This past Tuesday was Give Local Piedmont, a single day of giving led by Northern Piedmont Community Foundation where nonprofit organizations across the region raised over $1 million. We are so grateful for everyone who supported Historic Germanna. Twenty-two separate individuals donated a total of $4,275 throughout the day. Even more exciting, we fully unlocked our $1,000 match during our 3:00pm Power Hour!

Thank you to everyone who contributed, as you have played a large part in ensuring Historic Germanna's legacy endures. 💞

05/14/2026

Your input is needed! 📣

Historic Germanna is working with the Friends of the Rappahannock and local contractors to design and install permeable-paver parking spaces at the trailhead and boat launch on its facility in Locust Grove, Virginia. Existing parking limitations have led to the use of grassed areas for overflow parking, resulting in erosion, reduced infiltration, and persistent muddy conditions. Permeable pavers are a good solution to this problem as they are surfaces that allow stormwater runoff to infiltrate through the voids in between the interlocking pavers to an underground reservoir.

The proposed project is 1,876 square feet for roughly 9 parking spaces. The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and Department of Historic Resources (DHR) both reviewed the project and found there will not be any adverse impacts on cultural, historical, or natural resources during the construction and implementation of this project.

This project would not have been possible without funding assistance from the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Federal Highways Administration, and the Culpeper Soil and Water Conservation District's Virginia Conservation Assistance Program (VCAP).

Due to the nature of federal funding programs, public comment and additional review through the National Environmental Policy Act are required.

We sincerely value your input and feedback to ensure this project results in the best resource to Historic Germanna and the community.

👉Please submit all comments here: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/019d6839963e775389ce18f8f4002803

05/14/2026

Thank you for highlighting this important milestone!

Historic Germanna has received a $60,000 grant for preservation work at Historic Salubria, the 1757 home in Orange County.

05/12/2026

05/12/2026

🚨 It's time! Historic Germanna's Give Local Piedmont POWER HOUR has begun!

Thanks to a generous donor, every donation that we receive on our online Giving Page will be matched up to $1,000! Donate before 4:00pm to double your impact.

Thank you for your donation as we ensure the stories of Germanna are protected, preserved, and shared for the next generation.

Donate: https://tinyurl.com/w36usty3