Fredericksburg, Virginia: An Off-The-Wall Guide

Historic Fredericksburg, Virginia and surrounding areas of Stafford and Spotsylvania counties have many visitor attractions. There are Civil War battlefields, grand old churches and cemeteries, fishing and boating on the Rappahannock River, quaint shops and a sprawling shopping complex, cozy bed & breakfasts and modern motels, restaurants and neighborhood bars. There is also a pyramid, an Indian punch bowl carved in a boulder, the remains of a dam that was blown up for the fish, and a grave for Stonewall Jackson's arm.

Far from the maddening crowds and off the beaten track, here is a guide to some of the hidden treasures and oddities of Fredericksburg.

Meade's Pyramid - This 30-foot square, 23-foot high pyramid was built as a monument at the location where Gen. George Meade and his Union troops broke through Confederate lines in December 1862 during the Civil War. It is located at Prospect Hill of the Fredericksburg Battlefield on Lee Drive.

The Dueling Path - Located in Alum Spring Park, the Dueling Path is where 2 deadly historic confrontations took place. This 34-acre park has picnic tables, grills, a pavilion, playgrounds, and hiking trails. It also has a geological sandstone formation estimated at 100 million years old, the locations of an old mill and icehouse from the 1800's, the rail bed for the old Virginia Central Railroad, and other historic ghosts. Accessed by driving through a shallow river bed or walking across a footbridge, this retreat is located at the end of Greenbrier Drive.

Time Capsule - When walking the streets of downtown Fredericksburg, there are several odds & ends to discover such as the Fredericksburg Time Capsule, buried on the eve of 2000 and located outside the Fredericksburg Area Museum, an old fire bell and fire hose cart from the 1880's on display outside the Fredericksburg Volunteer Fire Company, the herb garden of Hugh Mercer's Apothecary, and a marker to the first settlers of Fredericksburg.

Bridgewater Mills Ruins - The ruins of an old milling complex are located in Old Mill Park along the Rappahannock River. The park also has two shelters with picnic tables, restrooms, and a sprawling recreation area.

Indian Punch Bowl - At the site of Thornton's Mill along the Rappahannock River, legend says the bowl was carved in the rock by Indians to brew poison for their arrow tips. When Francis Thornton discovered it in the 1700's, it is said he cleaned it out and served punch to his guests at parties. He carved the date 1720 in it. The foundation of Thornton's grist mill and the old dam stand nearby.

Spirit Of Freedom Garden- A self-guided, interactive display of sculptures, informational panels, wooden carvings, and historical artifacts pays tribute to the struggle of slaves to be free. It stands at the future home of the U.S. National Slavery Museum.

Embrey Dam Ruins - Embrey Dam was operational in the early 1900's through the 1960's and diverted water from the Rappahannock River into a canal system to generate water power. Eventually the power plants shut down and the dam was no longer active. The dam was blown up in 2004 and debris from the river was removed by 2006. The Rappahannock and fish ran free again. The ruins are accessible via a hiking/biking path that runs next to the Rappahannock Canal.

Surrounding areas:

Union Church - Just the façade and belfry remain of an 1820 church which is tucked down a small side street off Route 1 in Falmouth on the other side of the bridge from Fredericksburg. There is a cemetery in the rear with the oldest marked grave of 1738. The Hobby School, the school George Washington attended as a young boy, sits adjacent to the church.

Arm Of Stonewall Jackson - Stonewall Jackson was wounded by friendly fire while riding back to his lines during the Battle of Chancellorsville. His arm was shattered and had to be amputated at the Wilderness Tavern which had been converted to a field hospital. His arm was rescued from the disposal pile by the chaplain of Jackson's corps and buried in a nearby family plot at Ellwood. A trip down Route 3 from Fredericksburg to Wilderness passes the Chancellorsville Battlefield where a monument marks his wounding, to Route 20 past the ruins of the Wilderness Tavern at the intersection where the amputation took place, to Ellwood and the final resting place of Jackson's arm.

Robertson-Towson House - An early 19^th-century homestead sits in stark contrast among the modern homes of the Austin Ridge subdivision in nearby Stafford County. William Robertson owned and operated a stone quarry near the house and supplied sandstone for the Capitol's construction. During the Civil War, the grounds were converted to a Union campsite.

For more information:

Fredericksburg Visitor Center
706 Caroline St
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
800-678-4748

Spotsylvania County Visitor Center
4704 Southpoint Pkwy.
Spotsylvania, VA
877-515-619

Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park
1013 Lafayette Blvd
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
540-373-6122

Fredericksburg Parks and Recreation
540-372-1086

U.S. National Slavery Museum
Celebrate Virginia South
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
540-548-8818