Time for Fridays in Fredericksburg!
Let’s visit Chatham Manor! This amazing estate, built in 1771, overlooks the Rappahannock River and beautiful Downtown Fredericksburg. Originally, Chatham was born as a 1,280-acre plantation which included an orchard, mill, and race track for raising and racing horses. Surrounding the stunning, main house were dozens of supporting structures. Slave quarters. A dairy. Ice house. Barns. And stables! Down on the river they even had fish traps. Oh and George Washington lived next door! No big deal.
When I visit places like this it amazes me how history always seems so romantic. As I look around I imagine scenes from movies like Gone with the Wind. I’m sure that life in 1771 was not all lavish parties and perfect weather for Sunday strolls with beautiful parasols. But that is exactly how I imagine it when I see a place like Chatham.
Having my sweetheart with me would have been the only thing to make my afternoon stroll even more enjoyable.
The day I visited Chatham the manor was already closed for the day. However, since it’s part of the park services the grounds are open until sunset. This means if you go during the months where the sunsets later, you can find yourself alone. Enjoying a private tour of these historic grounds. I was amazing walking the grounds by myself. Stopping to read a little history here and there. Really I loved soaking in the quite and beauty. Having my sweetheart with me would have been the only thing to make my afternoon stroll even more enjoyable. So the next time you are looking for a little free fun, try an after hours private tour of Chatham Manor. It won’t disappoint!
