Rising Sun Tavern (Fredericksburg, Virginia)

The Rising Sun Tavern is a historic building in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It was built in about 1760 as a home by Charles Washington, younger brother of George Washington, and became a tavern in 1792.

Rising Sun Tavern
Rising Sun Tavern
Location1304 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, Virginia
Coordinates38°18′24″N 77°27′42″W
Built1761
Part ofFredericksburg Historic District (ID71001053)
NRHP reference No.66000919
VLR No.111-0088
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 15, 1966[1]
Designated NHLJanuary 29, 1964[2]
Designated CPSeptember 22, 1971
Designated VLRSeptember 9, 1969[3]

History

This house, built by the younger brother of George Washington, was occupied by the Washington family until about 1780. The property was sold to Larkin Smith in 1791and in 1792 was bought by Colonel Gustav Wallace who rented the building to Mr. John Frasier, who operated a tavern there. Though the tavern became known as the "Rising Sun Tavern" in the 20th Century, it was actually known as the "Golden Eagle" or the "Eagle" in the 1790s. The ordinary at the old Washington family home served travelers into the 1820s under various owners. [4]

The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, which is now called Preservation Virginia, purchased the building in 1907 and it was given to the Fredericksburg Branch of that group to operate. In 1933, the Society of Cincinnati hosted a Sesquicentennial celebration on the property and presented Preservation Virginia with a bronze medal in appreciation of their preservation efforts.[5] The building is filled with period furnishings and stories of early life in Fredericksburg.[6] In mid-2012, Preservation Virginia signed an agreement passing ownership to the newly created "Washington Heritage Museums" group by 2013. The site continues to be open as a museum.

It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964[2] and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966.[1][7][8]

Originally, the large front porch was not part of the structure. It was added during the tavern phase of the property. No longer serving food and drink, guides provide visitors with a lively interpretation of eighteenth-century tavern life. The site is open daily.

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. "Rising Sun Tavern". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2008-04-24.
  3. "Virginia Landmarks Register". Virginia Department of Historic Resources. Retrieved 19 March 2013.
  4. Ahalt, Daphnie. Chronology of the Rising Sun Tavern. University of Mary Washington.
  5. Couture, Richard (1984). To Preserve and Protect. Dallas, TX: Taylor Publishing Company. p. 91. ISBN 0-917565-01-0.
  6. "Rising Sun Tavern". Archived from the original on 2006-04-22. Retrieved 2008-04-26.
  7. Stephen Lissandrello (February 10, 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Rising Sun Tavern" (pdf). National Park Service. Cite journal requires |journal= (help) and Accompanying three photos, exterior, from 1969 (32 KB)
  8. Frank S. Melvin (June 30, 1972). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Rising Sun Tavern" (pdf). National Park Service. Cite journal requires |journal= (help) (at Virginia DHR, with topographical map showing location)

Media related to Rising Sun Tavern at Wikimedia Commons

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.