Rising Sun Tavern Museum

05/29/2026

This Picture of the Week post explores Fredericksburg, VA, the hometown of the first president, George Washington as we continue to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States.

05/25/2026

05/18/2026

🌟 We're excited to share that Washington Heritage Museums is participating in the Blue Star Museums Program this summer! 🌟

As we celebrate our nation's 250th anniversary of independence, we hope you bring your loved ones and explore the rich history of Fredericksburg. As part of the program, active-duty personnel and their families will receive FREE admission to all three of our museums: Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop, the Mary Washington House and the Rising Sun Tavern. This also applies to National Guard and Reserve families from Armed Forces Day (May 17) through Labor Day. Simply present your military ID at each museum site.

🇺🇸 Thank you for your service and we can't wait to welcome you!

Learn more at the link below:
https://www.arts.gov/initiatives/blue-star-museums/frequently-asked-questions

05/15/2026

As part of Historic Preservation Month, we’re highlighting a project that isn’t glamorous, but it is essential: replacing the wood shingles on the Rising Sun Tavern. We have no evidence of what type of roof cladding was originally applied to the Tavern building, only that it was wood.

We are replacing the current shingle roof with a riven shake (shingle generally denotes sawn and a shake split, which would then be finished with a draw knife). This would have been a common roof cladding type in the 18th century. Shakes typically last longer as the end grain of the wood is not exposed to weather, rather the rive or split follows the grain directing water off the roof, rather than absorbing. Our new shake roof shingles will be made of Alaskan Yellow Cedar - look for the work to begin this summer.

Roofing is one of those behind-the-scenes projects that protects everything below it—historic framing, plaster, paint, and collections. By staying ahead of wear and weather, we reduce the risk of water intrusion and preserve original materials for future generations.

Historic preservation matters—from the top shingles to the masonry and stone basements, and everything in between. Special thanks to Professor Michael Spencer and the Buildings and Grounds Committee for your hard work and expertise!

If you’d like to support Washington Heritage Museums and the ongoing care of our historic sites, we invite you to find out more at the link below.

https://washingtonheritagemuseums.networkforgood.com/projects/255610-preservation-projects

05/13/2026

John Harrower's description of Fredericksburg would have been familiar to Charles Washington and his family.

05/07/2026

Independence Day isn’t just a date – it’s a story, a debate, and a decision that changed the course of history. Historically, taverns served as crucial venues where our founding fathers debated and resolved to establish an independent nation. Before the house at 1304 Caroline Street became a tavern, the first owner, Charles Washington, signed the Leedstown Resolves – one of the first acts of resistance to the Stamp Act. So, there’s no better place to raise a glass to 250 years of independence than the historic Rising Sun Tavern!

For our celebration, the Rising Sun Tavern will partner with 1781 Brewing Company and Wilderness Run Vineyards to host a special "Libations and Liberty" event on the eve of Independence Day, Friday, July 3rd. Guests can enjoy a tasting lineup featuring four different beers and two types of wine—plus a moment of shared history: abbreviated tours will be given at the tavern, and every hour, on the hour, we will raise a toast to our founding ideals and celebrate America’s 250th anniversary of independence.

This is a FREE event with a suggested donation of $2.50 per person (for our 250th!). Please register for the event at the link on this page. Rising Sun Tavern tours will take place all day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and beer / wine will be available for purchase in the courtyard from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bring a friend, come ready to learn a little history and join us in honoring the spirit of independence—one toast at a time!

https://washingtonheritagemuseums.networkforgood.com/events/100986-libations-and-liberty-a-toast-to-independence

05/04/2026

Oh, how Charles would beam with pride! Our inaugural Tavern Birthday celebration in honor of Charles Washington was an amazing day of lively tunes, dancing, games, history, and of course, birthday cake. 🎂 Special thanks to Colonial Faire and to FACES of the 18th Century for your time and talents, bringing early American history to life AND to our dedicated site interpreters, staff and everyone who joined us in making this day truly extraordinary!

05/02/2026

An audience favorite! Special thanks to the talented musicians from Colonial Faire for helping us celebrate Charles Washington's birthday!

Colonial Faire

05/02/2026

MAY 2: in 1738, Charles Washington was born at Little Hunting Creek, which his half-brother Lawrence later renamed Mount Vernon. Charles was the fifth of six children in the Washington family, born to Augustine and Mary Ball Washington. When Charles was just a few months old, the family relocated to Ferry Farm, where he spent his childhood years.

At the age of nineteen, Charles married Mildred Thornton and the couple had four children who reached adulthood. In the early 1760s, Charles had a home built known today as the Rising Sun Tavern, although it did not function as a tavern during the Washington family's occupancy. Around 1780, the family moved to the area now recognized as Charles Town, West Virginia.

In February 1766, Charles Washington played a significant role in signing the Leedstown Resolves, which was one of the earliest protests against the Stamp Act. His civic involvement extended further as he served as a vestryman at St. George's Church and as a Justice of the Spotsylvania County Court. In 1774, he contributed to a committee responsible for collecting goods for Boston following the Boston Tea Party, demonstrating his commitment to the emerging American cause.

Celebrate Charles Washington’s birthday with a FREE family open house at the Rising Sun Tavern, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. with live music from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bring the whole family for a fun day of activities!

⭐ Music by Colonial Faire
⭐ Colonial dancing by FACES of the 18th century
⭐ Birthday cake (while supplies last)
⭐ Complimentary tours
⭐ Games for kids

05/01/2026

Please join Washington Heritage Museums on Sunday, June 7th for a truly special Member Reception paying tribute to our retiring Executive Director, Anne Darron. This will be an opportunity to celebrate Anne’s years of remarkable leadership, share memories, and wish her well in her next chapter.

This gathering is open to all WHM members, as well as Anne’s friends and family. Given that this is a special tribute reception, it will differ from our usual member gatherings and there is no need to bring items to share – everything will be provided. We suggest business casual wear suitable for an outdoor gathering – rain or shine!

To honor Anne and her extraordinary dedication to Washington Heritage Museums, consider helping to fulfill the Monumental Vision Campaign—a legacy she worked tirelessly to advance throughout her tenure at WHM.

If you would like to make a gift in her name to support the transformation and long‑term preservation of the Mary Washington Monument site for generations to come, please donate using the following link: https://bit.ly/marywashingtonmonument

All gifts to the Monumental Vision Campaign made between now and June 7th will be recognized in honor of Anne. This is a meaningful opportunity to support her continued vision for the Monument. We hope you will join us to recognize Anne and celebrate all she has meant to Washington Heritage Museums.

Please RSVP no later than Wednesday, June 3rd to reserve your free ticket.
https://bit.ly/Member-Reception-Anne-Darron