Ferry Farm
On a recent trip home from Northern Virginia, we stopped off at Ferry Farm in Fredericksburg. Ferry Farm was the boyhood home of George Washington; his father, Augustine Washington, moved the family to Ferry Farm in 1738 when George was 6 years old.
Ferry Farm consists of about 80 acres and is open daily for self-guided walking tours. Right now, Ferry Farm consists of a vistors center with museum, gardens, a walking trail and a few outbuildings.
Washington’s Ferry Farm is an active archaeological site. While there are no buildings on the property now that were here at the time of the Washington’s, guides are available to interpret the latest findings to the public. The dig site at Ferry Farm normally opens in May. Archaeologists are at the site on an irregular basis, Monday through Friday, to provide interpretation of the findings. In mid-July, archaeologists shift to a Tuesday through Saturday schedule. The dig site normally closes at the end of August.
The visitor’s center has a display of artifacts found at the dig site and also pictures of what the house looked like. They also have a collection of toys which the children played with during that time period. The demonstration garden has a varied collection of flowers, vegetables and numerous other plantings. My son loved the cotton plants. The visitor center also gave us a coloring page of George Washington.
Unfortunately, the ownership of Ferry Farm by the George Washington Boyhood Foundation was not fully secured until 1998 due to a lack of funding, Walmart’s attempt to build a store on the site and various other zoning and financial issues. Fortunately, a bill was passed in Congress that provided an easement to include Ferry Farm as a part of the George Washington Birthplace National Monument to protect the site in perpetuity.
- Open daily, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through October
- Open daily, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. November and December
- Closed Thanksgiving Day, December 24, 25, & 31
- Group visits available at other times by appointment, (540) 370- 0732
- Archaeology dig site normally open Tuesday through Saturday until the end of August
Admission
- Adults
- Individuals – $5.00
- Seniors (60+); AAA; active military; trolley passengers; and
Time Travelers – $4.00 - Students (age 17+) – $3.00
- DAR Members – $2.50
- Visitor Center only – $2.50
- Combo ticket to Ferry Farm and Kenmore – $11.00
- Children
- Individuals (age 6 to 17) – $3.00
- Time Travelers – $2.50
- Visitor Center Only – $1.50
- Combo ticket to Ferry Farm and Kenmore – $6.00
- Under 6 – free
Tina Take: Ferry Farm is a great stop off on the way to or from Mt. Vernon, Kenmore and/or George Washington’s Birthplace. There isn’t that much to see at the site; however, children may enjoy the trail that runs along the Rappahannock River, the Demonstration Garden and learning about the dig site. There’s lots of room to run around and since the tour is self-guided, time is not an issue. BRING BUG SPRAY for the walking tour!!!!! There is a very small gift shop in the visitor’s center and I don’t even remember seeing anything for children so don’t worry about kids feasting their eyes on “stuff”. No refreshments are sold on site; but there is a picnic pavilion if you wish to bring something.
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- Ferry Farm
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