Visiting the Mary Washington House in Fredericksburg VA Hours and Exhibits
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Visiting the Mary Washington House in Fredericksburg VA hours and exhibits is simple for anyone exploring the Fredericksburg VA historic district. The Mary Washington House Fredericksburg VA is located at 1200 Charles Street, right at the corner of Charles and Lewis, and its tour schedule offers guided tours every hour at 15 minutes past the hour, with the last tour beginning at 3:15 pm. The Mary Washington House hours align with the museum schedule, and opening hours run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday in April through October, shifting to 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. November through March; the site is closed on Tuesdays. Admission fees are $12 for adults and $6 for youths, while discounted admission of $10 for adults and $5 for children applies to AAA members, seniors, military, and college students. Mary Washington House tickets can be purchased at the door, and WHM members enjoy complimentary entry. Inside, the Mary Washington House exhibits feature original 18th‑century pieces such as Mary Ball Washington’s best dressing glass, an outdoor kitchen, and a restored boxwood garden. The house was originally the Mary Ball Washington home purchased by George Washington in 1772. The property is managed by the Washington Heritage Museums and sits near the Hugh Mercer Apothecary and Rising Sun Tavern, making it a top entry for Fredericksburg VA things to do.
Historic Overview
The Mary Washington House stands at 1200 Charles Street in downtown Fredericksburg, VA. In 1772 George Washington purchased this four‑room cottage for his widowed mother, creating what became known as the Mary Ball Washington home. The residence sits just a short walk from Historic Kenmore, where Mary’s daughter Betty Washington Lewis lived.
Mary Ball Washington spent the final seventeen years of her life here, tending the garden and receiving visits from notable colonial figures. Original 18th‑century furnishings remain on view, including her prized best dressing glass mirror and an authentic outdoor kitchen that showcases period culinary practices.
Today the property is preserved as a National Historic Landmark by Washington Heritage Museums. Costumed docents lead engaging guided tours that bring the house’s rich history to life for visitors exploring the Fredericksburg historic district.
Mary Washington House Hours and Tour Schedule
Season | Days of Operation | Tour Timing | Last Tour of the Day |
|---|---|---|---|
Peak Season (April to October) | Monday – Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. | 15 minutes past each hour | 3:15 p.m. |
Winter Season (November to March) | Monday – Saturday: 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Closed Tuesdays) | 15 minutes past each hour | 3:15 p.m. |
Tour departures every 15 minutes
All guided tours of the historic house start at 15 minutes past each hour—10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:15 p.m., with the last tour beginning at 3:15 p.m.
Plan ahead for limited group size
Because the interior rooms are intimate, capacity is limited. Booking tickets online ahead of time or arriving 10 to 15 minutes before your scheduled departure helps ensure you can join a tour.
Museum store open to all visitors
The on‑site museum store is free to browse during regular opening hours, even if you do not have a tour ticket.
Mary Washington House Admission Rates and Ticketing.
Visitor Information
Explore the historic home of Mary Ball Washington at 1200 Charles Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401. Because tours run at 15 minutes past each hour (10:15 am, 11:15 am and the final tour begins at 3:15 pm), we recommend reserving your mary washington house tickets in advance through the museum’s online portal or at the ticket counter.
Standard Admission Fees
Adults: $12 per person
Youth (ages 6–18): $6 per person
Children under 6: Free
Discounted Admission
Reduced rates of $10 per adult and $5 per child apply for seniors (60+), AAA members, active military personnel, college students, and Fredericksburg Trolley Tour participants when a valid ID or membership card is shown.
Complimentary Admission Programs
The following visitors receive free entry:
Members of the museum’s own organization
Reciprocal Organization of Associated Museums (ROAM) members
Museums for All cardholders (SNAP/EBT)
Professional or family caregivers accompanying people with disabilities
Ticket Purchase Guidance
Secure timed‑entry tickets online before your visit or purchase them directly at the museum shop counter.
Yes. Tour groups are limited to protect the historic rooms, so reserving online guarantees the time you prefer. Walk‑ins are welcomed when space allows, but availability cannot be assured.
The guided house tour lasts about 45 minutes. Afterward you can wander the gardens and browse the museum store at your own pace.
The museum store is free to browse during regular open hours. The surrounding garden grounds are generally experienced as part of the tour, though occasional public events may allow free access.
A Heritage Pass is offered that includes admission to three sites: the Mary Washington House, Hugh Mercer Apothecary, and Rising Sun Tavern. The pass costs $30 for adults, $15 for youths (ages 6–17), and is free for children under 6. It remains valid for three months after purchase.
Explore the Mary Washington House Exhibits and Gardens
Mary Ball Washington’s Life at 1200 Charles Street
Planning Your Visit: Directions, Parking, and Accessibility
Directions
The Mary Washington House sits at 1200 Charles St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401, on the corner of Lewis Street and Charles Street in the historic downtown core. It is within easy walking distance of nearby streets such as Caroline and William, placing it close to other colonial‑era landmarks.
Parking
Visitors have two convenient options:
On‑street parking: Free parallel spaces are available along Charles Street, Lewis Street, and Prince Edward Street. Be sure to obey posted limits, which typically restrict parking to two hours.
Public garage: The Sophia Street Parking Garage, accessed via Wolfe Street between Sophia and the adjacent blocks, offers a stress‑free alternative just a few blocks from the house.
Accessibility
Because the house is an authentic 18th‑century colonial building, it retains narrow doorways, historic thresholds, and steep staircases. The second floor is not wheelchair accessible, but the ground‑floor exhibits, the museum store, and the surrounding gardens are partially accessible. Docents are available to provide assistance and can share digital photo albums or other materials that depict the upstairs spaces for visitors who cannot climb the stairs.
Gift Shop
The on‑site museum shop showcases locally made Virginia goods, books on early American history, reproduction artifacts, and artisan crafts. It welcomes guests at any time during the house’s regular operating period and does not require a house‑tour ticket for entry.
Connecting Your Tour: Historic Kenmore & Washington Museums
Historic Kenmore
Just a short 5‑minute stroll up Lewis Street, Historic Kenmore (1201 Washington Avenue) was completed in 1775 as a grand Georgian brick mansion built for Mary Washington’s daughter Betty Washington Lewis and her husband Fielding Lewis. Mary often walked between her own home and this estate along a historic garden path.
Apothecary Shop
Located on Caroline Street, the 18th‑century apothecary shop (1020 Caroline Street) showcases colonial‑era medicine. Inside visitors can view period surgical implements, leeches used for bloodletting, snakeroot, crab claws, and a range of herbal remedies.
Historic Tavern
The historic tavern on Caroline Street (1304 Caroline Street) was built circa 1760 by Charles Washington, George Washington’s brother. Originally a private residence, it later became a bustling tavern, offering an entertaining glimpse of colonial hospitality and social customs.
Mary Washington Monument and Grave
Concluding the walk, the Mary Washington Monument and Grave sits at 1500 Washington Avenue near “Meditation Rock,” a sandstone outcropping where Mary often prayed. A 19th‑century granite obelisk marks her final resting place.
Wrap‑Up
Take a moment after the tour to linger among Fredericksburg’s historic streets, allowing the city’s remarkable living history and unique colonial legacy to fully immerse you.
