Chatham Manor isn’t a hidden gem for locals, but its still one of the prettiest historical sites in Virginia. I visited during the spring and it truly transforms into a page out of The Secret Garden. There are beautiful blooming magnolias, pink rose bushes, and historical artifacts from the late 1700s.
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Plan a Trip to Chatham Manor in Virginia
On a random weekday, I decided to finally drive to Fredericksburg to see the legendary Chatham Manor in person. I purposefully decided to visit during the weekday so that crowds would be small and I would be able to take all the photos I wanted. Instead, there were still a few people around. Luckily got a small tour from a local who had been visiting the manor for decades.
Chatham Manor is only about an hour from Washington DC, making it the perfect day trip or weekend getaway. Honestly, you only need one day to enjoy this historical home but there are lots of things to do in Fredericksburg. It’s a great medium size city with a small town feel.
Photos of Chatham Manor
History of Chatham Manor
Luckily, I got a small tour from a local who had been visiting the manor for decades. Chatham Manor is a Georgian mansion that overlooks the the Rappahannock River . It was built in 1771 by William Fitzhugh. Originally, the manor served as the centerpiece of a sprawling plantation, where enslaved African Americans cultivated tobacco, wheat, and corn. The estate once hosted prominent early Americans like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
During the Civil War, Chatham quickly changed. It was used as a Union headquarters and field hospital during the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862. You can walk through The house’s grand rooms, which were transformed into makeshift hospital rooms for soldiers who were injured in battle. In fact, Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross, helped wounded Union soldiers here.
In the 1920s, it was bought by a wealthy family. The manor’s gardens were reimagined by Ellen Biddle Shipman, a history making landscape architect and one of the most influential women in her field at the time. Shipman designed the gorgeous terraced gardens that we see today. She also designed the beautiful flowers and greenery that frames the main entryway,
Currently, it is part of the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.
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