Fredericksburg Historic District

Forty blocks of Fredericksburg, Virginia, along the west bank of the Rappahannock River, make up this historic district of about 200 acres. Five streets run parallel to the river, and the area holds the downtown commercial core, city hall, several churches, the train station and the city's oldest residential neighborhoods. Notable buildings include the Sentry Box, the Rising Sun Tavern, the Mary Washington House, the 1851 Court House designed by James Renwick, and the 1814 City Hall over the old market. The town was settled in 1671, chartered in 1727 and became a busy trading center. Revolutionary figures such as Hugh Mercer, James Monroe and Fielding Lewis were associated with it. Despite modern intrusions, it keeps a large group of eighteenth and nineteenth century buildings. A later extension recognizes sixteen early twentieth century Colonial Revival buildings, including the post office, railroad station, hospital and bank, which echo the scale and materials of the older Georgian and Federal architecture.