Rising Sun Tavern (Fredericksburg, Virginia) facts for kids
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Rising Sun Tavern
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Rising Sun Tavern
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 Location in Northern Virginia
Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1304 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg, Virginia |
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| Built | 1760 |
| Part of | Fredericksburg Historic District (ID71001053) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000919 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | January 29, 1964 |
| Designated CP | September 22, 1971 |
The Rising Sun Tavern is a famous historic building in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It was first built around 1760 as a house for Charles Washington. He was the youngest brother of George Washington, the first President of the United States. In 1792, the house was turned into a tavern.
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History of the Tavern
The building has a rich history, starting as a family home and later becoming a busy stop for travelers.
A Washington Family Home
Charles Washington built this house, and his family lived in it until about 1780. After the Washingtons moved, the property was sold a couple of times. In 1791, a man named Larkin Smith bought it.
Life as a Tavern
In 1792, Colonel Gustav Wallace bought the building. He rented it to John Frasier, who opened a tavern there. A tavern in the 1700s was like a modern hotel and restaurant combined. It was a place where travelers could find a meal and a place to sleep.
Interestingly, the tavern wasn't called the "Rising Sun Tavern" back then. People knew it as the "Golden Eagle" or simply the "Eagle." The building served travelers as a tavern, also known as an ordinary, until the 1820s.
Becoming a Museum
In 1907, a group called the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities bought the building to save it. This group is now known as Preservation Virginia. They wanted to make sure this important piece of history was not lost.
The building is now a museum. It is filled with furniture from that time period. Guides at the museum tell stories about what life was like in Fredericksburg in the 1700s. In 2013, ownership of the museum was passed to a new group called the "Washington Heritage Museums," which continues to operate it today.
The large front porch you see today was not part of the original house. It was added later when the building was being used as a tavern.
A National Treasure
The Rising Sun Tavern is recognized as a very important place in American history. In 1964, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This is a special title given to places that are important for the whole country. Two years later, in 1966, it was also added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, you can visit the Rising Sun Tavern. It is open every day for tours. Visitors can learn what it was like to live and travel in the 18th century.
