Fredericksburg, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Fredericksburg in a Flash
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Byway to Highway

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 29, 2026
1. Fredericksburg in a Flash side of the marker
Louisa May Alcott and Walt Whitman both wrote about caring for soldiers who were wounded in the Battle of Fredericksburg.
Reality bites: Local restaurateur Joy Crump ("Top Chef") and vocalist Huntley ("The Voice") have brought a bit of Fredericksburg to the small screen.
Fredericksburg was once a bustling port for steamships bound for Baltimore and beyond.
The only known surviving Vultee V-IAD in the world is on view at the Shannon Air Museum. It was built for publisher Randolph Hearst Sr.
The Mary Washington Monument is said to be the first monument erected to a woman, by women.
The city's main streets are named after British monarchs who were in power when Fredericksburg was founded in 1728.
Dig this: The oldest Masonic Cemetery in the Western Hemisphere in Fredericksburg. It was founded in 1784.
Chick-fil-A sauce was invented here in 1983.
The bell housed inside the courthouse belfry was cast by Paul Revere's foundry in Boston.
Fredericksburg's Agricultural Fair is the oldest in the United States. (In fact, it's older than the United States.)
Gargantua, the largest Ginkgo Biloba tree in Virginia, stands sentinel at the Patawomeck Museum Museum & Cultural Center.
Fredericksburg has five sister cities: Kathmandu, Nepal • Este Italy • Schwetzingen, Germany • Princes Town, Ghana • Fréjus, France
Goolrick's Pharmacy is one of the nation's oldest soda fountains.
Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, nursed soldiers here during the Civil War.
[Captions:]
George Washington was initiated as a Freemason at Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4. The lodge still operates from its location at the corner of Princess Anne and Hanover Streets.
Neon beckons passersby to Carl's Frozen Custard. The iconic stand, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was built in 1953.
Water harnessed from the Rappahannock River once powered mills in the city. The city's historic canal bisects present-day Route 1.
The Rappahannock River Heritage Trail is a popular spot for recreation and wildlife viewing.
Stately spires mark Princess Anne St. (Route 1) through downtown Fredericksburg.
Erected by Fredericksburg
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles • War, US Civil. A significant historical year for this entry is 1728.
Location. 38° 18.991′ N, 77° 30.3′ W. Marker is in Fredericksburg, Virginia. It can be reached from Interstate 95 south of Warrenton Road (U.S. 17), on the right when traveling south. The marker stands on the grounds of Virginia Welcome Center at Fredericksburg. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1318 I-95, Fredericksburg VA 22401, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 29, 2026
3. Fredericksburg in a Flash / Byway to Highway Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Freedom, A Work in Progress / Fredericksburg, Virginia (here, next to this marker); Fredericksburg, Virginia / Area Museums (a few steps from this marker); A Family Affair: The Washingtons / Visitors-in-Chief (a few steps from this marker); The History of Baseball in Fredericksburg (approx. ¼ mile away); Quest For Knowledge (approx. 0.4 miles away); Henry "Box" Brown (approx. 0.4 miles away); Endurance Through It All (approx. 0.4 miles away); Acts of Bravery (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.
Other markers no longer nearby. George Washington: Surveyor and Family Man (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); George Washington: Soldier and Virginia Planter (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); George Washington: Statesman and Public Servant (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Historic Kenmore and George Washington's Ferry Farm (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed).

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 29, 2026
4. Fredericksburg in a Flash / Byway to Highway Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on August 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 30, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
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