Historic RevivalDowntown Fredericksburg

ANDREW CURTIS

Historic RevivalDowntown Fredericksburg

Historic RevivalDowntown Fredericksburg

written and photographed by

ANDREW CURTIS

Clover Publications Washington, DC

Copyright ©2012Andrew Curtis

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in review, without permission in writing from the author/publisher

Printed in the USA

Contents

About Downtown

Bars & Wineries

Bookstores

Churches

Dining

Grocery

Historical Sites

Shops

Tourism

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About Downtown Fredericksburg, Virginia is a suburban town that lies between Washington, DC and Richmond. The city is surrounded by 4 counties, which are Spotsylvania, Stafford, King George, and Caroline. Residents of all four counties call “Fredericksburg” their home.

Shopping and sightseeing at the historic landmarks in town are popular attractions. With the abundance of strip malls being built every year, the downtown area provides an historical and cultural escape. The local shops and eateries demonstrate the true cultural flavor of the region.

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Bars & Wineries

Capital Ale House is one of the most famous bars in the downtown area, and has few other locations in the state of Virginia. It is a very popular place to go to get a few drinks and have fun with friends. Sammy T’s, just down the street, is the local tavern. It has a great local selection of American cuisine that anyone from vegetarians to burger lovers will enjoy. The Virginia Wine Experience hosts a lot of wine tastings at their Fredericksburg location, with wines from all across Virginia and the world. They have very knowledgeable staff that can answer any question about their wines.

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BookstoresRiverby Books offers a large selection of used books for sale at great rates. The unique interior of the store makes it a memorable landmark. The quirky décor is very authentic to the style of a classic bookstore. There are many historical and old books at Riverby that you won’t find in most bookstores. Jabberwocky, the local children’s bookstore in downtown, sells more than just books. They have a variety of games and toys for children. The style of the store is old-fashioned, with a multitude of bright and cheerful colors to appeal to the younger crowd.

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Churches

All the churches in the downtown area offer many services at different times for your convience. St. George’s Episcopal Church is located on Princess Anne Street. The giant red doors make the buildling distinguished. Fredericksburg Baptist Church is located on Caroline street, near the Hugh Mercer’s Apothecary Shop. The Presbytarian Church was founded in 1808 and built in 1833.

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Dining

La Petite Auberge offers an authentic taste of French cuisine, serving full menus, courses, and seasonal specials. Their blue awning and yellow wanescoating make the building very recognizable. Hyperion is the local coffee shop downtown where students of University of Mary Washington come to gather and study. Castiglia’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria serves brick oven pizza and authentic Italian pastas and calzones.

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Grocery

Goolrick’s Modern Pharmacy previously a drug store, has now been transformed into a lunch hot spot. The sign outside of Goolrick’s is very famous with it’s neon colors and vertical display. Olde Towne Butcher is a classic-styled butcher shop with large assortments of meats to buy. All meats they sell are grass-fed local beef.

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Historical Sites

Mary Washington’s House is located on Charles St. in downtown. They have restored the house back to what it looked like in the 17th century, and its preservation as a museum helps keep Fredericksburg’s history alive. The Kenmore Plantation was a popular location during the Civil War era. Nearby at the Confederate Cemetery there are hundreds of marked graves where people have been buried until recently. At Hugh Mercer’s Apothecary Shop, tour guides dressed up in colonial attire display leeches in jars and other homeopathic medicine from the past.

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Shops

There are a multitude of antique and specialty shops in downtown. They have everything from the Toy Store for children with an endless amount of toys you won’t usually find at a commercial store, to the Cat’s Closet for cat knick-knacks including pillows and rugs, and the Antique Gallery for uncommon collectibles. Crown Jewelers is a popular destination for finding many unique types of china and jewelry items. Corky’s sells military and paintball gear, as well as many other hobby items.

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Tourism

The Fredericksburg VRE Train Station is a popular attraction for people to photograph. Along with hosting trains via Amtrak, it has a station that that has been converted into several fine restaurants. Carl’s Ice Cream, the famous historical ice cream shop, attracts hundreds of customers each year during the summer season. Marriot Hotels, after much controversial debate, recently built a hotel in downtown, and integrated the building as seamlessly as possible to keep within the town’s old brick style. The Fredericksburg Area Museum was opened in 2008, and gives a wonderful comprehensive overview of the city’s history.

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