Mary Washington House
PANICd#: 2160
Publication date: 03/25/2025
In 1772, George Washington purchased a house from Michael Robinson in Fredericksburg, Virginia, for his mother. Mary Ball Washington spent her last seventeen years in this comfortable home.
1200 Charles St
Fredericksburg , VA 22401
Open to the public: Yes
https://www.washingtonheritagemuseu...
Lat: 38.305165
Lon: -77.463303
Database Summary:
Demographic Rank: 0
History: 1
Stories: 1
Claims: 3
Evidence: 0
Resources: 4
Retrievals: 646
Vistor Rating: 0.0
Votes: 0
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History
History information is some background and history about the location. This is meant to be a basic summary. Below the history records you will find sources in which you can click on to find out more information. There may be multiple history records per location.
In 1772, George Washington purchased a house from Michael Robinson in Fredericksburg, Virginia, for his mother. Mary Ball Washington spent her last seventeen years in this comfortable home.
The white frame house sits on the corner of Charles and Lewis Streets and was in walking distance to Kenmore, home of Mary's daughter Betty Washington Lewis. Tradition has it that, during the Revolution, General Lafayette came by the home seeking a visit with Mrs. Washington and found her working in her garden. The president-to-be came to this home to receive his mother's blessing before attending his inauguration in 1789.
In 1890, the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities, later named Preservation Virginia, acquired the Mary Washington House and saved it from certain destruction. The house was slated to be disassembled for travel to the 1893 Chicago Columbian Exposition and reassembled there for display. The organization opened the house to the public in 1900. The house later underwent an extensive restoration and was reopened to the public in 1931.
The Mary Washington House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (06/05/1975) and the Virginia Landmarks Register (03/18/1975) and is located within the Fredericksburg Historic District.
Added by: sdonley on 03/25/2025
DB#:703
Source(s):
https://www.washingtonheritagemuseums.org/museum-d...
Stories
Stories are just that. Stories and personal accounts that have been reported about the location. This section could also contain research notes as well.
In the heart of this vibrant city stands the Mary Washington House. It is an emblem of maternal devotion and the last home of George Washington’s mother. According to local lore, her spirit never left the place she cherished so much. Sightings of a ghostly figure, believed to be Mary herself, tending to the garden or sitting by the window have been reported, adding an emotional dimension to the whole story. Her spirit, it seems, remains tied to the house. Perhaps finding comfort in the familiar surroundings or yearning for the son who went on to shape a nation. Interestingly, many who claim to have encountered her describe a feeling of warmth and tranquility rather than fear. Indeed, Fredericksburg is an amazing little town where the spectral meets the historical, and hauntings have a touch of heartwarming emotion.
Added by: sdonley on 03/25/2025 DB#: 1672
Source(s):
https://fredericksburgguidebook.com/fredericksburg...
Paranormal Claims
Here are the paranormal claims for this location. These have been found through Internet research, reports from members, or reports from personal interviews. To add a claim, please contact PANICd.com, and we will review and add your information.
| Claim # | Added | Added By | Claim |
| 3651 | 03/25/2025 | sdonley | The apparition of Mary Washington has been spotted in the garden. |
| 3652 | 03/25/2025 | sdonley | The apparition of Mary Washington has been spotted sitting by a window. |
| 3653 | 03/25/2025 | sdonley | People have reported the feeling of warmth and tranquility when around her spirit. |
Additional Resources
This is a collection of Internet resources for this location. This section will house links to other websites that contain information related to history, claims, investigations, or even the location's website.
| Wikipedia Entry
Added: 03/25/2025 By: sdonley |
Wikipedia entry for this location. |
| Mary Ball Washington (1708-1789) - Find a Grave Memorial
Added: 03/25/2025 By: sdonley |
Mother of George Washington. The Belle of Epping Forest was born in 1708 or 1709 in Lancaster County, Virginia to a well-to-do family. Both of her parents had children from prior marriages, but she would be the only child born to Joseph and Mary Ball; her father would die when Mary was only a few years old. At the age... |
| Mary Ball Washington
Added: 03/25/2025 By: sdonley |
Information about Mary Ball Washington on Wikipedia. |
| Fredericksburg's Haunted History | Fredericksburg Guidebook
Added: 03/25/2025 By: sdonley |
Dive into our ghostly tales and legends, an engaging way for families to bond while exploring Fredericksburg's haunted history. |
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