Field Trips and Youth Programs Guide

A Trolley Tour of downtown Fredericksburg is not only entertaining but educational.  Public schools, private schools, and homeschool groups enjoy the historic downtown tour.

Downtown Fredericksburg Tour

Learn about the many famous and interesting people who have been here including those who called Fredericksburg home.  Hear about events that have taken place since the founding of the City in 1728.  During his formative years, George Washington lived just across the Rappahannock River, “a stones throw” from the City where he attended school and church.  George’s mother, sister, and brother had homes in Fredericksburg.  See and hear about the monuments to Thomas Jefferson, who in 1777 gathered with his colleagues in Fredericksburg and drafted the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom.  See the museum and memorial library of our fifth president, James Monroe, who lived and worked in the city as a prominent attorney before entering politics and eventually being elected President.  In 1862, the Battle of Fredericksburg was fought in and around the downtown historic district.  You will have a chance to view many of the homes, churches, and buildings used during these battles, many of which still bare the scars of the Civil War.  Hear the stories of Civil Rights in Fredericksburg to include the first stop of the Freedom Rides.

Tour length may be adjusted to fit the needs of your classroom.  A Trolley Tour is often paired with transportation to one or more local attractions or historical sites.

Contact:

Heidi Bass, Owner, Trolley Tours of Fredericksburg
540-898-0737
[email protected]

Prices:

Vary – please contact the office today for a quote.

Mary Washington House

What can we learn about the American Revolution and early American life by walking in the footsteps of George Washington’s mother, Mary? A tour of the Mary Washington House invites participants to explore a variety of sources including historical artifacts, primary and secondary sources, and maps. Students will understand life in colonial Virginia and make connections with their own modern-day experiences as they practice skills to decode the world around them. Through inquiry-based experiences, students will develop critical thinking, analyze cause-and-effect relationships, compare key ideas, and organize information with clarity. Notions of economic decision-making and responsible citizenship are discussed in a guided tour, empowering every participant to learn history and social-science concepts through content, vocabulary, and collaborative learning.  

SOLs: VS. 1b, VS. 4a, b and f VS. 5b, VS. 6, US1.1, US1.4 c and d, US1.5 b and c, US1.6.
Science SOLs: K.9b, 2.4b, 2.7a, 4.8a and b

Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop

How did 18th-century medicine shape the lives of early Americans, and what can we learn from the practices of a Revolutionary War doctor? On this exciting tour, students will step back in time and uncover the secrets of colonial healthcare. They’ll dive into the life of Dr. Hugh Mercer—a Revolutionary War hero and skilled doctor—and see strange and surprising remedies used to treat patients in early America. From rare herbs to leeches and curious tools, this guided tour brings history and science together in a way that sparks imagination and curiosity. Students will experience dramatic demonstrations, hear captivating stories, and investigate how medicine has changed over time. At the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop, it’s a one-of-a-kind experience that blends learning and fun.

SOLs: VS.4b, e, f, VS. 5b, US1.1, US1.5, US1.6.
Science SOLs: 4.8a and b

Rising Sun Tavern 

What stories can an early American tavern tell us about politics, travel, and daily life in a new nation? Originally built by George Washington’s youngest brother, this museum of tavern life now offers students a glimpse into a new nation through the eyes of travelers, townspeople, and tavernkeepers. Young visitors will journey through time as they hear fascinating tales of daily life and explore how taverns served as the social hotspots of their time. Along the way, they’ll uncover the roles taverns played in news-sharing, community building, and the spirit following the Revolutionary War, all while practicing observation, critical thinking, and respectful citizenship. Learn more about the Rising Sun Tavern and plan your visit today!

SOLs: VS. 1c, VS.2, VS.4a and f, VS.5b, VS.6, USI.1, USI.5c, US1.6

Contact:

Jenna Lutero, Membership & Office Manager
540-373-5630
[email protected]

Prices:

Students: $4.00 per site
Teachers Free (limit 2 per class)
Chaperones: $6.00 per site

All field trips to the park are free, and may be customized to meet the needs of each group. Classes typically spend 90 mins at each site, and often combine visits to multiple locations in the same day. Rangers strive to provide interactive, on-the-ground experiences for all students.

Starting Monday, August 4, 2025, both the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center and Chatham will close for long-term maintenance projects:

• Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center will be closed for 6–7 months for important upgrades including fire suppression, waterline improvements, and electrical work.
• Chatham will close for about a year for interior restoration, including lead paint encapsulation, plaster repair, and new carpet installation.

Don’t worry—there’s still a lot to see and do! The Park Store next to the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center will remain open as will the grounds at Chatham. Park staff will continue offering on-site field trips and programs with prior notice.

While these closures may shift your itinerary slightly, they’re part of a long-term effort to preserve Fredericksburg’s historic treasures for generations to come.

Fredericksburg Battlefield

Students may explore multiple sites on the battlefield with a park ranger, including the Sunken Road, battle damaged Innis House, Marye’s Heights and the National Cemetery.

Chatham

This stately house was built in 1771 as part of a large plantation that subsisted on enslaved labor. Students will tour the grounds and learn about the civilians and enslaved at Chatham before, during and after the Civil War. Park Rangers share stories of the people who were at this site and the significant changes they experienced.

Chancellorsville Battlefield

Visit the site where Confederate General “Stonewall” Jackson was wounded and learn stories of this battle from a park ranger.

Wilderness and Spotsylvania Battlefields

General Robert E. Lee and General Ulysses S. Grant faced each other for the first time as some of the toughest fighting of the war occurred here.

Contact:

Peter Maugle, Education Coordinator
Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park
540-693-3200
[email protected]

Prices:

There is no cost for students visits to any of the battlefield sites. Please be advised that sufficient advance notice is required to arrange for a park ranger tour.

The Fredericksburg Area Museum (FAM) is proud to be a local partner in education supporting the development of confident, life-long learners. Our inquiry-based museum field trips and classroom visits connect local history to the Virginia state curriculum.

Led by trained museum educators, students will investigate the history of the Fredericksburg area through analyzing primary sources and historical reproductions, interacting with maps, engaging in discussions, and participating in hands-on activities. Our programs are designed to foster critical thinking and curiosity by encouraging students to explore history actively.

Whether visiting the museum or welcoming educators into the classroom, we tailor experiences to complement classroom lessons and connect students with history in a meaningful way. All programs listed can be a FAM field trip or classroom visit. The programs are as follows:

Stomp: Dinosaur Discoveries (Preschool, Kindergarten – 5th Grade)

Why do scientists think dinosaurs lived near Fredericksburg? Students will step into the shoes of paleontologists and explore fossilized dinosaur tracks dating back 112 million years. Through hands-on activities tailored to each age group, children will uncover clues about these prehistoric creatures.

Preschool Skills: Communication, Curiosity and Initiative, Interacting with Others, Gross and Fine Motor Skills
Science SOLS: K.1.F, K.7.A-B, 1.1.B, 1.5.A-C., 2.1.D, 2.5.A-C, 3.1.A-D.F, 3.4.C, 3.5.A-B, 4.1.A-D.F, 4.3.A.D, 5.1. A-D.F, 5.8.E

A River Through Time (Kindergarten – 2nd Grade)

Why did early communities choose to settle near rivers? In this hands-on program, students will investigate how the Rappahannock River influenced the lives of Indigenous peoples, explorers, and early settlers in the Fredericksburg area. Through mapping and artifact activities, they’ll discover the vital role rivers played in transportation, food, trade, and the development of growing communities.

History Social Science SOLs: Skill K a-c,e,i,K.4b-d, K.5a-c, K.7c, Skills 1 a-c, h ,e, 1.4b-c, 1.5a-b, 1.7.a, 1.8d, Skills 2 a-e,h, 2.5a, 2.6, 2.8a, 2.13a

STEM in Action: Rappahannock Bridges (3rd – 5th Grades)

How have different shapes been used in bridges to make them stronger? Students will explore the history of bridges spanning the Rappahannock River, discovering how engineers used arches, triangles, and beams to design strong, lasting structures. They will then apply these engineering principles by designing, building, and testing their own model bridges.

Math SOLs: 3.MG.4d, 4.MG.1a, 4.MG.6c, 5.MG.1a-c
Science SOLs: 3.1a-f, 3.2.a, 4.1a-f, 5.1a-f

The Colonial Marketplace (4th – 5th Grade)

What role did Fredericksburg play in the colonial tobacco economy? In this interactive lesson, students will engage in a series of station-based activities to explore Virginia’s colonial past. They will learn about the history of Market Square, examine the importance of trade with indigenous communities and Fredericksburg’s role in the global economy during the colonial era, including connection to the transatlantic slave trade.

History and Social Science SOLs: Skills VSa-c, e VS.1c, VS.3a VS.4 a-d,f, Skills USI.a-c,e, USI.1b, USI.4c, USI.5b-e

Civics and Civil Rights (6th – 12th Grade)

How did local students participate in and experience the Civil Rights Movement? Through analyzing primary sources and exploring FAM’s galleries, students will uncover powerful stories of local youth activism, including the Walker Grant Class of 1950 Protest, the 1960 sit-in demonstrations, and Fredericksburg’s role as the first stop of the Freedom Riders.

History Social Science SOLs: Skills USII.a,c,e,h, USII.5h-i, USII.8a, Skills CE.a,c,e,h, CE.6b-c, CE.4b, Skills VUS .a, c-e,h, VUS.16a-b,d-e, VA.US.17a, Skills GOVT. a,e,j,c,h, GOVT.2c, GOVT,3d, GOVT.10b, GOVT.11a-b,f

Freedom Stories (9th – 12th Grade)

What were the challenges enslaved people faced when attempting to escape, and how did these obstacles shape their decisions on the path to freedom? Students will explore the stories of enslaved people who made the decision to escape to freedom, including John M. Washington and Anthony Burns. Through primary source analysis and exploring FAM’s galleries, students will examine the choices of these freedom seekers and the legal risks they faced.

History Social Science SOLs: Skills VUS .a, c-e,h, VUS.8a-c, VUS.9c, Skills VUS .a, c-e,h, Skills GOVT. a,e,j,c,h, GOVT.2c, GOVT6.a

Contact:

Theresa Cramer, Education and Public Programs Coordinator
540-374-3037 x 138
[email protected]

Prices:

FAM Field Trip: $4 per student
Classroom Visits: $6 per student within 25-mile radius of FAM
$9 per student for schools exceeding 25 mile radius

FREE for all Fredericksburg City Schools (all programs)

The James Monroe Museum offers a unique look at the life and legacy of our fifth president and former Fredericksburg resident through an unparalleled collection of artifacts that belonged to and were used by Monroe and his family. We offer a variety of field trip experiences tailored to different age groups and learning needs. We’re happy to work with you to create a customized program that fits your students’ interests and curriculum goals.

Petite Patriots (Grades 3 and under)

Step Back in Time with Your Young Explorers! Bring your Pre-K through 2nd grade students on a fun and interactive field trip that brings history to life! Each seasonal visit includes a lively read-aloud story, a themed take-home craft, and a short, age-appropriate history chat designed to spark curiosity and imagination. It’s the perfect way to introduce little learners to big ideas from the past

Exploring Eagles (Grades 4-8)

This interactive field trip is ideal for students in grades 4–8 and explores key topics, including the American Revolution, Westward Expansion, the Monroe Doctrine, the Louisiana Purchase, the Early American Republic, the White House, and more. Students will participate in a hands-on activity and take home a themed keepsake to extend the learning experience beyond the visit. It’s a fun and engaging way to connect with the past!

Future Framers (Grades 9-12)

This field trip offers a formal tour exploring key events in early American history, including the American Revolution, Westward Expansion, the Monroe Doctrine, the Louisiana Purchase, the Early American Republic, the White House, and more. This program is perfect for sparking discussion and deeper understanding in U.S. History and Government classes.

Contact:

Lindsey Coates-Crawford, Public Programs Coordinator
540-654-2111
[email protected]

Prices:

Students: $5.00
Chaperones: $7.00
(One adult free per every 10 students)

Come, explore creativity! Our museum, the country retreat of artist Gari Melchers and his wife, Corinne, is one of the best-preserved artist homes and studio in America. Overlooking the Rappahannock River’s Fall Line, the 27-acre estate features the historic home, art studio and galleries, tours, gardens, historic buildings and several miles of walking trails.

Field Trips

Our site offers unique learning experiences for all groups and ages. Interactive, inquiry based programs offer a hands-on approach to history, art, and nature. Field trips typically consist of a pre-visit video, historic house tour, studio tour, and an outdoor scavenger hunt.  Most groups also choose to include an art activity.   Amenities include outdoor picnic tables, ample restrooms, water station, hiking trails and a large parking lot.

Optional Art Activities

Create Your Own Sculpture – Gari Melchers’ father, Julius, was a well-known sculptor who served as his son’s first art teacher.  Students will create small sculptures inspired by the forms and materials around them.

Texture Rubbings – One of the seven elements of art, texture refers to the feeling given to the surface.  Explore how artists use texture to add depth, interest, or balance to their work.  Students will create their own texture landscape or collage.

Sketching 101 – Students will channel their inner Gari Melchers by learning to sketch what they see.  Travel size sketchbook provided.  This can either be a gallery or outdoor activity – depending on the weather.

Button Making – Students turn their own art into a button they can wear home.

Contact:

Michelle Crow-Dolby, Education and Communications Manager
540-654-1851
[email protected]

Prices:

$8/student
$12/student with art activity
Teachers and School Staff: FREE

Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation and Events has environmental education field trips and classroom visits available for local schools.

Field Trips

Field Trips typically include a rotation of a naturalist-led session, lunch and a teacher-led hike. These trips can take place at Motts Run Reservoir, Alum Spring Park or any other park (unless otherwise noted). Limit 2 classes per day.

Classroom Visits

A naturalist will bring the activity to your classroom – no busses necessary! All topics available for classroom visits except Dip-Netting.

Seedsploration

Through collections, observations and games, we will learn simple seed identification and the perils they face growing into mature plants.

SOLs: K.1, K.4, K.6, K.7, K.9, 1.1, 1.4, 1.7, 2.1, 2.5, 2.7, 2.8, 3.1, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8, 4.1, 4.4, 4.5, 4.9, 5.1, 6.1, LS.1, LS.4, LS.5, LS.6, LS.10, BIO.1, BIO.6

Be a Beaver Believer

Discover the effects of these cool creatures on the environment and explore these adaptations that make beavers the master builders they are.

SOLs: K.1, K.7, 1.1, 1.5, 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 6.1, LS.1, LS.7, LS.8, LS.9, BIO.1, BIO.6

All About Owls

Owls are some of our coolest nocturnal creatures. We will discuss some of their traits that make them good hunters and look inside an owl pellet to see what owls like to eat. ** add $3/owl pellet

SOLs: K.1, K.7, 1.1, 1.5, 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1 3.4, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 5.1, 6.1, LS.1, LS.7, BIO.1, BIO.6

*For Classroom Visits Only

Dip-Netting

Dragonfly nymphs and other amazing aquatic life will be netted and observed along the lakeshore. We’ll focus on adaptations, life cycles and food webs.

SOLs: K.1, K.4, K.6, K.7, 1.1, 1.4, 1.5, 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.4, 3.5, 3.8, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.8, 5.1, 5.9, 6.1, 6.8, 6.9, LS.1, LS.4, LS.5, LS.6, LS.8, LS.9, LS.11, BIO.1, BIO.6, BIO.8

*Field Trips to Motts Run Only

The Incredible Journey

Water is an important natural resource! Become familiar with the water cycle by simulating the journey of water molecules as they move through the water cycle.

SOLs: K.1, K.5, K.9, K.10, 1.1, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 2.1, 2.3, 2.6, 2.7, 3.1, 3.8, 3.9, 4.1, 4.6, 4.9, 5.1, 5.7, 6.1, 6.3, 6.5, LS.1, LS.6, ES.6, ES.12

Contact:

Callie Brown, Superintendent of Recreation
Fredericksburg Parks, Recreation & Events
540-372-1086 x 213
[email protected]

Prices:

Field Trips: $100/class (city)
 $125/class (non-city)

Classroom Visits: $100/class (city)
 $125/class (non-city)

Friends of the Rappahannock Environmental Education Programs

At the River’s Edge Field Trip Program provides students with an interactive, outdoor science and history education. The goal is to give teachers and students a safe, hands on experience that will inspire respect and stewardship for the Rappahannock and its watershed. The curriculum is aligned with the VA standards of learning and National Science Standards. Programs are available from preschool through high school and beyond.

Each age specific programming level offers Environmental STEM or E-STEM program options. The E-STEM program offerings engage students in learning about the renewable natural resources of water, wind, or solar energy. Students design, engineer, and test solutions to environmental challenges while completing design challenges. E-STEM is creativity and functionality in one succinct bundle of environmental fun.

Preschool

Program A (1.5 hrs): Walking the Path of the American Indian – Discover how American Indians used nature to provide all their food, shelter, and water. Make pottery and experience the American Indian oral tradition with a story that still applies today.

Program B (1.5 hrs): Walk Like the Animals – Use your senses to discover how the forest and river provide a good place for animals to live.

Program C (1.5 hrs): Water Properties – Why does the river look different at different times? Little scientists will love to experiment with this question while learning about our beloved Rappahannock River.

Kindergarten and First Grade

Approx. Time: 3 hrs

VA Science SOLs: K.1, K.3, K.4, K.5, K.6, K.7, K.9, 1.1, 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8

• River Investigation Hike – Investigate the river habitat with your senses – observing, describing, and charting. Discover how animals use their senses for survival.
• Trees – Gain a better understanding of tree parts, trees as a resource, and why trees are so important to our river.
• Life in the River Habitat – Explore many different plants and animals along the river and discover why they live next to the river

Optional E-Stem Add-On: Choose one of the E-STEM challenges below (Option 1 or Option 2) and one of the bulleted offerings from Program A (above) to create your own experience.

VA Science SOLs: K.1, K.2, K.3, K.4, K.5, K.11, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.8

• E-STEM Option 1: Storm Drain Litter Catcher Design Challenge – Learn the top pollutants in the Rappahannock River while discovering the importance of our storm drain systems. How can humans use storm drains to keep our water clean?
• E-STEM Option 2: Build A Barge – The Rappahannock River is used for travel, commerce, and recreation. Students experiment with the properties that cause items to sink and float then design and build their own barges. Which team’s barge will float the most weight!?!

Second and Third Grade

Program A (3.5 hrs):

VA Science SOLs: 2.1, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.7, 2.8, 3.1, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7

• Wetlands: Snowden and Beyond – Hike to a wetland ecosystem, learning about plants and animals along the way. Deduce how wetlands help wildlife and the river.
• Just Around the River Bend – Explore the diversity of plant and animal life, their inter-dependency, and their relationship with the river.
• Water Cycle Game or Food Web Game (choose 1) – Both of these activities cover important topical vocabulary disguised as a fun game!

Program B (3.5 hrs.):

VA Science SOLs: 2.1, 2.3, 2.5, 2.7, 2.8, 3.1, 3.4, 3.7, 3.8; History and Social Science SOLs: 2.2, 2.6

• Signs of Seasonal Change – Why do the leaves change colors and drop from some trees? How do animals survive during winter? Collect and analyze evidence of seasonal change to answer these and other questions.
• Rappahannock Connections – Discover how the Rappahannocks, an American Indian Tribe of the Eastern Woodlands, used their natural resources to meet life needs. Investigate their respect for nature through pottery, artifacts, and oral tradition.

Optional E-Stem Add-On: Choose one of the E-STEM challenges below (Option 1 or Option 2) and one of the bulleted offerings from Programs A or B (above) to create your own experience.

VA Science SOLs: 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.7, 3.8

• E-STEM Option 1: Paddleboat Design Challenge – Students learn about renewable natural energy while designing paddleboats that use stored chemical energy (batteries) or solar energy (with sun cooperation). Students will learn about basic electrical concepts as they design boats that will be tested on the river!
• E-STEM Option 2: Windmill Design Challenge – Students discuss how humans use renewable natural energy in wind to generate energy that will perform work. Students discover how windmills convert moving air into usable mechanical energy.

Fourth and Fifth Grade

Program A (3.5 hrs):

VA Science SOLs: 4.1, 4.3, 4.8, 5.1, 5.8;
Health SOLs: 4.1

• We All Live Downstream – Deduce the benefits of riparian buffer zones along our river, discuss erosion and pollution’s impact, and propose solutions.
• What Is A Watershed? – Where does the water go? Manipulate a model of a watershed to better understand human impacts on ecosystems.
• Commit to Conserve – Find out how you can protect our waterways and commit to an action that will help.

Program B (3.5 hrs):

History and Social Science SOLs: VS.1, VS.2, VS.3, VS.4; USI.1, USI.2, USI.3, USI.5;
VA Science SOLs: 4.3, 4.8, 5.9;
Health SOLs: 4.1

• Survivor: John Smith – Visit the northwest extent of John Smith’s exploration of the Rappahannock, comparing Virginia resources now and then. Through tasks and role playing, simulate the Jamestown settlers’ effort to survive and fulfill responsibilities to the Virginia Company and the King.
• Rappahannock Connections – Discover how the Rappahannocks, an American Indian Tribe of the Eastern Woodlands, adapted to their environment and used their natural resources. Investigate their respect for nature through pottery, artifacts, and oral tradition.

Optional E-Stem Add-On: Choose one of the E-STEM challenges below (Option 1 or Option 2) and one of the bulleted offerings from Programs A or B (above) to create your own experience.

VA Science SOLs: 4.1, 4.3, 4.8, 5.1, 5.2, 5.9, 6.1, 6.4, 6.6, 6.8, 6.9

• E-STEM Option 1: Stormwater Sediment Filter Design Challenge – Learn the top pollutants in the Rappahannock River while discovering the importance of our storm drain systems. Students learn while they engineer stormwater filters for the top pollutant.
• E-STEM Option 2: Hydro Power Design Challenge – Students will discover how humans harness and use the renewable natural resource of water as they design and test their own prototypes.

*Contact Us for more information on the Meaningful Watershed Program for Grade 4*

Contact:

Jennifer Gron
540-373-3488 x 113
[email protected]

Prices:

Program Fees: $10 per child/student.
No fee for teachers.
$100 registration fee (applied to the total program fee).
Minimum group visit is $100 (10 students).

Field Trips

Step into aviation history at the Shannon Air Museum, where you’ll discover rare, vintage aircraft and fascinating stories from the early days of flight. Our collection focuses on the “Golden Age of Aviation,” the exciting time between World Wars I and II when aviation took off and transformed the world.

Explore how aviation pioneers from the Fredericksburg area and beyond helped shape the future of flight. Learn how planes were used after WWI for airshows and adventure rides, and how aviation began to connect small towns across the country. Museum tours start with aircraft dating back as early as 1917 and move through history to the 1939 Douglas DC-3, the first passenger plane to make air travel affordable for everyday people. You’ll also learn about people who made aviation history, like Tuskegee Airmen, Charles and Ann Lindbergh, Dick Merrill, and many others.

Museum tours and classroom activities are led by a docent team with experience as pilots, as well as in aeronautical engineering, history and education. Grades 3 and below will learn basic fundamentals of flight and be able to identify the different parts of an aircraft and learn how those pieces contribute to flight. Educational benefits of museum tours are greatest for students grade 4 and up, and may include the following SOL learning objectives:

History & Social Science– K.1, K.2, K.3, K.4, K.8, K.9, 1.1, 1.2, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.10, 3.13, VS.1 a, b, d, e, f, g, h, i; VS.8 b, c; VS.9 a, b, c; VS.10 b, c; USII.1 a, b, d, e, f, g, h, i, j; USII.2 b, c; USII.4 b, c, d; USII.5 c; USII.6 a, b, c, d; USII.7 a, b, c; USII.8 c, d; USII.9 b; CE.1 d, e, f, g, h, i; CE.3 c, d, e; CE.5 c, d; CE.10 a, b, c; CE.11 a, b; CE.12 a, b, c, d, f; CE.13 a, b, c, e, f; CE.14 a, b, c, d; WHII.10 a, b, e; WHII.11 a, b, c; VUS.8 b, e

Contact:

Kristen Curtas-Barnum, Assistant Director
540-642-4387
[email protected]

Prices:

$15 – Ages 4-17
$18 – Ages 18 & Up
20% discount to all organized school groups

The City of Fredericksburg’s Civil Rights Trail “Freedom, a Work in Progress”, now a part of the U.S. Civil Rights Trail, is a trail that will take visitors on a path to understand what happened in Fredericksburg, Virginia from a Civil Rights perspective starting in 1865 to present day.

In this digital field trip, learn about the 13 Freedom Riders who’s first stop was in Fredericksburg. Hear about the role of Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site) and Shiloh Baptist Church (New Site) in the Civil Rights Movement. Hear stories from Fredericksburg’s community about desegregating local schools, the University of Mary Washington and the Sit-In movement. Learn about John Washington who escaped to freedom across the Rappahannock River to the Union Army. Visit Dr. James Farmer’s memorial at the University of Mary Washington, one of the big six in the Civil Rights Movement.

Hear the story of the Walker-Grant High School graduating Class of 1950 and why they protested the City of Fredericksburg. Learn about Urbane Bass and his heroic efforts in World War I. Additional in-person programming is in development; stay tuned for additional options.

Limited in-person tours currently available. Call for additional information.

Fredericksburg Civil Rights Trail Overview:

Fredericksburg’s Civil Rights Trail has two parts.
Part 1 is a 2.6 mile walking tour through Fredericksburg’s historic downtown district that starts at the Fredericksburg Visitor Center.
Part 2 starts on the University of Mary Washington’s campus and includes stops at Shiloh Cemetery and the Dorothy Hart Community Center. Part 2 is .5 miles of walking on campus and 1.9 miles of driving.

Get more details and download maps and tour booklet for the Fredericksburg Civil Rights Trail.

Contact:

Victoria Matthews, Tourism Sales Manager
540-372-1216 x 7206
[email protected]

Field Trips

Bring your students to the Patawomeck Museum for a fun learning experience! Visitors will walk the land of our ancestors and be immersed in an authentic Patawomeck Village. Experience our culture and discover how to start fire with a bow drill, grind corn, prepare and cook food. Explore and discover the rich history and culture of Stafford’s FIRST people. The Museum has thousands of artifacts that help to tell the complex history of the Patawomeck Tribe. The artifacts include war clubs, gardening implements, pottery and ancient weaponry. The collection represents 10,000 years of history. Be sure not to miss the replica of the cape believed to have been worn by Powhatan.

The Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia, Inc. is a registered 501(c) 3 not-for-profit corporation operated by the Officers and Directors of the organization, known as the Elected Tribal Council. The history of the Tribe pre-dates the 1300’s in Stafford County. Our Tribe was instrumental in the sustaining of the Jamestown Colony and continues to positively impact Stafford County today.

Contact:

Field Trip Coordinator
540-225-3900
[email protected]

Submit a field trip inquiry form here: https://tribalstore.square.site/group-form

Prices:

Vary – please contact the office today for a quote.

Field Trips

The Spotsylvania County Museum provides a comprehensive history of Spotsylvania County from American Indian heritage, to establishment of the county in 1721, through the Civil War up to the 21st century, including notable figures from Spotsylvania. The Museum features artifacts, photographs, documents and textiles from as early as the 1600s. The Spotsylvania County Museum sits on the First Day of Chancellorsville Battlefield which provides scenic walking trails and wayside exhibits that enhance any museum experience.

The Spotsylvania County Museum welcomes youth tours which include guided tours through the museum building led by trained museum staff (split into groups of 20), the popular Seek ‘N Find scavenger hunt game, behind the scenes tours of the collections/artifacts building and specialty topics and activities upon request. The Spotsylvania County Museum is happy to work with group leaders to create a custom experience that fits their needs. Students can take advantage of the Museum Gift Shop where they can find affordable and fun gifts and souvenirs including books, coloring books, jewelry and old-fashioned children’s toys.

SOLS covered depend on specific programming chosen but can include:

Kindergarten: K.1; K.2a,b; K.3; K.6; K.7; K.8; K.9a; K10d,e,g
1st Grade: 1.1; 1.2a; 1.3a; 1.5a,b; 1.6b; 1.10b;
2nd Grade: 2.1a,b,c,d,e,f,g,I; 2.3a; 2.4c; 2.7a; 2.11a,f; 2.12a; 3.1a,d,f,g,I
3rd Grade: 3.5; 3.6d; 3.8; 3.9; 3.11a,f; 3.12b,c
4th and 5th: Grades: VS.1; VS.2c,d,e,f; VS.4b,e; VS.7b; VS.10c
5th and 6th: Grades: USI.1a,b,c,d,e,f,g; USI.2b,c,d; USI.3b,c; USI.4b; USI.5b; USI9d,e,f
6th Grade: USII.1a,b,c,d,e,f,g,h; USII.3c

Contact:

Angel Rose, Tourism Manager
540-507-7755
[email protected]

Prices:

FREE (3 weeks notice requested)

In the early 20th-century, Mr. John J. Wright championed for the education of African American students in Spotsylvania County. One hundred years later, the museum that bears his name and stands on the site of the first high school for African American students in the county, endeavors to continue his legacy. Journey through the social context of African American education in Spotsylvania County, it’s transformation through successful integration, and the closure of the historic John J. Wright Middle School. The museum is located inside the original school’s library. The key topics addressed at the museum include segregation, African American culture, local history and integration.

Contact:

Field Trip Coordinator
540-582-7583
[email protected]

Prices:

Admission is Free
Group Reservations available by appointment