This is not a grand plantation home with velvet ropes and dramatized plaques. This is the real…read moreplace where history quietly ended for one of the Civil War's most consequential figures. The small, plain building you see is the plantation office of the Chandler family, where General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson was brought after being accidentally shot by his own men at Chancellorsville in May 1863. His left arm was amputated nearby, and pneumonia soon followed. He died here days later, reportedly saying, "Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees." If that line doesn't stop you in your tracks, check your pulse. What makes this site powerful is its restraint. There's no spectacle. No romanticized grandeur. Just a quiet structure sitting beside open fields and a railroad line, which adds an eerie reminder of how the war--and the country--was rapidly changing. You're standing at the intersection of brilliance, tragedy, faith, and the brutal reality of 19th-century medicine. The space encourages reflection rather than celebration. Jackson's reputation is complex, and the site doesn't shy away from that. It presents his death as a human moment inside a massive, devastating conflict rather than a mythic ending to a legend. If you're a serious history lover, this is a must-stop. It's sobering, authentic, and deeply moving--proof that sometimes the smallest places carry the heaviest history. Pro tip: Visit quietly. This is one of those places where silence feels appropriate.

This is an important piece of civil war history. We have been meaning to stop for years and finally…read moredid. There are plenty of boards to explain the whole property and the campaign in the area. I honestly didn't know that this was home to a prison camp and was happy to learn it. If you're at the speedway or even just stopping for gas at Sheetz, take a half hour and get some history. It's totally free and well maintained.

While looking for the Pyramid, keep going to almost the very end of Lee Drive and you'll see the…read morePyramid past the railroad tracks in the distance to your left. And since you're visiting the Pyramid, take your time going down Lee Drive. Many Confederate fighting positions are still visible, including an artillery site and trench works. I found this to be more interesting than the Pyramid itself. While you can see the Pyramid from the road you can't get close to it, since it's on the other side of an active Amtrak line. About the battle: While the Union's river crossing on Day 1 and heroic attack on the Sunken Road at Marye's Heights on Day 3 get plenty of attention, Day 2 is often overlooked. In fact Meade's attack against the southern Confederate flank on Day 2 almost broke through their lines, but failed mostly because of poor communication between Union commanders. The "pyramid" stands near the point of the Union's greatest penetration. The "Slaughter Pen" (which has its own Yelp entry) is on the opposite side of the wood line. Unfortunately the Confederate and Union positions are separated by the railroad, so you can't walk the entire length of the battlefield. Funny thing about the Pyramid - it was actually built by southerners. The idea for a monument was pitched by the Confederate Memorial Literary Society to Virginia railroad execs who sought to memorialize the battle in a location visible to train travelers. The pyramid shape is based on the monument to the Unknown Confederate dead in Richmond.

A very cool hidden gem in Fredericksburg - there is a path that you can walk down but I don't think…read moreyou're supposed to. There is a train track in between the path and the pyramid. You can pull off of the road and take pictures with a zoomed lens. It was a bit challenging to find - my Apple Maps took me to the wrong place (completely different battlefield!) but android seemed to have it down just fine. Just make sure you're going to the location near Lee Dr!

Beautiful place. It's a part of American history of which this area is full of. Excited to see…read moreother historical places such as George Washington's childhood home, down the road.

I had never been here before and didn't realize how close it was to Stratford Hall. It is free to…read moreenjoy on the outside grounds. It was very easy to find close to Colonial Beach VA in the same area where other famous people were born. Its close to George Wasington Birthplace also. The Visitors Center and actual House now museum was closed due to Covid-19 but the Grounds and park was open. There is plenty of signs and its a very very nice park to check out when visiting the area. Great to learn history with the kids and walk around the hiking trails!! Beautiful area! Highly recommend and impressed!

Visit this serene farm!…read more During the battle of Fredericksburg, desperate Union soldiers - the Meade leadership fearing a thumping and the death of ranks - tried to break the Confederate lines: not possible. Meade's 'brigade' was chopped to bits in the swamp and railroad embankments. The Confederate troops did not budge. What resulted was the encirclement of Union troops; and a massacre. Bayonets pierced guts. This is the original farm as it was then. It is wooden and there are trails that meander around. There are trails plenty and many signs to guide you through, it was once the stained grounds of the Battle of Fredericksburg. Rebel review: 4

The Slaughter Pen is the site of one of the bloodier fights that made up the Battle of…read moreFredericksburg. The Union briefly penetrated Confederate lines, but miscommunication between General Burnside and his subordinate commanders resulted in their failure to exploit the breach. After this defeat, Burnside launched an even more disastrous assault Marye's Heights the next day. How bloody was it? Five Medals of Honor were awarded to men who served here. So suffice to say, the nickname for this fight is apt. The area is primarily private property, who's owner made a deal with Civil War Trust to erect a walking path and signs through the corn farm. While bits and pieces of the overall battlefield remain, this property is unique in that it's the only remaining part of the battle where you can follow much (but not all) of the day's fighting almost from beginning to end. Be sure to park in the designated areas and not wander off the trail. The walk takes maybe 60 minutes, and is guided by a number of interpretive plaques along the path. You can also download an app to guide your tour. You can also visit the Meade Pyramid along Lee's drive, which was the Confederate trench line the Union was trying to reach. Unfortunately an AMTRAK line separates the Slaughter Pen from Lee's Drive, so you can't walk the entire length of the fight. If you enjoy the tour, thank Civil War Trust, who are working to preserve the land. This place is not part of the larger NPS Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/fredericksburg/fredericksburg-history-articles/slaughter-pen-virtual-tour/

Great historical marker, in its actual setting!…read more Come debate and talk about US history! Great - and accurate in its place at the intersection of William Street - historical resource for all ages, all races, all creeds, all walks of life, all genders, all peoples! An absolute must to understand America in its 'en plein air' scenery. This is where the town of Fredericksburg sold pigs, wheat, rice, white indentured servants and shoes. Since almost all of Fredericksburg was blasted to rubble in the Civil War, this one monument still stands the test of time: not in a dustbin museum showcase, where nobody cares that an item wastes away, but in real life! Erasing history, spells ruin for future posterity. Walk with people who make America, America!! We are our Past. The Rebel review: 5 stars

Sadly another important piece of history not around anymore. Removing historical monuments doesn't…read moretake from our history.would love to know where it went?!

Another unique historical landmark in St Leonard, Md. Built around 1897 and rumored to be the…read morefirst bldg in Calvert with indoor plumbing and running water. President Taft was a friend of Congressman Parran, and the President stayed here at times.

During the bloody Civil War battle of Fredericksburg, the Confederate Army devastated the Union…read moretroops as they tried to charge the hill at Marye's Heights, leaving wounded and dying soldiers scattered across the battlefield. When night fell after the day's pitched battle, countless (overwhelmingly Union) soldiers lay freezing and dying on the ground, where both sides could clearly hear them crying out for water. Hearing these dying pleas, Confederate soldier Richard Rowland Kirkland, decided to do something about their pain. Kirkland asked the commanding general if he could head out to the battlefield and provide water to the wounded men, but his request was denied. However after listening to the men's cries a while longer, Kirkland pressed the point and the general allowed him to take to the exposed battleground and provide aid. Kirkland's request to carry a white flag so that he would not be shot by the active Union soldiers was denied. Undeterred, the brave soldier set out with his canteen to soothe the dying men. Though many were apprehensive at first, the Union forces soon caught on to his charity and did not fire on Kirkland. The generous soldier was able to make several separate trips out onto the battlefield with water, each time risking being shot by the tense men on either side. Kirkland's selfless actions earned him the nickname "Angel of Marye's Heights." In 1965, a statue honoring Kirkland was unveiled at the Fredericksburg battlefield site. The Sons of Confederate Veterans posthumously awarded Kirkland their Confederate Medal of Honor, which was created long after the war's end in 1977. The lone bronze memorial memorial commemorates Kirkland's bravery and humanity in the face of imminent death.

We were treated to a private tour of the home and grounds, purely by luck, and the glimpse into…read morewhat took place at that home during both the Revolutionary and Civil was was astounding. One of the most remarkable preservations was the carefully sculpted plaster ceiling whose delicate features had survived since 1775 despite cannon fire tearing a hole in the wall! I won't delve into the details that our guide recalled with not only amazing retention but with showmanship, however, the historical significance was worth the trip. Definitely worth the price of admission (I think it was around $12) and your time during a trip to historic Fredericksburg.

Tony and I spent the night in Fredericksburg MD in hopes of being able to get into some of these…read morelovely historic sites But many of them were closed due to Covid-19 This Plantation home was the house of Fielding Lewis and his wife Betty Washington, the sister of George Washington. Their mother, Mary Washington is buried very close to her home. The Plantation grounds were closed but we were able to see the house and outer buildings from the gate. We are planning another trip back in the late spring

"Walk a mile in their shoes......"…read more I decided to peer through the eyes of history and visit the Tuckahoe Plantation. I felt all the feels driving up the loooong drive to the plantation. I wondered how many slaves dreamed about what was on the "other side" of that long field. Many visitors pack in to see where Thomas Jefferson spent his childhood BUT I drove to see how the ancestors spent theirs (as this plantation tells the enslaved stories, as well). As I walked the curving path to see the schoolhouse, kitchen, enslaved quarters....I felt something (not the haunting that is said to be present) - i wondered about long sweltering summers in the field. I didn't need to peer inside the main house. I thought the archivists did a good job assembling historical facts about Thomas Jefferson and the enslaved. I didn't take the guided tour but I enjoyed what was open to see (people reside there - in both the main house and cabins - so not much to see).

Lovely spot to take a walk in their immaculate garden! This plantation, once the home of Thomas…read moreJefferson, is located off River Road, down a long, dirt driveway. You will pass a farm with chickens and gorgeous fields as you make you way to the stately Georgian styled home at the end of the road. There's a parking lot with an honor system box, $5 donation for the self- guided walking tour of the grounds. A map Is provided, and there are QR codes throughout this beautiful acreage. Should you want a guided tour of the main house and outbuildings, there are charges ranging from $5-$20, discounts for children, seniors and military. Call for reservations to be sure they are not hosting a private event. We were only interested in being outdoors! The plantation is open from 9-5 daily. This place is the perfect location for some fresh air therapy! We were enthralled by the various garden areas, the statuary, the arched groves, the arbors, the colonial design, and most of all, the spring flowers and trees in full bloom! We meandered through the rows of tulips, daffodils, poppies, hyacinths, snowdrops, candytuft, bluebells, and other colorful flowers, shrubs, bushes and plants. This not so secret garden was full of birds, with bird houses placed strategically at various spots. Flowering vines and trees were trained to make gorgeous arches. The maintenance of this amazing, historic estate is obviously painstakingly meticulous. We were completely enthralled with its beauty and understated grandeur. They allow photo shoots for exorbitant fees and by appointment only. You might want to try Maymont, etc. instead.