Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg is an independent city located in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States, located 53 miles (85 km) south of Washington, D.C. and 58 miles (94 km) north of Richmond.

Located near where the Rappahannock River crosses the Atlantic Seaboard fall line, Fredericksburg was a prominent port in Virginia during the colonial era. During the Civil War, Fredericksburg, located halfway between the capitals of the opposing forces, was the site of the Battle of Fredericksburg and Second Battle of Fredericksburg. These battles are preserved, in part, as the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. More than 10,000 African-Americans in the region left slavery for freedom in 1862 alone, getting behind Union lines. Tourism is a major part of the economy. Approximately 1.5 million people visit the Fredericksburg area annually, including the battlefield park, the downtown visitor center, events, museums, art shops, galleries, and many historical sites.

Manassas

Manassas (formerly Manassas Junction) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The city borders Prince William County, and the independent city of Manassas Park, Virginia. Manassas serves as the seat of Prince William County. It surrounds the 38-acre county courthouse, but that county property is not part of the city. The City of Manassas has several important historic sites from the period 1850–1870.

In July 1861, the First Battle of Manassas—also known as the First Battle of Bull Run—was fought nearby, the first major land battle of the American Civil War. Manassas commemorated the 150th anniversary of the First Battle of Manassas on July 21–24, 2011.

The Second Battle of Manassas (or the Second Battle of Bull Run) was fought near Manassas on August 28–30, 1862. At that time, Manassas Junction was little more than a railroad crossing, but a strategic one, with rails leading to Richmond, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and the Shenandoah Valley. Despite these two Confederate victories, Manassas Junction was in Union hands for most of the war.

Following the war, the crossroads grew into the town of Manassas, which was incorporated in 1873. In 1894, Manassas was designated the county seat of Prince William County, replacing Brentsville. In 1975, Manassas was incorporated as an independent city, and as per Virginia law, was separated from Prince William County.

The Manassas Historic District; Cannon Branch Fort; Liberia, a plantation house; and the Manassas Industrial School for Colored Youth are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Surce: Wikipedia

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Photos on this page are of Downtown Fredericksburg and Manassas.

Photos of the Manassas Battlefield Park are published in the Battlefields Section, which you can see here:

Manassas Battlefield Park

Photos of the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum are published in the Museums section, which you can see here:

Smithsonian Air & Space Museum

Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg Train Station

Rising Sun Tavern

Built by George Washington’s youngest brother Charles around 1760 as his home, this frame building became a tavern in 1792 when it was purchased by the Wallace family.  It operated for 35 years as a stopover for travelers in the bustling port town of Fredericksburg.

Preservation Virginia acquired the Rising Sun Tavern in 1907 and completed a series of restorations including the front porch.  Much of the beautiful woodwork in the tavern is original.

Land Rover Discovery made in Solihull, England – not very common in Virginia, USA

The Slave Auction Block in Fredericksburg is a large stone that was used as an auction block in historical slave auctions. It was located on the corner of William Street and Charles Street, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Fredericksburg Historic District.

Presbyterian Church

St George’s Episcopal Church

Manassas

Manassas Railroad Station

Manassas station was originally built by the Southern Railway in 1914, it today serves as the penultimate station along the Virginia Railway Express Manassas Line, as well as a stop on Amtrak’s Cardinal, Crescent, and Northeast Regional trains.

The station was constructed in 1914. The city bought the depot from Norfolk Southern Railway in the 1990s and renovated it under the direction of The Manassas Museum System. Workers restored the original 1914 paint colors, repointed brick, laid new plaster, overhauled mechanical systems and installed reproductions of original doors and light fixtures. A tile roof similar to the original was also installed. The $575,000 project was completed in 1997. Today the depot has a waiting room and also houses a tourist information center and the James & Marion Payne Memorial Railroad Exhibition Gallery.

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