george washington's ferry farm

Ferry Farms was on our “To Do” list the next time we were in Fredericksburg. The weather finally broke from the cold and we had a glorious Saturday to do the self-guided tour of the property. At the visitors center, we were given a iPad and we walked and listened to the history of the property. It was partially snow covered, which was OK because we had boots but be aware that Canadian Geese use this property and there is goose poop everywhere!

While the Ferry Farm isn't in the heart of the Old Town it is worth the short ride. Caution though, the turn from the main road, I believe it was Kings Highway comes up pretty quick once you pass the Mcdonalds on the left. When you go through the light you will see a sign on the right and the entrance is a dirt road to the main building. There is continuing excavating and reconstruction going on but there is still a fair amount to see and explore. You have options such as a loan of an I PAD that you can use at your own pace as you tour the grounds. The garden is very interesting. Most of the plants are labeled which helps.It was interesting to see how tobacco plants, cotton and a variety of veggies and herbs grow. The tour is marked with red numbered flags and you just bring up that number on the IPad for the narration and photos/drawings to come up. We thought the tour was informative and enjoyed it. The staff does give you a bit of back ground when you arrive before you head out on the tour which was helpful too. This is one of the included attractions on the Timeless Ticket. There are three attractions over the river. This is the one that is the furthest out. We started there first at 10 Am when they opened and we worked our way back going to Chatham and Belmont then back over to the old town. The Ferry Farm also has some area that you can sit and picnic with your family which is a plus.

It was nice to say that I visited George Washington's Farm but there really wasn't much there. They provided an IPAD that they let you walk around the grounds with and there were random sticks stuck in the ground with numbers that you could click the corresponding button on the IPAD to learn more about George's life. However, the farm consisted of just land so there wasn't any reason to walk out to where the sticks were located and there wasn't always a connection between where the stick was located and info on the IPAD. It was also difficult to take photos while carrying the IPAD. There was a nice garden with plants that might have been grown in the 1700s but it wasn't the Washington's garden. The staff was really nice and friendly. The drive way is also hard to find. I would rather see more of a museum and not tour the property, The price was okay.

This is a self-guided tour, but you can get an iPad from the desk (just leave your drivers license as collateral) and you have expert information at your fingertips! Its a lovely spot. Unfortunately, nothing remains from the home aside from the cornerstones. Also there is an active archeological dig there and folks who are willing to explain what they've found and what they're doing. If you use your GPS to direct you, the entrance is about 2/10s of a mile BEFORE she tells you. We had to make a loop around and try it again. We purchased a combo ticket for Ferry Farm and Kenmore Plantation. Nice walk around the farm!

We've gone here a few times now as being "George Washington's Boyhood Home" seems to make visitors want to visit. It's mostly a self-guided walking tour of the land his family owned on the river. None of the buildings on site are actually colonial--something the check-in clerk was kind enough to explain. There are a variety of discounts (military, student, senior, etc), so it's not too costly to get in. A small visitor's center has a few displays and archeological finds inside, and you can go onto the property to watch the archeologists dig (there were digging throughout July, we were told). In all, the garden is the best, as it's actually growing tobacco, squash, corn, and a host of other items to see. Quiet day, which is a nice reprieve from some of the other sights in the area.

This was so educational and awe inspiring for me. I was fascinated at the thought that I was walking where George Washington had walked and lived. There were archeologists there digging and more then eager to answer any questions you have and to share their findings with you. You can see where the house used to be. Soon they will start to recreate the home that he lived in. I can't wait for them to finish it. One of the things that I thought they needed was an area for people to eat at. Such as a tent area. There were a couple of placed selling food but no place to eat. You either sit at a tiny bench or the ground. So take a blanket.

What an awesome July 4th celebration they had at the GW Ferry Farm! Music, activities for kids, very informative volunteers who were so helpful with telling stories to kids, showing how things used to be done. Excellent celebration!

We got lost, saw the signs for the childhood home of George Washington and thought 'why not?' So glad we stopped! The original home was pretty much destroyed during the Civil War, but they began excavations several years ago and identified where his childhood home stood. They are still excavating out buildings and have a number of things on display that they have found. What I loved was the IPad interaction that allowed you to tour the grounds while hearing about Washington's early years, something that's usually skipped over past the story of the cherry tree. The guide inside was super knowledgable and we had a great time. Some people have said that $8 was too high. However, considering that it was to be turned into a strip mall until the folks that have it now stepped in to save history, I don't mind contributing to a nonprofit such as this. Really neat place.

Such a beautiful historical site....George Washington's boyhood home...Quite a walk in history.. you could almost see George cutting down the cherry tree

The knowledgeable and very friendly staff at the Ferry Farm contributed to our enjoyment of our visit there in May. Ferry Farm is the boyhood home of George Washington, and is only about 10 minutes from downtown Fredericksburg. There are many interesting things to see in the museum itself, outside are many exhibits as well as gardens which you can browse. Recommend for families with school age kids as this is a educational experience.

I've lived in Fredericksburg for a number of years, yet never visited Ferry Farm. A friend visiting from Massachusetts provided the perfect opportunity. This is not a home tour, like Mt. Vernon. It is a beautiful, peaceful interlude in an otherwise Civil War battlefield dominated town. The new iPad tour (iPad provided once admission is paid) is really helpful and has great features such as historic drawings of the Farm and the short videos provided by the on-site curators and archaeologic specialist. However, my friend and I somehow managed to get lost - even with the map clearly displayed in our hands! Once back on track, we did enjoy walking down to the river, and speaking with the staff mapping out the area for the next 'dig'. I personally love all things historic, so I found the visit very satisfying.If you have kids between 4-13 who love exploring in the woods and running open fields - this is going work great for you. Be warned: 1. Elderly guests won't make it down the steep stairs to the river. 2. In the dead of summer - it's going to be HOT and the site offers little shade. 3. The iPad can be difficult to see with the glare and lack of shade - but the videos have clear sound and offer very interesting commentary. We learned a lot of new information about the Father of our Country, his childhood, his siblings and his career.

This tour was on our Timeless Ticket that we purchased thru the visitors center. The area is undergoing excavation's but the story of the area is worth taking the time to see. We were given an IPAD (free) to use as a tool while touring the grounds narrating the area as we walked the ground. Interesting property with lots of history that goes from when George Washington lived on the farm as a young boy and the history of the farm in the time of the Civil War. Well worth the trip.

I didn't dislike Ferry Farm -- I just wasn't blown away. The farm is located on the Rappahannock River across from downtown Fredericksburg and I guess the biggest disappointment for me was that none of the original structures are standing. That said, the foundation for the original farmhouse was recently discovered and it looks like there's an archealogical team working on the site. That said, the site itself is picturesque and pleasant enough. The staff at the front desk is friendly and helpful. You can even get an ipad for a self-guided tour if you are really interested in the history of the different historic sites/indicators on the farm. I thought the price was a little steep considering none of the original buildings are standing ($8 for adults) but you do get discounts for being a student, having AAA, being a senior, etc, and the front staff seems pretty flexible/generous with these discounts. I think it's a nice educational site for families with young children or history buffs, but otherwise, it's probably more worth it to go to Kenmore or Mary Washington House.

In addition to all the George stuff here, there is a very nice view from the Stafford side towards Fred'Burg. Definitely worth seeing.

As other reviewers have noted, the house is no longer there (and hasn't been for several decades). But in some ways, the house doesn't matter, since it's the farm itself, and life there, that mattered in shaping George Washington's worldview. The exhibits in the visitor center and the iPad tour explain how the Washingtons sought to better their social status, as well as how their lifestyle was made possible by their ownership of slaves (and what the lives of their slaves were like). The admission fee could be a bit much if this is the only place in Fredericksburg you visit, but you can also get a combination ticket for Kenmore, or, from a local visitor center, the Fredericksburg Timeless Ticket, which is a great value.