Germanna Foundation | Preserving the historic heritage of the original settlers of the Fort Germanna Colonies in Virginia

Due to the continued COVID19 crisis, the Germanna Foundation Visitor Center and Salubria will remain CLOSED until further notice. The staff continue to attend to the work of Germanna and welcome any questions or comments, please contact us or call us at 540-423-1700, Mon-Fri, 9 am to 5 pm.~The Siegen Forest trail system continues to remain OPEN 7 days a week, during daylight hours. When visiting the trails, please practice “Leave no Trace” ethos and maintain proper social distancing. If you enjoy the trails, consider donating to the Germanna Foundation to help support their upkeep.

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Tune into our new program on our Facebook page as well as our YouTube channel called “5 minutes with Germanna,” where we explore a variety of topics and subjects as they relate to Germanna, it’s history and what it takes to run your institution.

New Trail Kiosk Installed for Germanna’s Siegen Forest

We have exciting news! During our Giving Tuesday campaign in December we wanted to raise funds for a new kiosk for our trails and thanks to you, our … [Read More...]

Germanna Artifacts

Germanna Foundation Director of Archaeology Dr. Eric Larsen talks about one of his favorite artifacts that was found at Germanna. He shows this at the … [Read More...]

Germanna Archaeology 2020

Tim Sutphin talks with Dr. Eric Larsen about what to expect this year with Germanna Archaeology. The Germanna Foundation is a 501(c)3 … [Read More...]

Spotswood Window

In this video, Executive Director Tim Sutphin discusses the history of the Spotswood Stained Glass Window that has been in the Fort Germanna Visitor … [Read More...]

Germanna Ford

Ashley Abruzzo takes a look at the Germanna Ford. On May 4, 1864, 156 years ago during the Civil War, General Ulysses S. Grant and the Army of the … [Read More...]

The Old Mill Complex in Germanna’s Siegen Forest

Dr. Eric Larsen, Director of Archaeology for the Germanna Foundation, discusses the old mill complex and race within Siegen Forest and shows you the … [Read More...]

Germanna Update – April 16, 2020

Tim Sutphin, the Executive Director of the Germanna Foundation, gives an update on the Foundation on Thursday, April 16, … [Read More...]

Germanna Foundation’s Research and Genealogy Library

Germanna Foundation Membership Development Manager Ashley Abruzzo shows you around the research and genealogy library at the Fort Germanna Visitor … [Read More...]

Getting Germanna Records genealogy books to you

Today's 5 Minutes with Germanna has Office Manager Barbara Bounds explaining the process of what it takes to get our Germanna Records sent from our … [Read More...]

Inside the Hitt Archaeology Center with Dr. Eric Larsen

Dr. Eric Larsen, Director of Archaeology for the Germanna Foundation, takes you for a tour of the Hitt Archaeology Center, which is part of the Fort … [Read More...]

Germanna Volunteer Projects From Your Home

Would you like to help the Germanna Foundation from the comforts of home? We have several volunteer opportunities that you can participate in. We are … [Read More...]

Fort Germanna Visitor Center Update

Due to the continued COVID19 crisis, the Germanna Foundation Visitor Center and Salubria will remain CLOSED until further notice. The staff continue … [Read More...]

Germanna is Looking for Volunteers

The Germanna Foundation seeks volunteers to help with its mission* and is hosting its first ever volunteer open house on Friday, March 13, 2020 from … [Read More...]

Germanna Community College to Name New Building After Dr. Frank Turnage

In 1969, the Germanna Foundation donated 100 acres of land to create a new community college in Virginia, which would become Germanna Community … [Read More...]

Salubria intrigues public during rare open house

Germanna's historic Salubria Manor held its first public access day on June 21, 2019. An article in the Culpeper Star-Exponent by Clint Schemmer and … [Read More...]

Dedication of the Hitt Archaeology Center

On Thursday, May 9, 2019, the Germanna Foundation officially opened its new Hitt Archaeology Center as part of its Fort Germanna Visitor Center … [Read More...]

Germanna Foundation opens Hitt Archaeology Center

The Culpeper Star-Exponent published an article on the front page by Clint Schemmer about the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new Hitt Archaeology … [Read More...]

A look into Fauquier County’s 18th century German past

Germanna Foundation Trustee Kristie Kendall wrote an article in The Piedmont Virginia magazine about the Peter Hitt house, which is under the … [Read More...]

The Germanna Foundation: Digging into History

Today the Orange County Review had an article in it about the Germanna Foundation, written by Amber Galaviz: The Germanna Foundation: digging into … [Read More...]

Archaeology center under roof at Germanna

An article about the new Hitt Archaeology Center appeared in the Culpeper Star-Exponent written by Clint Schemmer: An archaeologist’s dream is … [Read More...]

Contribute to the Archaeology Lab-Warming Shower!

As the construction of the new Hitt Archaeology Center continues, Germanna Archaeology is dreaming about the future possibilities of working together … [Read More...]

Germanna and the Founders and Patriots of Texas

"Bond reflected that good Americans were fine people and that most of them seemed to come from Texas."--Ian Fleming, Casino Royale The third largest … [Read More...]

The Willheit Family: The First Four Generations

Now available to purchase via Amazon or by calling the Germanna Foundation is our latest Germanna Record, #21, called The Willheit Family: The First … [Read More...]

Germanna 101 – History of the Germanna Colonies in Virginia

Germanna Foundation Membership Development Manager Ashley Abruzzo (and Germanna descendant) presents a video overview on the history of the Germanna … [Read More...]

Germanna First Colony Land Patent Map

Here the land map of Germantown in Fauquier County, Virginia. It shows the schematic outline for individual family tracts on the 1,805 acres of land … [Read More...]

Germanna Reunion celebrates colonists’ deeds, kin

An article about the 2019 Germanna Reunion and Conference was published in the Culpeper Star-Exponent, written by Emily Jennings. See the photo … [Read More...]

Germanna in America

We're collecting photographs of Germanna names throughout America for a display in the Fort Germanna Visitor Center along with a map with pins of … [Read More...]

“The Gallant Pelham” Linked to Germanna Families; Revolutionized Use of Artillery Under J.E.B. Stuart

Major Linked to Area Families By Kimberley Glascoe – Culpeper Star-Exponent Published: June 20, 2011. Although John Pelham’s Civil War legacy … [Read More...]

Mystery tombstone returned to Germanna

Orange County-Review, March 28, 2014 By Kerry Sipe A six-month-old infant who died before the American Revolution has been the subject of a … [Read More...]

Germanna’s Trip to Germany—a Family Historian’s Dream

By Leslie Hall Fall 2011 Germanna Newsletter For any genealogist there can be nothing more exciting than actually seeing where one’s ancestors … [Read More...]

Five ways to share your Germanna research

Wow! We've had a lot of snow! You may have seen it on national news, but Germanna Country has been really socked in with heavy, wet … [Read More...]

List of Germanna Names

We've compiled a quick-reference list of Germanna names: Germanna Names (pdf) Use this for our Germanna in America project to find photos of signs, … [Read More...]

Research links Germanna CC employee to original Germanna settlement as 300th anniversary nears

Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star, June 20, 2014 Jean Rice found herself drawn to a strip of land off State Route 3, also known as Germanna Highway, … [Read More...]

History of the Little Fork

The Little Fork community, named for its location in the Little Fork of the Rappahannock River where the Hedgeman and Hazel Rivers meet to form the … [Read More...]

Mother’s Day: A Celebration rooted in a Germanna mother’s life

by Dr. Katharine L. Brown 1st Vice President and Trustee, Germanna Foundation The mother in whose honor Mother’s Day was established was a … [Read More...]

Who Were Germanna’s Founders?

The inspiring history of the Germanna colonies lay nearly forgotten for 200 years. Threads of awareness emerge in the historical writing of … [Read More...]

BREAKING: Horse Stolen from Col. Spotswood

Okay, maybe the news is 281 years old, but Germanna Foundation President Marc Wheat came across a mention of Germanna and the Iron Works in the … [Read More...]

Germanna and the War for Independence

As we celebrate Independence Day, let us remember the many Germanna-related individuals who served as patriots during the Revolutionary War, helping … [Read More...]

John Back – Revolutionary War Soldier

John Back: Revolutionary War Soldier from the Little Fork The Revolutionary War pension application of John Back for his service contains … [Read More...]

Historian Illuminates Culpeper Patriot’s Revolutionary Role

Updated -- Video of the lecture: The Culpeper Star-Exponent wrote an article about a lecture at the Germanna Foundation: Area residents are … [Read More...]

Germanna Record 20 Available Again and Now on Kindle

Our book, Germanna Record 20: "Germanna Studies: Essays Honoring John V. Blankenbaker" had been sold out but we have reissued it. The design of the … [Read More...]

Mother’s Day history

Anna Jarvis, the founder of Mother’s Day, devoted years to gaining national recognition for a day to honor mothers, as a fulfillment of a dream held … [Read More...]

John Fontaine and The First Germanna Colony, Part II

Did Someone Say Miners? Golden Horseshoes? John Fontaine Part II By Craig Kilby May 2009 Part I Part II Fontaine's Two Trips to … [Read More...]

Germanna Second Colony Land Patent Map

Here is an early land patent map showcasing where several Second Colony ancestors had land in the Robinson River Valley in Madison County, … [Read More...]

The Wives of Jacob Holtzclaw

By Barbara Price In all my years of research into my Holtzclaw family, I’ve always wondered about the second wife of Jacob Holtzclaw, the 1714 … [Read More...]

The Germanna Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to exploring the Colonial Virginia frontier via the historic 1714 Fort Germanna and its German colonists and their descendants.

It conducts archaeological exploration and conservation, genealogical research and publishing, and historic preservation and interpretation.

The Foundation owns and maintains several historic sites and properties, such as Salubria Manor, that were part of or closely connected to the Germanna colonies, the town of Germanna, and the other early colonial Virginia settlements and towns in the Piedmont area of Virginia.