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

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You are here: Home / Archaeology / Germanna Foundation welcomes visitors to archaeological site on public access day
Germanna Foundation welcomes visitors to archaeological site on public access day

Germanna Foundation welcomes visitors to archaeological site on public access day

October 15, 2020 By Germanna Foundation Leave a Comment

News article in the Orange County Review newspaper by Gracie Wilbanks:

The Germanna Foundation held a public access day on Saturday, October 3, in conjunction with the 300th anniversary of the founding of Spotsylvania. The history organization hosted its annual public access day to Germanna’s archaeological digs sites, educational opportunities regarding colonial life and a visit from Lieutenant Governor Alexander Spotswood, himself.

Spotswood was the guest of honor and proclaimed the formation of Spotsylvania County at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Fort Germanna archaeological site located across the highway from the Fort Germanna Visitor Center in Locust Grove.

Spotswood was born in 1676 and served in the British Army, before being named Lt. Gov. of Virginia. He is remembered in history for a number of initiatives, including exploring the Virginia frontier, establishing the first colonial ironworks and negotiating the Treaty of Albany with the Iroquois Nation.

In 1714, Spotswood commissioned Fort Germanna and the first Germanna colony migrated from the Siegerland area of Germany. More than 40 Germans were greeted by Spotswood, building and inhabiting Fort Germanna (Ger– to honor the German colonists and Anna to honor Queen Anne).

Saturday, approximately 130 visitors were given the chance to see archaeological progress in the search for the fort that Spotswood commissioned.

“Although we had a short season, we dug deeper than ever before and found a ground surface with ash and nails that predate the construction of The Enchanted Castle (Spotswood’s house),” said head archaeologist Dr. Eric Larsen.

Germanna staff archaeologists engaged with visitors and allowed them to see active excavations while event staff educated visitors about frontier life within the fort. Information tables included subjects like how colonists made clay pots, wrote with quill and ink and shaped rocks.

The event was free to the public, but because of health precautions the foundation required visitors to book times for hourly tours. Hand sanitizer was available on site and masks were recommended, but not required.

“In a normal year, we would’ve had four our five events like this one,” said event coordinator Ashley Abruzzo. “Today’s event was successful because of good weather and good turn-out.”

The Fort Germanna Visitor Center is open Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is closed Saturday and Sunday. For more information about Fort Germanna and the Germanna Foundation, visit: www.germanna.org.

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Germanna Foundation’s Mission and Stewardship

The Germanna Foundation tells America’s story of liberty through the frontier experience of her settlers and descendants using archaeological, historical, and genealogical research and interpretation. We are stewards over these important properties and initiatives:

  • Fort Germanna Visitor Center campus which includes a Museum, Genealogy Library, the Hitt Archaeology Center, and the Germanna Memorial Garden
  • Siegen Forest – 170-acre Hiking and Nature Trails along the Rapidan river
  • 1714/1717 Fort Germanna Archaeology Site
  • Virginia Lt. Gov. Alexander Spotswood’s home “Enchanted Castle” Archaeology Site
  • 1757 Georgian-style Salubria Manor
  • 1800 Peter Hitt Farm
  • Publishing “The Germanna Record” genealogy/ history books
  • Maintaining a genealogy database with over 130,000 records of descendants of the Germanna colonists

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The Germanna Foundation
MAILING: P.O. Box 279
LOCATION: 2062 Germanna Highway
Locust Grove, VA 22508-0279
Phone: 540-423-1700
Fax: 540-423-1747
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Fort Germanna Visitor Center, Museum & Library

2062 Germanna Highway (Route 3)
Locust Grove, VA 22508
(Next to the Germanna Community College campus)

Hours of Operation:
Monday-Friday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Saturdays, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Closed on Sundays

Out of town visitors are urged to call us at 540-423-1700 to confirm or to make special arrangements for groups.

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Hike Siegen Forest!

Behind the Fort Germanna Visitor Center is our 170-acre Siegen Forest nature and hiking trails along the Rapidan river. Trails are OPEN 7 days a week, during daylight hours. When visiting the trails, please practice “Leave no Trace” ethos. If you enjoy the trails, consider donating to the Germanna Foundation to help support their upkeep.

 

About

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.

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