Since 1956, the Germanna Foundation has published hundreds of years of genealogy across thousands of pages in twenty volumes of research and is in the process of expanding our database of over 100,000 known descendants. Now, modern science has developed the new tool of DNA testing to expand beyond the limits of genealogy, as Dr. Spencer […]
Remembering Pearl Harbor and Germanna’s Own
Pearl Harbor Day is a time of remembrance for Americans. At 7:55 and 42 seconds, on the morning of December 7th, 1941, thousands of unsuspecting Americans were killed in a surprise attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. It was the bloodiest foreign attack on U.S. soil in the modern war era, until […]
Giving Tuesday
We invite you to celebrate the true spirit of the holiday season by participating in Giving Tuesday on December 1st! Last year, more than 27,000 organizations in 68 countries came together to celebrate this global day of giving. This year the Germanna Foundation is proud to encourage our members and friends to join this “Do […]
A Thanksgiving Story
Thanksgiving marks off the year for every American the beginning of a “holiday season” of memory, anticipation, and joy – but above all, it begins with thanks. In my time as a member of the board of trustees of the Germanna Foundation since 1997, I have come to rest on the idea that the heartbeat […]
November Traditions
It has become something of a tradition at the Germanna Foundation to update our members on our latest news and to ask you to increase you support for the work of your Foundation through an end-of-year gift and a pledge for the forthcoming year. You should be receiving our letter this week, so please watch […]
Charting our Pathway to Discovery
Germanna staff archaeologist Dr. Eric Larsen began a new site topographic mapping survey project at Fort Germanna in October. The original site grid was established some 30 years ago and focused on the architectural footprint of Alexander Spotswood’s Enchanted Castle. Today, thanks to the generosity of Dr. Michael D. Frost and his wife Ginger, who […]
New Genealogy Database of Germanna Descendants
The Germanna Foundation has a new data-rich genealogy website database of Germanna descendants at GermannaFamily.org. The database is a project of Germanna Foundation Trustee and Genealogist Cathi Clore Frost. To access the database, you must be a paid member of the Germanna Foundation (Become a Member/Renew Your Dues securely online). Annual membership dues are only $35 per year […]
Newsletters Added
We’ve added the Winter and Spring 2015 newsletters to the website (Germanna Foundation Newsletters). The Summer 2015 newsletter arrived in mailboxes back in July to those who are paid members. Want your Germanna newsletter hot off the presses? Become a Member today. As a member, you’ll also get access to the members-only Germanna genealogy database, […]
Travel to Germany in 2016
Plan to join the Germanna Foundation in 2016 to travel to our ancestral lands in Germany. Two trips are planned: one in June to the villages from which the Germanna colonies emigrated and the other in December on a river cruise. Click here for more details and fill out the form on this page to let us know […]
Germanna Archaeology Site in the News
Many of our 2015 reunion attendees had the opportunity to visit the Fort Germanna/ Enchanted Castle archaeological site during an open house with staff archaeologist Dr. Eric Larsen and special guest Dr. Bernard Means from Virginia Commonwealth University’s Virtual Curation Lab. Orange County Review reporter Amber Galaviz covered the event. Read her “Digging Germanna” article […]
2015 Germanna Reunion and Conference
Thank you to our members and other attendees, supporters, speakers, and volunteers for making this year’s reunion events such a wonderful experience. And be sure to mark your calendar now for the 2016 Germanna Reunion and Conference (July 15-18, 2016), celebrating the 300th anniversary of the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe Expedition led by Alexander […]
Germanna Reunion Registration and Website Facelift
Registration for the 2015 Germanna Foundation Reunion and Conference (July 16-19) is now open. Visit the reunion section of our website for the schedule details and to register securely online. There is also a registration form you may download and fill out if you prefer to mail in your registration. The Spring Newsletter will be arriving in […]
Fort Germanna – Enchanted Castle Site Nominated for Inclusion on World Monuments Fund 2016 Watch List
The Fort Germanna/Enchanted Castle archaeological site has been nominated for inclusion on the World Monuments Fund 2016 Watch List. The Watch List, published every two years, calls international attention to cultural heritage sites around the globe that are at risk from the forces of nature or the impact of social, political, and economic change, and […]
Germanna Foundation Announces Appointment of Dr. Eric Larsen as Staff Archaeologist
Today the Trustees of the Germanna Foundation announced the appointment of Eric Larsen, Ph.D., as Archaeologist of the Foundation. Dr. Larsen brings more than 25 years of archaeological experience to his new position, having worked with the National Park Service at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, and for the University of Maryland on sites in […]
Germanna Descendant and Astronaut Buzz Aldrin to Visit Germanna Area
Germanna descendant, Apollo 11 astronaut and moonwalker Buzz Aldrin will visit with schoolchildren from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, November 7th at Germanna Community College’s Daniel Technology Center in Culpeper, VA, as part of an effort by his ShareSpace Foundation to inspire young children to consider careers in science, technology, engineering, the arts […]
Colonial Dames to dedicate historic marker at Salubria on Saturday, Sept 27
(Click on images to enlarge) The House of Burgesses Chapter of the Colonial Dames XVII Century will be dedicating a brick historic marker and bronze plaque honoring the Germanna Foundation’s stewardship of Salubria, the mid-18th century Georgian brick mansion, in Stevensburg, Virginia this Saturday, September 27th at 11:00 am in a ceremony at Salubria. Ms. […]
West Coast Germanna Gathering
Live on the West Coast? Come to the Germanna Foundation’s West Coast Germanna Gathering on Saturday, September 27, 2014 from 10 am to 2 pm at the Village Inn in St. Helens, Oregon. The program includes: The Germanna Colonies Story ~ by Dr. Katharine Brown Documents Used to Identify the Second Colonists ~ by Cathi […]
New Tour Added on July 18: Marching Through Culpeper
This Friday, July 18, 2014, from 10 am to Noon, join Virginia Morton, author of Marching Through Culpeper, for her popular two-hour Civil War Walking Tour of historic downtown Culpeper. Walk in the footsteps of Lee, Grant, Custer, Pelham, Clara Barton and other notables. See below for more details. The walking is not strenuous and several […]
Help Create a Visual Historical Record of the Reunion
The Germanna Foundation has set up a Shutterfly photo sharing site for those coming to the reunion next week. We are encouraging everyone to take lots of photos throughout the reunion and conference and upload them to this site as a donation to the Germanna Foundation to share with those at the reunion as well […]
Order Stone Pavers for Memorial Garden
On Memorial Day 2014, Germanna family members were at the Germanna Foundation Memorial Garden to honor the day and those it commemorates. The President of the Germanna Foundation read a representative selection of names of members of the Armed Forces who risked their lives defending our freedom and are now remembered by the present generation, […]
New Germanna Store
The Germanna Foundation has a new Zazzle store called Das Germanna Geschäft (Germanna Store) that carries all sorts of items with the Germanna Foundation logo and the 300th Anniversary logo. Every time you make a purchase, the Germanna Foundation gets a percentage of the sale and so you’re helping to support your Foundation. If you haven’t […]
2014 Germanna Reunion
You’ve waited 300 years for this! Information about the Germanna Foundation’s event of the year–the 57th Annual Conference and Reunion–is now posted on the website along with links where you can easily register online. You won’t want to miss this very special event with an expanded line-up of events as we celebrate the 300th anniversary […]
Germanna Records Available on Amazon
Just in time for the upcoming holiday season, the Germanna Records can now be easily purchased through Amazon. The Germanna Foundation is an Amazon Associate, meaning every time you click on an Amazon link on our website and purchase something, the Germanna Foundation earns money. Here are the titles currently available: QUICK LINKS TO AMAZON: […]
Fort Germanna site transferred to Germanna Foundation
Written by Germanna Foundation President J. Marc Wheat: It is a moving experience in an American’s life to travel to a special place and say with pride and gratitude, “this is where our family became American.” For over half a century, descendants of the explorers and colonists who became American at Germanna have found their […]
VFH Grant to Germanna
Spring 2012 Germanna Foundation Newsletter The Germanna Foundation is the grateful recipient a grant from the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities for a long-term interpretive exhibit for the Brawdus Martin Germanna Visitor Center. This grant provides $3,000 towards the costs of fabricating and installing the exhibit in 2012. A previous grant from VFH of $10,000 made […]
