Germanna Foundation

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

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You are here: Home / Archives for History

Knights of the Golden Horseshoe Expedition Ride Reenactment

August 23, 2016 By Germanna

(Dale Duvall/Culpeper Times) Virginia Colonial history will be re-visited as horseback riders from across the United States gather to re-enact Colonial Governor Alexander Spotswood’s Transmontaine Expedition up and over the then imposing Blue Ridge Mountains.  It was 300 years ago that this expedition paved the way and began the never ending westward expansion of America. Starting […]

Filed Under: Announcements, Events, Fort Germanna, Germanna Blog, History, Knights of the Golden Horseshoe

Germanna and the War for Independence

July 1, 2016 By Germanna

Culpeper Minute Men image

As we celebrate Independence Day, let us remember the many Germanna-related individuals who served as patriots during the Revolutionary War, helping to earn the liberty we celebrate today. An important part of the story of Germanna and the Revolutionary War is that of the Culpeper Minute Men, organized by recruits from modern-day Culpeper, Fauquier, Madison, […]

Filed Under: Announcements, Germanna Blog, History

Editorial: Unearthing stories of Germanna’s past

May 20, 2016 By Germanna

Thousands of people pass the place every week, yet far too few know of its international significance. Some remarkable moments in American history happened at the Germanna historic site, on State Route 3 in Orange County. Some of those stories are told, briefly, by exhibits in the Germanna Foundation’s Brawdus Martin Visitor Center where the […]

Filed Under: Announcements, Articles, Fort Germanna, Germanna Blog, History, In the News, Knights of the Golden Horseshoe, People, Reunion

Mother’s Day history

May 6, 2016 By Germanna

Mother's Day history flowers photo

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 by her own mother – Ann Marie Reeves Jarvis.  Ann Marie was born in Culpeper in 1832, the daughter of Josiah Washington Reeves and Nancy Kemper Reeves, whose Kemper […]

Filed Under: Germanna Blog, History

60th Anniversary of the Germanna Foundation

March 14, 2016 By Germanna

March 14, 2016 is the 60th anniversary of the creation of the Germanna Foundation! To celebrate, we’re making available a free pdf of Germanna Record #9 that tells the whole interesting story of how the Foundation was created. The dedication in this 1966 book still applies: “To the undaunted few who changed the old world […]

Filed Under: Announcements, Books, Germanna Blog, History

Remembering Pearl Harbor and Germanna’s Own

December 8, 2015 By Germanna

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 […]

Filed Under: Announcements, Germanna Blog, History, In Memorium

Johannes Walk’s Homecoming, October 19th, Clemmons, NC

October 3, 2014 By Germanna

The gravestone of Johannes Walk (b & d 1769) will be returned to his home church of Friedberg Moravian Church near Winston-Salem, North Carolina during the homecoming worship service on October 19, 2014. The public is invited. Johannes Walk lived only for a few months, but we remember him – he is related to nearly […]

Filed Under: Events, Genealogy, Germanna Blog, History

45th Anniversary of a Germanna Descendant on the Moon

July 11, 2014 By Germanna

astronaut and germanna descendant buzz aldrin on the moon

The year 2014 not only marks the 300th anniversary of Germanna in America but July 20, 2014 marks the 45th anniversary of the first moon landing by Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin in 1969. Astronaut and Germanna descendant Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin is a direct descendant of the Rev. Henry Häger, the German […]

Filed Under: Germanna Blog, History, People

Are you related to the founder of Mother’s Day?

May 10, 2014 By Germanna

Mother's Day history flowers photo

Did you know that the founder of Mother’s Day and her mother whom she was celebrating were Germanna descendants? Find out if you are related to her by reading this article by Dr. Katharine Brown. Consider making a donation to the Germanna Foundation in honor of your own mother. Mug: Germanna Descendant by GermannaGeschaft View Germanna […]

Filed Under: Genealogy, Germanna Blog, History

Today in 1714: Virginia Gov. Spotswood takes note of new colony of Germans

April 28, 2014 By Germanna

Three hundred years ago today, on April 28, 1714, the official records of the Colony of Virginia take notice of a small group of Germans to be settled at a place called Germanna on the Rapidan River: “The Governor acquainting the Council that Sundry Germans to the number of forty two men women & children who […]

Filed Under: 300th Jubilee, Germanna Blog, History

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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:

  • 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

HELP SUPPORT THE MISSION OF THE GERMANNA FOUNDATION

Your tax-deductible donation helps support our important work:

Make a Donation

Become a member or renew your membership in the Germanna Foundation:

Membership

Join Germanna Mailing List

RECENT POSTS

  • Original Fort Germanna Artifacts now housed at the Hitt Archaeology Center
  • Germanna Holiday Gift-Giving Ideas
  • Germanna’s Giving Tuesday 2020
  • Message from Marc Wheat
  • Germanna Foundation Announces New President
  • Honoring Veterans
  • Germanna Foundation Germany Trip Webinar

GR #5: Ancestry and Descendants of the Nassau-Siegen Immigrants to Virginia, 1714-1750.

Germanna Record #5

Germanna 101

Watch a video about the history of the Germanna Colonies in America.

GERMANNA PAVER

Order an engraved paver for the Germanna Memorial Garden:

More Information

WATCH ON DEMAND

Missed our conference that attendees are raving about? Watch the sessions on-demand! Click on graphic for session information and registration links.

germanna-family-1b

Become a member of the Germanna Foundation and get access to Germanna’s exclusive genealogy database, GermannaFamily.org, with thousands of names. Research your Germanna roots!

Become a Member Make a Donation Planned Giving

Remember the Germanna Foundation in your estate plans and in your will.

Germanna Foundation

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
Contact Us Page

Remember the Germanna Foundation in your Will and Estate Plans.

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
CLOSED Saturday and Sunday

Advanced reservations are required to use the library. Research time limited to 2 hours.

Masks are required in the Visitor Center at all times. Please maintain 6 feet distance. Limit of 4 people in the library; 5 people in the museum.

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

Location/Map

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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 continue to be OPEN. 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.

 

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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