The Central Rappahannock Heritage
Center, Inc. is a non-governmental regional archives dedicated to preserving
for research and posterity materials documenting the lives and work of the
people.
The nonprofit organization
was formed in 1997 to preserve the common heritage of Fredericksburg and
the Virginia Commonwealth Counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania
and Stafford. All share an intertwined history dating back to the formative
years when the Rappahannock River linked their thriving ports.
King George County's Port
Conway and Caroline County's Port Royal faced each other across the river.
Twenty miles upriver, Spotsylvania's thriving hub, the port at Fredericksburg,
was across the river from Falmouth, shipping port for King George County
and later, Stafford County. Fredericksburg became a city independent of Spotsylvania
County in the late 1880s.
While the region's famous
statesmen and epic battles have been scrupulously documented, its binding
grass-roots history was a different matter. Founders of the Heritage Center
recognized that the documentary evidence of the citizens, their families,
commerce and culture was rapidly vanishing and with it the history of how
the region was shaped and evolves. Their determination to save this part
of the region's heritage was the catalyst for creation of the Heritage Center.
Whether you are a citizen
of this region, have roots here or are a student of its history, we welcome
your interest and participation.
Amazing collection of Original
Photographs from the Civil War click
here
