Historical Marker Society of America

History teaches everything including the future. - Lamartine

  • Increase font size
  • Default font size
  • Decrease font size

Germanna (J34)


Home Virginia Orange
* Click to Display Marker Map *
Marker Image
Picture Courtesy of John Musgrove

Marker Image
Picture Courtesy of John Musgrove

Here Governor Alexander Spotswood established a colony of Germans in 1714. At that time the Rapidan River was the frontier of Virginia. On August 28, 1716, Spotswood left from this place with his Knights of the Golden Horseshoe on his exploring expedition across the mountains. The German colony later moved to Fauquier County. Spotswood lived for some years at Germanna where he was visited in 1732 by William Byrd who called his house Spotwood’s Enchanted Castle. Department of Conservation and Historic Resources, 1986
Department of Conservation and Historic Resources 1986

VA Rt. 3 (eastbound) just over the Rapidan River. icon