From tobacco to amphibious warfare techniques, Stafford County spans more than 400 years of significant contributions in the building of our nation. In 1608, John Smith first noted the abundance of the county where a century later George Washington would grow up.
During the earliest days of the county’s history, the great Aquia sandstone was used for architectural project with the best-known use in the U. S. Capitol and White House. Continuing to be quarried into the 1970s, Aquia stone may be found in buildings from Georgia to Canada, including in Harkness Hall at Yale University.
A resource of iron was discovered and brought iron works and furnaces – including the Washington family – to Stafford. These furnaces have been credited with supplying the Continental Army under George Washington with muskets and bullets, allowing the fight to continue to victory.
During the Civil War, Stafford was most noted for the winter encampment of the entire Army of the Potomac with Aquia Landing a major supply and transport center. In 1863, one of Abraham Lincoln’s many visits to Stafford included the largest troop review in U. S. history. During this period, more than 10,000 enslaved people escaped to freedom in a massive refugee effort through the Union camps.
At the turn of the 20th century, timbering and massive commercial fisheries helped build the nation. With a little ingenuity, local farms made Stafford the largest pickle producer in Virginia selling cucumbers to pickle factories both north and south through the Great Depression. During this same period, the father of the organic and health food industries, Jethro Kloss, conducted his first experiments with soy foods, including tofu, patties, and meat substitutes from his base in Brooke.
The history of flight took a giant leap when the U. S. Balloon Corps settled into Stafford in 1862. This was followed by Samuel P. Langley who chose Stafford County to test his unmanned flying machines in the late 19th century.
The newly created FBI and expanded Quantico Marine Corps base brought fingerprint analysis and amphibious warfare techniques to Stafford along with a host of high-tech businesses into the 21st century offering everything from solar powered buoys that track environmental debris in the oceans of the world to unmanned drones providing recon and rescue support.
All of these commercial and industrial accomplishments were essential to building our nation.
These are among the stories we tell—of people who discovered and created; who built through hard work and ingenuity the backbone of our technology and infrastructure; who forged iron, quarried stone, and harvested produce to nourish a growing nation. Stafford’s stories are America’s stories.
Run America 250 - Virtual RaceWalk or Run 250 Miles to Celebrate America’s 250th! Lace up your sneakers and get moving in the free Run America 250 Challenge: a country-wi... Read More
Margaret Brent: Catholic Immigrant, Landowner, and AttorneyPresented by Widewater State Park Chief Ranger, Ellen Hillborn. In a time when women were seen as the caretakers of children and household duties, Mar... Read More
James Hunter and His Iron WorksPresented by Kathi Lynn Austin of the Freedom Forge Foundation and Jerrilynn Eby MacGregor of the Stafford County Historical Society. During the Ameri... Read More
Dr. Joseph Warren and Other Lesser-Known Sons of LibertyPresented by Connie S. Schroeder. The likes of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin are all well-known Founding Fathers. However... Read More
Drums Along the RappahannockMark America’s 250th at Ferry Farm, the childhood home of George Washington. Featuring stirring performances by the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, L... Read More
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VA250 Spring Book Group - A Girl Called Samson by Amy HarmonThe Central Rappahannock Regional Library is hosting four book discussions in celebration of America’s semiquincentennial. A Girl Called Samson is t... Read More
Revolutionary Medicine and Hugh Mercer’s Apothecary ShopPresented by the Washington Heritage Museums. Historical interpreters from the Hugh Mercer Apothecary Shop will present an engaging talk on Revolution... Read More
Colonial American GenealogyPresented by Gail S. Watson of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Falls Church Chapter. Researching genealogy can prove difficult across all me... Read More
Historic Aquia CreekPresented by Jerrilynn Eby MacGregor of the Stafford County Historical Society. Aquia Creek was at one point a major commercial waterway from the mid-... Read More
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Indigenous People and Virginia in the American RevolutionPresented by Dr. Jason Sellers, University of Mary Washington. The colonial unrest that led to the American Revolution offered opportunities for diver... Read More
VA250 Book Group - The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780 by Rick AtkinsonThe Central Rappahannock Regional Library is hosting a unique book group in celebration of America’s semiquincentennial. The Fate of the Day begins ... Read More
James Hunter and the American RevolutionAround 1758, Scottish merchant James Hunter commenced an iron manufactory a short distance up the Rappahannock River from Falmouth. His business grew ... Read More
Hunter's Iron Works Symposium This is a 2 day event to highlight the story of Hunter's Iron Works. James Hunter's Iron Works, also known as Rappahannock Forge, was located eas... Read More
Scandal, Cards, & Courtship: Regency EntertainmentsPresented by Kate Fogelson, Jane Austen Society of North America. Step into the world of Regency-era society for a lively look at the real games and s... Read More
The Politics of Independence in Colonial VirginiaPresented by Dr. Will Mackintosh, Associate Professor at the University of Mary Washington. Looking backwards, the political decision to break with Gr... Read More
Historic Stafford Places and Their StoriesPresented by Jerrilynn Eby MacGregor of the Stafford County Historical Society. Stafford County has played a vital role in the founding of this nation... Read More
For the Common Defense: The Birth of America's Defense ForcesThis program is part of the VA250: The American Revolution Speaker Series. Presented by Jeff Joyce, Culpeper National Cemetery. In celebration of ... Read More
Fabulous Friday: The American RevolutionJoin the library and the Fredericksburg Area Museum in celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of America by participating in games, activit... Read More
Grow a Reader Special: Happy Birthday America!Celebrate America's birthday with a special storytime event focusing on the founding of America! CRRL's Grow a Reader programs are led by specially tr... Read More
A 250th Fourth of JulyBe part of America’s 250th birthday on July 4, 2026, at George Washington’s Boyhood Home at Ferry Farm! This family-friendly Americana-themed Inde... Read More
The Impact of the Revolution on the Daily Lives of AmericansThis program is part of the VA250: The American Revolution Speaker Series. Presented by Historic Fredericksburg Foundation, Inc. Explore how the A... Read More
Deborah Sampson and Anna Maria Lane, Women Soldiers of the RevolutionThis program is part of the VA250: The American Revolution Speaker Series. Presented by Vicki Ritenour Dehlbom, Honorary Regent, Washington-Lewis ... Read More
VA250 Summer Book Group - The Untold Story of America’s Revolutionary War in the South by Alan Pell CrawfordPresented in partnership with The Washington Heritage Museums. The Central Rappahannock Regional Library is hosting four book discussions in celebrati... Read More
From Trenton to Yorktown: Turning Points of the Revolutionary WarThis program is part of the VA250: The American Revolution Speaker Series. Presented by Dr. John R. Maass, National Museum of the United States Ar... Read More
Why the British Lost the War for American IndependenceThis event is part of the VA250: The American Revolution speaker series. Presented by Dr. Porter Blakemore, University of Mary Washington. This ta... Read More
Basics of Using Genetics for GenealogyPresented by Shannon Combs-Bennett. DNA testing in genealogy can be a confusing and complicated process, but, when understood, can provide insight int... Read More
A Rather Brilliant View: Revolutionary Experiences at ChathamThis event is part of the VA250: The American Revolution speaker series. Presented by Peter Maugle and Ryan Quint, National Park Services. How did... Read More
