FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — This year marks a milestone for one of Fredericksburg’s most iconic landmarks. Historic Kenmore, completed in 1775, turns 250 years old, and the community is invited to celebrate with a special Block Party on Saturday, September 27.
Kenmore has stood as a witness to the birth of a nation, the devastation of civil war, the march of modernization, and even natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes. Through it all, the House has endured—just as its stories have endured. As historian Philip J. Wertenbaker once said, “National history is based on local history.” Kenmore embodies that truth, linking Fredericksburg to the broader American story.
Built for Colonel Fielding Lewis and his wife Betty Washington Lewis, George Washington’s sister, Kenmore was crafted with an astonishing 317,000 bricks, two of which bear embedded replica Civil War cannonballs. Its Flemish bond walls, measuring two feet thick, speak to the strength and precision of its construction. Yet while its exterior reflects architectural solidity, the true wonder lies within: dazzling plasterwork ceilings and overmantels often hailed as “the greatest masterpiece of American plasterwork.” Kenmore’s interiors feature elaborate designs of garlands, rosettes, palm fronds, cornucopias, and allegorical figures. The Dining Room ceiling alone is a feast for the eyes, while the Drawing Room’s “Four Seasons” plasterwork offers symbolic plants for spring, summer, fall, and winter. Even George Washington himself admired this artistry so much that he hired the same craftsman—the famed “Stucco Man”—to create ceilings at Mount Vernon.
Over its 250 years, Kenmore has been home to families like the Gordons, who renamed the house after Kenmuir Castle in Scotland, and it has been threatened by development, only to be saved in 1921 by a determined group of women who rallied to preserve it. Their efforts laid the groundwork for The George Washington Foundation’s stewardship today.
The Kenmore 250th Block Party will honor its extraordinary past with historic trade demonstrations, interactive exhibits, cupcakes, lawn games, crafts, house tours, and more. Visitors can picnic on the lawn, engage with archaeologists and living historians, and explore 250 years of preservation and storytelling at Kenmore.
“Kenmore is more than just a house,” said Lori Pikkaart, Marketing Manager of The George Washington Foundation. “It is a living testament to resilience, artistry, and the families who shaped early America. We are thrilled to celebrate its 250th anniversary with the community that has helped preserve it for generations.”
Event Details:
- What: Kenmore 250th Community Block Party
- When: Saturday, September 27, 10 am – 2 pm
- Where: Historic Kenmore, 1201 Washington Ave, Fredericksburg, VA
- Admission: $5 adults, children 17 & under free. Purchase online or at the door.
- Tickets: https://kenmore.org/calendar-item/community-block-party-historic-kenmore/
