Historic Germanna

Find Your Connection with Historic Germanna!

For 70 years, Historic Germanna has cared for the land, stories, and people that shaped this region. 

This Give Local Piedmont, you can carry that work forward.

Along the Rapidan River and across our sites, history is not finished. Archaeologists are still uncovering it. Students are still discovering it for the first time. And our community is still finding new ways to connect with it. 

Your support makes that possible.

Gifts to Historic Germanna help:

• Bring archaeology into classrooms and onto our sites
• Preserve historic landscapes and public access to them
• Support research that deepens our understanding of this place
• Share stories that reflect the full history of our region 

Give local Piedmont is a one-day event, and your gift today has a greater impact through bonus funds and prizes. 

As we mark our 70th anniversary, we are looking ahead. There is more to uncover, more to protect, and more stories to share with the communities we serve.

We hope you will be part of it.

Make your gift today and help ensure these stories continue.

            Historic Germanna Sites

At Historic Germanna, we are about uncovering and deepening our understanding of the past through archaeological digs, nature trails, tours, programs, research, exhibits, and more. Sites under our stewardship include:

• Brawdus Martin Fort Germanna Visitor Center, Research Library & Memorial Garden, Orange County
• Siegen Forest Recreational Trail System & Rapidan River Public Access, Orange County
• Hitt Archeology Center & Archaeological Sites, Orange County    

                     1714 Fort Germanna

                     Enchanted Castle

                     Spotsylvania Courthouse

                     Gordon Farm and Plantation

• Historic Salubria (1757), Culpeper County
• Peter Hitt Farm & Cemetery (1800), Fauquier County

Historic Germanna connects, engages, and inspires a deeper understanding of the past through places, research, and stories we share with the multiple communities we serve.

     The People.

Germanna's history encompasses the lives of Indigenous peoples, English colonists, German immigrants and their descendants, and African and African American communities. 

        The Places.

The Germanna region in Central Virginia-once pivotal terrain in the American Civil War-lies between bustling cities and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The region is a crossroads of history and culture, offering opportunities to share a unique part of Virginia's history that continues today.

        Their Stories.

Historic Germanna offers a deeper understanding of the past through research and collaborations with scholars, community knowledge-keepers, and cultural advisors to tell the many stories of Virginia history.

Our Mission

Inspire understanding and engagement in the rich history and natural resources of Germanna through archaeology, education, genealogy, and preservation. 

Our Strategic Vision

Historic Germanna envisions a future where the Germanna region is widely recognized as a unique place that connects diverse stories through shared heritage and cultural and environmental significance, fostering a sense of belonging, learning, and inspiration for all.

Our Strategic Priorities

Storytelling and Education

Be a premier source for the rich history, genealogy, and narratives of the Germanna region through our properties and resources and the diverse communities connected to them, ensuring that our content is deeply rooted in the region’s unique historical context.

Our Physical and Natural Resources

Develop plans to enhance Germanna’s physical resources, ensuring they reflect their distinctive historical, social, and environmental elements and fit into the broader Germanna region narrative.

Community Engagement and Inclusivity

Forge strong and reciprocal relationships to best serve the needs of our stakeholders and share Germanna’s history and resources with our broader community. Historic Germanna recognizes that it plays a role in many communities, including descendants, local, educational, genealogical, archeological, preservation, Tribal nations, and African American history. 

Sustainability and Growth

Diversify our revenue streams and build a robust financial foundation to safeguard our future growth and stability.