The regular monthly meeting of the Mary Washington Branch Preservation Virginia will be held on Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 10 a.m. in the theater of the Central Rappahannock Regional Library, 1201 Caroline Street. . Our program, "The Impact of Augustine's Death on the Washington family and their Slaves" will be presented by David Muraca, Director of Archaeology for the George Washington Foundation.

The Spirit of Love is in the Air at Bacon’s Castle, please join us for a night of paranormal investigating inside Bacon’s Castle. We will be utilizing several of the Hankins family letters, the melodic poetry of Sidney Lanier, the beautiful love letter from Dr. Emmett Robinson to Indiana Hankins and much more as we try trigger a paranormal response from the many spirits that still linger at this historic location.Be sure to bring your flashlights, cameras and recorders. Bundle up, this site is very cold this time of year. (Dress in layers.) Wear soft soled shoes. The gift shop will also be open. Please help and support our historic sites. To purchase Tickets visit: www.spiritedhistory.com click on the Events Page link.

Funds collected are donated to Preservation Virginia.

Save the Date for this years Legislative Reception. Join us in honoring historic preservation milestones and the notable success of the transfer of Fort Monroe with remarks by the Hon. William Howell, The Hon. Kirk Cox, The Hon. Glenn Oder, Kathleen S. Kilpatrick and Lacy B. Ward, Jr.

Legislative Reception Ticket

$

In celebration of African American History Month, and to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, Historic Jamestowne will offer special living history presentations highlighting the role played by African Americans at Jamestown during the conflict.

Award-winning historian and actor-interpreter Jerome Bridges will portray former slave turned soldier Private Harrison Woodson of the 25th Corps United States Colored Troops (USCT). African American soldiers of Woodson’s corps, including members of the 1st and 2nd Calvary USCT, rotated between the Union Army outpost on Jamestown Island and the lower Virginia Peninsula, where Private Woodson guarded Confederate prisoners at the end of the war.

The programs will take place at Historic Jamestowne on Saturday, February 18 at 11:00 a.m., 1:00p.m., and 3:00p.m.

Historic Jamestowne is jointly administered by the National Park Service and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (on behalf of APVA Preservation Virginia) and preserves the original site of the first permanent English settlement in the New World.

The Yorktown Branch, Preservation Virginia, will hold its regular meeting on February 18, 2012 at the Parish House of Grace Episcopal Church in Yorktown at 1:30 pm. The speaker for this meeting will be Mark Perreault, President, Citizens for a Fort Monroe National Park. He will discuss how a small group of local people, including some from the Yorktown Branch, turned around the plans for Fort Monroe to be overdeveloped with condos by the City of Hampton to the more balanced plans today, which include 325 acres designated as a National Monument. Mr. Perreault has a degree from the United States Naval Academy and works as an attorney for Norfolk Southern.

Visit Dr. Hugh Mercer's Apothecary Shop for a first person interpretation of medical practices in colonial times. Learn about herbs that were used for various ailments and stroll in the herb garden after your tour. The guides present a very vivid description of surgical practices also...and don't forget to see the leeches! Dr. Mercer practiced medicine for 15 years in Fredericksburg. He left his practice to join the Revolutionary Army and died as a Brigadier General at the Battle of Princeton. 1020 Caroline Street, Fredericksburg. 10 am - 3 pm.

George Washington's youngest brother, Charles, built this landmark in 1760 as his private residence. The building became a tavern in 1792 and we know it today as the Rising Sun Tavern. "Tavern wenches" and male "indentured servants" tell of a typical stay for upper, middling, & lower classes at a Colonial tavern. 1304 Caroline St. Fredericksburg, 11 am - 4 pm. Refreshments served.

Visit the Mary Washington House which George Washington purchased for his mother in 1772. She spent the last 17 years of her life here. Enjoy a guided tour, see some of her personal possessions, and visit the gardens she enjoyed so much. 1200 Charles Street, Fredericksburg 11am-4pm

Join a Jamestown Rediscovery Project staff archaeologist for a 45 minute presentation highlighting the discovery and excavation of the 1607 James Fort.

If the weather is nice, please be prepared to walk outside for a tour of the Fort. In case of inclement weather, a lecture will be presented in the conference room of the Visitor Center.

Program meets at the Visitor Center each Wednesday at 11:00 am through March 28th.

Visit the Mary Washington House which George Washington purchased for his mother in 1772. She spent the last 17 years of her life here. Enjoy a guided tour, see some of her personal possessions, and visit the gardens she enjoyed so much. 1200 Charles Street, Fredericksburg.

George Washington’s youngest brother, Charles, built this landmark in 1760 as his private residence. The building became a tavern in 1792 and we know it today as the Rising Sun Tavern. “Tavern wenches” and male “indentured servants” tell of a typical stay for upper, middling, & lower classes at a Colonial tavern. 1304 Caroline St. Fredericksburg.

Refreshments will be served to guests touring both sites.

Meet Anas Todkill and learn about his experiences as one of the first English settlers at Jamestown during this family-friendly program at the Voorhees Archaearium. Todkill will provide opportunities to explore many unique objects such as arms and armor, ceramics, tools, and trade items that were important to a settler’s survival. With Todkill as a guide, learn about explorations of the area, the settler’s relationships with the new world and the Virginia Indians who lived in it.

This program is included in the regular admission to Historic Jamestowne.

This program is presented by Historic Jamestowne and the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Join a Jamestown Rediscovery Project staff archaeologist for a 45 minute presentation highlighting the discovery and excavation of the 1607 James Fort.

If the weather is nice, please be prepared to walk outside for a tour of the Fort. In case of inclement weather, a lecture will be presented in the conference room of the Visitor Center.

Program meets at the Visitor Center each Wednesday at 11:00 am through March 28th.

This initial meeting is intended to introduce the project and provide information on how the public can get involved. Several speakers will be in attendance to discuss the importance and benefits of proetcting the regions tobacco barns and other rural heritage resources.