Washington, Virginia

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Of the 28 Washington?s in the United States, only the town of can claim the title "The First Washington of All." Sometimes referred to as "Little Washington," the town was surveyed and plotted on the 24th of July (old style), 1749, by then 17-year-old George Washington. The town was officially established by the Virginia General Assembly in 1796, and incorporated in 1894.

Even before George Washington laid out its streets and gave it his name, the town was a thriving frontier trading post with Indian villages nearby. The area appealed to early frontiersmen largely because it is nestled in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which afforded it natural protection from both enemies and storms.

The village today is only 192 people and it has never outgrown the five block by two block grid that 17-year-old George Washington laid out when he surveyed the town over 248 years ago. The streets still bear the names Jett, Wheeler, Porter and Calvert, the first families to own the land on which the town was founded. Curiously, while one of the main streets is named Gay Street, there is no Gay family and it is romantically rumored that young George Washington named this street after the beautiful Gay Fairfax.

Washington is surrounded by the rolling hills of Rappahannock County and is the county's seat of government. An apprentice of Thomas Jefferson built a number of the historic government buildings.

Take time to stroll through this charming village. Discover a special place, which has become a destination for gourmets, history buffs, artists, musicians, and those who seek a small piece of Americana, where time has stood still. During your visit, browse through the town's quality antique and gift shops, visit the village artists and craftsmen at work in studios and workrooms, dine family or gourmet style, and take in the performances at the theatres.

The surrounding area is picturesque in any season and a big attraction is the nearby Shenandoah National Park with its famous Skyline Drive offering 105 miles of spectacular views of the Piedmont and the Shenandoah Valley. Visit one of the many wineries clustered around the village, or pick fruit at a nearby orchard. Climb Old Rag Mountain, hike White Oak Canyon, and capture forever one of the Rappahannock sunsets.

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