News Release

A Community Day of Remembrance and Reflection at Chatham

Chatham Manor

NPS

News Release Date: September 23, 2022

Contact: Beth Parnicza, 540-693-3200 X1010

A Community Day of Remembrance and Reflection at Chatham

Join the Friends of Chatham and the National Park Service for “A Community Day of Remembrance and Reflection” on Saturday, October 15, 2022, from 10:00 am to 4:30 pm at Chatham. This event will center around musical performances that reflect Chatham’s layers of history from the colonial era through the twentieth century. Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy demonstrations from craftspeople, children’s activities, plein air artists at work, scheduled greenhouse and garden tours, living history presentations, and interpretive presentations by NPS personnel.

Today, many recognize Chatham for its elaborate twentieth century gardens, but it was once a sprawling plantation powered by more than 100 enslaved people. Chatham and the people who lived and labored there—both enslaved and free—bore witness to many changes over the course of United States history. Chatham’s landscape today speaks to the 250 years since the property’s settlement and reflects larger changes in U.S. history that continue to shape the present and future of our country. This event, co-hosted by the Friends of Chatham and the National Park Service, will encourage visitors to reflect on this complex history and its relevance to our country today. This is a FREE and family-friendly event.

Schedule for Saturday, October 15
Ongoing: Living History encampment, craftspeople demonstrations, children’s activities, plein air artists, Chatham architecture display, Chatham interior interpretation
10:00 Musical Performance: Brooke Point High School Jazz Ensemble 
10:30 Garden and Greenhouse Tour: Meet in garden at north entrance by greenhouses
11:00 Interpretive Program: “The Story of Ellen Mitchell” Meet at the Chatham Laundry 
12:00 Musical Performance: Stafford High School Strings Ensemble 
12:30 Garden and Greenhouse Tour: Meet in garden at north entrance by greenhouses 1:00 Musical Performance: To be confirmed  
2:30 Interpretive Program: “Road to Freedom” Meet at the pontoon bridge model, Chatham river side 
3:45 Musical Performance: To be confirmed 

Chatham is located at 120 Chatham Lane, Fredericksburg, VA 22405, and it is the headquarters of the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields National Military Park.