I have been coming here for years to walk the grounds and have taken the tour once or twice. The tour is worth it, the view is spectacular across the river, and the manor's history is a bit haunting.
NPS site with amazing views of the city. My six year old receives collectors cards which kept him engaged. The inside is not much, but the grounds and supporting buildings make you get a good impression of how this was a working farm.
It was cold the day I visited Chatham Manor, but it was still a beautiful walk on the property, around the property and through the Manor. We got there a little late, so we didn't get to talk with the employees at the manor for historical discussions. The view above over the river looking over Fredericksburg is a special appreciation of what must have went on their during the civil war. I would like to visit in the spring or fall and get yet another view of a step back in time.
We drove across the river to Chatham on the recommendation of the NPS workers at the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center. So very glad we came here. After hearing so much of the war and battles, this house put things into perspective. The view of Fredericksburg across the river is incredible. There is a replica of one of the pontoons from the pontoon bridge here. In the house you can see the room used as a hospital and the trees where the amputated limbs were piled up. In January, there wasn't much growing, but I imagine in the summer months the gardens are beautiful.
We took out-of-town guests to see Chatham Manor. Since we live nearby, we have often walked the grounds with our dogs. This visit was our first where we went inside the house. No cost for entry. The docent gave our kids five fact cards that are similar to baseball cards. The movie was good and not too long--even the kids (10-16 years old) were able to pay attention the whole time. The exhibits would probably take a full hour to read, but we rushed through them. We always enjoy the view of downtown Fredericksburg from the grounds. The town recently took down all the trees that had grown up between the house and Rapahannock River to restore the grounds to their Civil War era state. The gnarled old trees that have been there as long as the house are amazing, although they are being held together by bolts.Bathrooms are located in a building next to the carriage house near the parking lot.
Chatham manor is a lesser known historical site in the Fredericksburg area, perhaps because the owner was not well known in the political realm; however, many dignitaries visited Chatham Manor and enjoyed their beautiful naturalistic gardens.
I visited in the fall of 2014 and even though much of the gardens were coming out of season, the site was still beautiful. This small estate is situated on the bank of a river and provides beautiful photo opportunities with its varied flora and architecture.
The short video about the property is quite interesting and highlights the long history of the place. It is a museum and not a restored home. Very little in the way of furnishings. Also a great view of Fredericksburg across the river. In the summer I expect the gardens are nice too.
We had not heard much about Chatham, except the recommendation of the museum guide. After seeing the museum movie about the battle of Fredericksburg, the role that Chatham played became more vivid. The history from working plantation to battle hospital to resort was interesting.
This is a great place to walk around as well as in the manor. The best part is that it is FREE! Plus, during the spring all of the flowers in the garden are gorgeous and make for great pictures!