VA-J34 Germanna

Marker text: GERMANNA

Here Governor Alexander Spotswood established a colony of Germans in 1714. At that time the Rapidan River was the frontier of Virginia. On August 28, 1716, Spotswood left from this place with his Knights of the Golden Horseshoe on his exploring expedition across the mountains. The German colony later moved to Fauquier County. Spotswood lived for some years at Germanna where he was visited in 1732 by William Byrd who called his house "Spotwood's Enchanted Castle."

Department of Conservation and Historic Resources, 1986