Germanna

Governor Alexander Spotswood established a colony of Germans at Germanna in 1714, when the Rapidan River marked Virginia’s frontier. On August 29, 1716, he departed from here with the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe on his exploring expedition across the mountains. The German colony later moved to Fauquier County. Spotswood lived at Germanna for some years, and in 1732 William Byrd visited him there and called his house "Spotswood’s Enchanted Castle."

Virginia · United States