Shannon Airport, Fredericksburg, Virginia
In the heart of historic Virginia
Shannon Airport is 48 miles south of Washington, D.C., 50 miles north of Richmond, and 83 miles from Williamsburg and Yorktown. Situated between the Federal capital of Washington, D.C. and the Confederate capital of Richmond, Fredericksburg was the site of two Civil War battles, and the battles of Chancellorsville and the Wilderness took place 12 miles west of town. Also, a guy named George Washington grew up here. Anywhere you turn you’ll encounter history.
Sidney Shannon Jr. opened Shannon Airport in 1950 and named it to honor his father, who brought the first airplane to town in the 1920s and was an early employee of Eastern Airlines. The airport makes a good stopover for any north-south flight along the East Coast. It’s just outside the Washington, D.C., SFRA, about 300 miles from Charlotte, North Carolina. Heading north, after carefully skirting the SFRA, New York City is just a 250-mile flight and Boston, 435 miles.
The airport is popular with local pilots who often meet at the Robin’s Nest Cafe for lunch, since it’s not open for breakfast. There, you can enjoy a “Spad” Club Sandwich or Bellanca Cheeseburger with a view of the runway. If you need to grab and go, they can also prepare food for takeout.
Shannon Air Museum
The first site to visit in Fredericksburg is on the airport grounds. The Shannon Air Museum displays more than 20 aircraft, including the last surviving Vultee V-1, along with other Golden Age aircraft such as a Pitcairn Mailwing, Curtiss-Robertson Robin, and Bellanca Skyrocket. The museum’s Vultee V-1 was custom-built in 1936 for publisher William Randolph Hearst.
Fredericksburg
Next, head to the city’s visitor center at 601 Caroline Street where the staff will orient you to all the historic buildings and battlefields in the area. The 40-block Fredericksburg Historic District is walkable and only two miles from the airport. Stay in this part of town for the best access to restaurants and historic sites.
The district, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, contains more than 350 Colonial and Civil War era buildings, including the Fredericksburg Town Hall and Market Square, and the 1749 Lewis Store.
Civil War
Begin your Civil War tour at the Fredericksburg Battlefield Visitor Center at 1013 Lafayette Blvd. There, the staff will explain the history of the two battles and recommend sites to visit. Be sure to walk the Sunken Road Trail, a 0.8-mile loop that follows the historic Sunken Road up to Marye’s Heights and the Fredericksburg National Cemetery. Here, on December 13, 1862, Federal troops attacked Confederates who were entrenched behind a stone wall along this “sunken road.” The assault across open ground became a slaughter as the well-protected Confederates shot down the advancing blue coats. It was one of the greatest victories of the war for the Confederates.
Serious fighting during the battle took place on the airport property and artifacts such as buttons, musket balls, and artillery shells have been discovered whenever excavations are made.
About 12 miles west of Fredericksburg are the Civil War battlefields of Chancellorsville and the Wilderness, both significant battles in the war.
Washington’s Home
In 1738, when George Washington was 6 years old, his family moved to a farm on the banks of the Rappahannock River across from Fredericksburg. Today, you can visit the George Washington Boyhood Home where the first president spent much of his childhood. If he ever did chop down a cherry tree, it likely would have been here. In 2015, a replica house was built upon the original stone foundations.
Historic Kenmore
Another site associated with Washington is “Historic Kenmore,” a Georgian-style brick mansion built by Washington’s sister and her husband in 1776. Their mother is buried on the grounds. “Georgian” architecture is named after four British kings, all named George, who reigned from 1714 and 1830.
Historic Bourbon
Since 1934, the A. Smith Bowman Distillery has produced quality bourbon and rye whiskeys, including the well-known “Virginia Gentleman.” Its numerous bourbon brands are named after members of the pioneering Bowman family of Virginia. Less than a mile from the airport, it offers free tours and tastings and is a great place to relax after sightseeing. 
Dennis K. Johnson is a pilot and freelance aviation writer.
