Museum
Stafford Stories
Explore the stories and images of Stafford County. These stories are part of the history of a county, then a state, then a nation. It’s all connected. Stafford’s stories are America’s stories.
Historical Figure of the Week
Alexander Gaddess
Born c.1767 – Died 1815
Alexander Gaddess (c.1767-1815) was the son of Alexander Gaddess (died 1785), both of whom resided at Palace Green on the border of Widewater and modern Aquia Harbour subdivision. The surname sometimes appears in the early records as “Gaddis” but a branch of the family that moved to Baltimore, Maryland used the “Gaddess” spelling. The elder Alexander was shipped to the colonies as a result of his involvement in a failed political uprising in Scotland. The Gaddess family was long involved with freestone quarrying and stonework in Stafford and Baltimore. Alexander Gaddess married Catherine Kendall (born c.1770) and resided at Palace Green.
Additional Museum Features
Places
Explore the past with our interactive historical map, featuring artifacts and locations throughout history. Zoom in to discover more information and click on markers to learn more about specific time periods and places.
History Trail
Explore over 20 locations and countless stories that showcase the strength and resilience of the African American community over a span of 300 years in Stafford County.
Voices of Stafford
Listen to interviews from Stafford citizens who experienced first-hand the history and development of Stafford County. Among life experiences and changes observed in Stafford, some genealogy is included.
Get Involved
Discover Stafford is looking for volunteers for our upcoming events and projects. If you can spare some time to help out, it would be greatly appreciated. Even just a few hours can make a big difference
