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

John Peden

Born 1820 – Died 1892

John Peden (1820-1892) was the son of David Peden of Baltimore County, Maryland.  He was a millwright by profession and lived on Warrenton Road (U. S. Route 17) north of Falmouth.  He married Louisa E. Curtis (1829-1915), the daughter of Fielding Curtis (1793-1844) and Anne C. Leach (c.1798-after 1860).  Following the War Between the States, John Peden submitted a claim to the Southern Claims Commission asking to be reimbursed for $1,970.87 worth of fuel taken from him by the Union army.  He was granted $987.50.  John was one of the original commissioners appointed to oversee the building of a free bridge across the Rappahannock River at Falmouth.  He served as a bridge commissioner from at least 1872 to 1891, much of that time as president.  He was buried in the Confederate Cemetery in Fredericksburg, Virginia.  John Peden’s son, William H. Peden (1858-1926), was involved in the lumber business and the pickle factory in Fredericksburg.

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.

VR

Explore and experience Stafford’s history during the Revolutionary War period using Virtual Reality. VR headset is not required.

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

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