National Register of Historic Places

Rapidan Dam Canal of the Rappahannock Navigation

Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania County, Virginia
Listed
July 25, 1973
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
73002063

About this property

The Rapidan Dam Canal of the Rappahannock Navigation is a canal intended to safely carry Batteaus, sturdy flat-bottomed boats used primarily for transporting cargo, around the rapids at the confluence of the Rappahannock and Rapidan Rivers. The Rapidan Canal, funded and constructed by The Rappahannock Company, consists of two different canals (the Old Rapidan Canal and the Rapidan Canal) built at different times. All of the Rappahannock Navigation, of which the Rapidan Canal is a part, is located in the Piedmont region of Virginia. The Confluence, the name used on maps of the day and sometimes maps of today to denote where the two rivers meet, is located where the borders of the Virginia Counties of Spotsylvania, Stafford and Culpeper meet but is owned by the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia. The Rapidan Canal was listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register (VLR) on June 19, 1973, and on the National Register of Historic Places on July 26, 1973.

Location

Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania County, Virginia
38.36066, -77.61302

Categories

ENGINEERINGTRANSPORTATION
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Rapidan Dam Canal of the Rappahannock Navigation

This page lists Rapidan Dam Canal of the Rappahannock Navigation. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Rapidan Dam Canal of the Rappahannock Navigation report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Hartwood Presbyterian Church
Industrial
3.8 mi
Hartwood Manor
Industrial
4.7 mi
Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields Memorial National Military Park
Industrial
6.3 mi
Fall Hill
Colonial
7.1 mi
Hunter's Ironworks
Listed
7.3 mi

Nearby Battles

Engagement at U.S. Ford
1863Civil War
1.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Rapidan Dam Canal of the Rappahannock Navigation listed on the National Register?

Rapidan Dam Canal of the Rappahannock Navigation was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 25, 1973.

What type of historic resource is Rapidan Dam Canal of the Rappahannock Navigation?

Rapidan Dam Canal of the Rappahannock Navigation is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Rapidan Dam Canal of the Rappahannock Navigation?

The period of significance for Rapidan Dam Canal of the Rappahannock Navigation is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Rapidan Dam Canal of the Rappahannock Navigation?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Rapidan Dam Canal of the Rappahannock Navigation will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Spotsylvania County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Spotsylvania County.

Explore SpotsylvaniaCounty ›

More historic places in Virginia

Browse all historic places in Virginia.

View Virginiahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Virginia history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Virginiahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Rapidan Dam Canal of the Rappahannock Navigation will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report