In May 1986, an estimated 7 million Americans joined hand to form a human chain from New York to Los Angeles to raise money for the nation's homeless. This event was officially called "Hands Across America"
Did you know that Fredericksburg has it's own Hands 'from' Across America?
On Hanover Street, across from J.Brians Restaurant, is Fun Da Mentals a Science and Creativity Store. In March 1998, less than 3 months after the store opened for business, Barbara Brock (she and her husband own and operate the store) placed her painted hand print on one of the recently painted white walls. Why place your hand print on a freshly painted wall of your own business? February person of the month. Barbara is a fun loving person, who never thought that one little hand print done in blue paint on the wall would turn out to be such a big thing. Just three years after the first hand print was placed on the walls of Fun Da Mentals, there are now over 500 different hand prints on the walls from around the globe. There are 26 states and 10 different countries represented on the walls. Each hand print has a story behind it. Take Tim Kohler, a Color Scientist from San Jose California, or how about the Materese Family where each member of the family is represented by a hand print. There are several pairs of hand prints where friends have each placed them side by side or where they have not seen each other in years, but managed to find the others print and place theirs next to it. There is even a print from a nose (or two) a few single finger prints (not to mention the occasional toe print) a dozen or so foot prints, one ear print and "Frankie" the dog if forever moralized by placing his paw print on the wall.
Visit Fun Da Mentals today and put your hand print on the wall. Become part of history in Fredericksburg.

Fun Facts about the hand prints

The age of the oldest person who has a print on the wall is 79 years old. 
(Sloan Wilson of King George)

The age of the youngest person who has a (foot) print on the wall is 5 weeks old. (Samatha Helsley of Spotsylvania)

First hand print on the wall was Barbara Brock (3/98)

Newest hand print  Always changing, make it yours

What States are represented? NY, PA, FL, NC, MA, KY, ME, RI, NJ, TN, MD, VA, OH, CA, IN, MT, IL, WA, TX, MI, CT, DE, CO, NM and AZ

Please note that the Fun-da-mentals store has moved. The hand prints are no longer on display in the new store and the old store has since been repainted.