George Washington Birthplace National Monument facts for kids
Quick facts for kids George Washington Birthplace National Monument |
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 George Washington Birthplace National Monument
Location in Virginia
George Washington Birthplace National Monument
Location in the United States
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| Location | Westmoreland County, Virginia, U.S. |
| Nearest city | Colonial Beach, Virginia, U.S. |
| Area | 661.7 acres (267.8 ha) |
| Established | January 23, 1930 |
| Visitors | 130,647 (in 2011) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | George Washington Birthplace National Monument |
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George Washington Birthplace National Monument
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| NRHP reference No. | 66000850 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
The George Washington Birthplace National Monument is a special national monument in Westmoreland County, Virginia. It is located where Popes Creek meets the Potomac River. This place celebrates the birthplace of George Washington. He was a very important Founding Father and the first President of the United States. George Washington was born here on February 22, 1732. He lived at this home until he was three years old. He also returned to live here again when he was a teenager.
Contents
History of the Birthplace
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Early Family Life
George Washington's great-grandfather, John Washington, started this plantation in 1657. It was on the original land near Bridges Creek. Later, the family bought more land to the south, closer to Popes Creek.
The first part of the family house was built before 1718. George's father made it bigger between 1722 and 1726. By the mid-1770s, it had ten rooms and was known as "Wakefield." George Washington himself called it "the ancient mansion seat" in 1792. Sadly, this house was destroyed by fire and a flood on Christmas Day in 1779. It was never rebuilt.
George Washington was born in this house on February 22, 1732. Many Washington family members are buried nearby. Thirty-two graves have been found at the Bridges Creek cemetery. These include George's half-brother, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. George's father grew tobacco on his different plantations, just like his ancestors did.
Preserving the Site
In 1858, the state of Virginia bought the property. They wanted to protect the home site and the family cemetery. After the Civil War, in 1882, Virginia gave the land to the United States government.
Restoring the Monument
In 1923, a group called the Wakefield National Memorial Association was formed. Their goal was to restore the property. In 1930, the U.S. Congress officially made the grounds a National Monument. In 1931, the Wakefield Association received money from John D. Rockefeller Jr.. This money helped them buy and give about 394 acres (1.6 km2) of land to the government.
Since no one knew exactly what the original Washington family home looked like, a new building was designed. This "Memorial House" was created by Edward W. Donn Jr.. It looks like other buildings from that time period. It was built in 1931, close to where the original house stood. You can still see the actual spot where George Washington's boyhood home was. Its foundation is marked on the ground with crushed oyster shells.
The Memorial House shows what a typical tobacco plantation looked like back then. It is made of bricks that were handmade from local clay. Inside, it has a central hallway and four rooms on each floor. These rooms are decorated with furniture from the 1730s to 1750s. One special item is an 18th-century tea table. People believe it might have been in the original house. Most of the other furniture is more than 200 years old.
At the entrance to the monument grounds, there is a tall, thin stone pillar called an obelisk. It is made of Vermont marble. This pillar is a one-tenth scale copy of the famous Washington Monument in Washington, D.C.. The National Park Service now takes care of and runs the park and Memorial House. They opened it in 1932, which was 200 years after George Washington was born.
What You Can See Today
Today, the monument is part of the National Park Service's work to share history. Besides the Memorial House, visitors can explore other areas. These include the historic birthplace area, a Kitchen House, hiking trails, and picnic spots. In the Kitchen House, actors in old-fashioned clothes show how people used to make candles and soap.
There is also a colonial herb and flower garden. It has plants that were common in Washington's time. You can see thyme, sage, basil, hollyhocks, forget-me-nots, and roses. Trees and bushes typical of the 18th century have also been planted. The Colonial Living Farm has a barn and pasture. It raises farm animals, poultry, and crops. They use farming methods that were common in the 1700s.
Visitors can also tour the Washington family Burial Ground. This cemetery holds the graves of 32 members of the Washington family. This includes George Washington's father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. You can see copies of two original gravestones. There are also five memorial tablets placed here in the 1930s.
The Visitors' Center has many interesting items. These are artifacts found from the burned-down Washington house. They include a bowl, a clay figure, a wine bottle seal that belonged to Augustine Washington, a wine bottle, and a keyhole plate. A 15-minute film about Washington family life is shown in a theater at the Visitors' Center.
Getting There
The George Washington Birthplace National Monument is about 38 miles (61 km) east of Fredericksburg, Virginia. It is located on the Northern Neck. You can reach the site by taking VA Route 204. This road connects to VA State Route 3.
