George Washington's Birthplace

We spent yesterday here at the campground and I worked on labeling our photos and updating our web albums and blog. Our Verizon 3G service is still slow and it takes a long time to get anything done. Hopefully at our next campground we'll have a stronger signal.

We left the campground this morning a little after 10:00 and drove the 7 miles down to George Washington's Birthplace National Monument.

From George Washington's Birthplace

This 50-foot tall Memorial Obelisk is our first sight as we approached the entrance to the National Monument. The Memorial Obelisk is carved from Vermont granite and is a one-tenth replica of the Washington Monument in Washington D.C. 

From George Washington's Birthplace

We parked the car and walked over to the Visitor Center. We were just in time
for the Ranger-led tour of the Memorial House. One of the volunteers gave us a map of the grounds and showed us where the tour would begin which was the actual location of the house where George Washington was born.

From George Washington's Birthplace

We met a couple from Kentucky who were waiting for the tour to start. One of the Rangers, Scott, joined us and told us some of the history of the Washingtons. He showed us the original foundations of the Washington home. He told us that George Washington had only lived here until about the age of four. The family owned 2 other properties and only stayed at each property for about 3 or 4 years at a time. Since they were primarily farmers, they would farm the land at one property for a few years and then move to another property - basically "rotating" the fields.

We then walked over to the Colonial Kitchen and met Megan who had started a cook fire in preparation of cooking a meal later. Megan said it took about 2 hours for the fire to burn down where she could use the coals for cooking.

From George Washington's Birthplace

Scott then led us over to the Memorial House that was erected in 1930 on what was then thought to be the location of the Washington home. He said it was fortunate the Memorial House was placed in the wrong location, since later archeaological exploration of the grounds discovered the actual house foundation. The Obelisk was originally erected in 1896 by the War Department on the site where the Memorial House now sits and was moved to its present location in 1930.

From George Washington's Birthplace

Scott unlocked the door and we entered the Memorial House and looked at the downstairs rooms. We saw a tea table in the parlor that is believed to have been in the original Washington home.

From George Washington's Birthplace

Scott told us the history of the Washington family and their lives here and at their other properties.

We walked up a narrow and steep staircase to the second floor and the bedrooms up there.

From George Washington's Birthplace

From George Washington's Birthplace

After touring the Memorial House, Mike and I walked back to the Visitor Center to see some of the artifacts there and watch a 14 minute movie and do a little shopping in the Gift Shop.

We then drove further out on the property to the Washington Family Burial Ground where Washington's father, grandfather and great-grandfather are buried. The Burial Ground is near the location of John Washington's (George's grandfather) house.

From George Washington's Birthplace

The large vault in the burial ground is over a old brick vault that was re-built and contained maybe 12 burials and the remains from 20 other burials were re-interred there in 1930.

From George Washington's Birthplace

Our next stop was at Stratford Hall where Robert E. Lee was born and I've made a separate post for it tonight.