View source for George Washington Birthplace National Monument

{{short description|550 acres in Virginia (US) managed by the National Park Service}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = George Washington Birthplace National Monument
| photo = Geo Washington birthplace.jpg
| map = Virginia#USA
| relief = 1
| map_caption = 
| location = [[Westmoreland County, Virginia|Westmoreland County]], [[Virginia]], U.S.
| nearest_city = [[Colonial Beach, Virginia|Colonial Beach]], [[Virginia]], U.S.
| coordinates = {{coord|38|11|8|N|76|54|59|W|region:US|display=inline, title}}
| area_acre = 661.7
| area_ref = <ref name="area">{{NPS area |year=2011 |access-date=2012-05-14}}</ref>
| established = {{start date|1930|01|23}}
| visitation_num = 130,647
| visitation_year = 2011
| visitation_ref = <ref name="visits">{{NPS visitation |access-date=2012-05-14}}</ref>
| governing_body = [[National Park Service]]
| website        =  [https://www.nps.gov/gewa/index.htm George Washington Birthplace National Monument]
{{Infobox NRHP
  | name = George Washington Birthplace National Monument
  | embed = yes
  | nrhp_type = 
  | designated_other1 = Virginia Landmarks Register
  | designated_other1_date = October 18, 1983<ref name=register>{{cite web|title=Virginia Landmarks Register|url=http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/register_counties_cities.htm|publisher=Virginia Department of Historic Resources|access-date=5 June 2013}}</ref>
  | designated_other1_number = 096-0026
  | designated_other1_num_position = bottom
  | image = 
  | caption = George Washington Birthplace National Monument in 
  | nearest_city= 
  | locmapin = 
  | built = 
  | architecture = 
  | added = October 15, 1966
  | area_acre = 
  | governing_body = 
  | refnum = 66000850<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a|access-date=2013-07-16}}</ref>}}
}}

The '''George Washington Birthplace National Monument''' is a [[National monument (United States)|national monument]] in [[Westmoreland County, Virginia|Westmoreland County]], [[Virginia]], at the confluence of [[Popes Creek (Virginia)|Popes Creek]] and the [[Potomac River]]. It commemorates the birthplace location of [[George Washington]], a [[Founding Fathers of the United States|Founding Father]] and the [[President of the United States|first President of the United States]], who was born here on February 22, 1732. Washington lived at the residence until age three and later returned to live there as a teenager.

==History==
[[File:Geo Washington birthplace3.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Foundation outline in the foreground marking Washington's birthplace near the memorial house (right rear)]]
[[File:George Washington's birthplace (1856 engraving).jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|'''Wakefield''' Popes Creek Estate, Washington's birthplace]]
[[File:Geo Washington birthplace map.png|thumb|upright=1.1|Map of George Washington's birthplace]]

===17th&ndash;18th centuries===
John Washington, George Washington's great-grandfather, settled this [[plantations in the American South|plantation]] in 1657 at the original property on Bridges Creek.<ref>Marquis, A.N. Company. ''Who's Who In America'', vol. 1:Historical Volume (1607-1896), revised ed., Marquis, A.N. Company., 1967.</ref> The family acquired expanded land to the south toward nearby Popes Creek.

Prior to 1718, the first section of the house was built. His father enlarged it between 1722&ndash;1726. He added on to it by the mid-1770s, making a ten-room house known as "Wakefield". This house, which George Washington in 1792 would describe as "the ancient mansion seat,"<ref>Washington, George, ''Writings'', XXXII, p. 29</ref> was destroyed by fire and flood on [[Christmas Day]] 1779, and never rebuilt.<ref name="NPS">''George Washington Birthplace'', [[National Park Service]] brochure (1999)</ref>

George Washington was born in the house on February 22, 1732. Thirty-two graves of Washington family members have been found at the Bridges Creek cemetery plot, including George's half-brother, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Washington's father owned enslaved people and had them cultivate [[tobacco]] on his several plantations, as his ancestors had done.

===19th century===
In 1858, the Commonwealth of Virginia acquired the property to preserve the homesite and cemetery. In 1882, however, Virginia donated the land to the federal government following the [[American Civil War|Civil War]].

===20th century===
The Wakefield National Memorial Association was formed in 1923 to restore the property. In 1930, the grounds were authorized by Congress as a U.S. National Monument. In 1931, the Wakefield Association received a grant from [[John D. Rockefeller Jr.]], to acquire and transfer a total of {{convert|394|acre|km2}} of land to the Federal government.

Since the exact appearance of the original Washington family home is not known, a Memorial House was designed by [[Edward W. Donn Jr.|Edward Donn Jr.]], representing similar buildings of the era; it was constructed on the approximate site in 1931. The actual location of Washington's boyhood home is adjacent to the memorial house and its foundation is outlined in the ground by crushed [[oyster|oyster shells]].

The Memorial House represents a typical tobacco plantation of the period of the original's construction. The Memorial House is constructed of bricks handmade from local clay. It has a central hallway and four rooms on each floor, furnished in the 1730&ndash;1750 period style by the Wakefield National Memorial Association. Furnishings include an 18th-century tea table believed to have been in the original house. Most of the other furnishings are more than 200 years old.<ref name= "NPS" /> At the entrance to the grounds, now maintained and operated by the [[National Park Service]], is a Memorial Shaft [[obelisk]] of Vermont [[marble]]; it is a one-tenth scale replica of the [[Washington Monument]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]

The park and Memorial House were opened by the National Park Service in 1932, on the 200th anniversary of George Washington's birth.

=== 21st century ===
[[File:WashingtonBirthplaceBlacksmithShop.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Blacksmith shop]]
[[File:Geo Washington birthplace artifacts.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|Artifacts at Visitors Center]]
In the 21st&nbsp;century, the Monument is part of the National Park Service's ongoing efforts to interpret historical resources.<ref>Seth C. Bruggeman, ''Here, George Washington Was Born: Memory, Material Culture, and the Public History of a National Monument'' (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 2008).</ref> In addition to the Memorial House, park facilities open to visitors include the historic birthplace home area, Kitchen House, hiking trails, and picnic grounds. In the Kitchen House, costumed re-enactors demonstrate candle- and soap-making.<ref name= "NPS" />

A colonial herb and flower garden has been planted with herbs and flowers common to Washington's time,<ref name="NPS" /> including [[thyme]], [[Salvia officinalis|sage]], [[basil]], and flowers such as [[hollyhock]]s, [[forget-me-not]]s, and [[rose]]s. Typical trees and bushes of Washington's time have also been added to the landscaping. The Colonial Living Farm has a barn and pasture and raises livestock, poultry, and crops that were typical in the 18th century and using farming methods that were common at the time.

Visitors may also tour the Washington family Burial Ground, which contains the graves of 32 members of the Washington family, including George Washington's father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Replicas of two original gravestones are visible, along with five memorial tablets placed here in the 1930s.

The Visitors' Center contains artifacts recovered from the burned-down Washington house, including a bowl, clay figurine, wine bottle seal belonging to Augustine Washington, wine bottle, and keyhole plate.

A 15-minute film depicting Washington family life is shown in a theater at the Visitors' Center.

==Directions==
[[File:Geo Washington birthplace2.jpg|thumb|right|230px|The Memorial House interior &ndash; the tea table is from the original house.]]
The George Washington Birthplace National Monument is {{convert|38|mi|km|0}} east of [[Fredericksburg, Virginia]], located on the Northern Neck. It can be reached via [[State Route 204 (Virginia)|VA Route 204]], the access road to the site from [[State Route 3 (Virginia)|VA State Route 3]].

==See also==
* [[List of national monuments of the United States]]
* [[List of residences of presidents of the United States]]
* [[Northern Neck George Washington Birthplace AVA]]
* [[Washington's Birthday]]
* [[Montross, Virginia]]
* [[Stratford Hall Plantation]]
* [[State Route 204 (Virginia)|State Route 204]], the access road to the site from [[State Route 3 (Virginia)|State Route 3]]

==References==
{{further|Bibliography of George Washington}}
{{reflist|30em}}
* Gary W. Ferris (1999), ''Presidential Places''

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://www.nps.gov/gewa/index.htm George Washington Birthplace National Monument official website]
*[https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/va0981/ Wakefield, State Route 204, Wakefield Corner, Westmoreland County, VA]: 15 photos, 3 data pages, and 2 photo caption pages at [[Historic American Buildings Survey]], Library of Congress
*[https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/va1260/ Wakefield, Kitchen, State Route 204, Wakefield Corner, Westmoreland County, VA]: 7 photos and 1 photo caption page at Historic American Buildings Survey
*[https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/va1259/ Wakefield, Gardens & Grounds, State Route 204, Wakefield Corner, Westmoreland County, VA]: 2 photos at Historic American Buildings Survey
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYXv9Zoc24c/ Video showing several places at this site] from 2016

{{George Washington}}
{{Washington family}}
{{Protected areas of Virginia}}
{{National Monuments of the United States}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in Virginia}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Washington, George Birthplace National Monument}}
[[Category:1930 establishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:Birthplaces of individual people]]
[[Category:Burned houses in the United States]]
[[Category:Georgian architecture in Virginia]]
[[Category:Brick buildings and structures in Virginia]]
[[Category:Historic American Buildings Survey in Virginia]]
[[Category:Historic house museums in Virginia|George Washington Birthplace National Monument]]
[[Category:Homes of United States Founding Fathers]]
[[Category:Houses in Westmoreland County, Virginia]]
[[Category:Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Virginia]]
[[Category:Monuments and memorials to George Washington in the United States]]
[[Category:Museums in Westmoreland County, Virginia|George Washington Birthplace National Monument]]
[[Category:National Park Service national monuments in Virginia|George Washington Birthplace National Monument]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Westmoreland County, Virginia]]
[[Category:Plantations in Virginia]]
[[Category:Presidential homes in the United States]]
[[Category:Presidential museums in Virginia]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1930]]
[[Category:Rebuilt buildings and structures in Virginia]]
[[Category:Tobacco plantations in the United States]]
[[Category:Washington family residences]]