George Washington Birthplace Memorial Core: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, George Washington Birthplace National Monument

NPS Northeast Regional Office

The George Washington Birthplace Memorial Core is an area measuring approximately 85.5 acres, which is located at the southern portion of the park. The core consists of the area surrounding the memorial house where George Washington’s birthplace is interpreted. Based on the understanding of the George Washington Birthplace National Monument landscape developed through historic research, the site appears to have been continuously occupied since American Indians, particularly the Algonquins, first established seasonal oyster-harvesting camps along the banks of Popes and Bridges Creeks and the Potomac River. American Indians appear also to have utilized this landscape for seasonal agricultural activities beginning during the Late Woodland period, ca. 1300 AD, and continuing until English settlement. In 1657, Henry Brooks became the first English patentee of this landscape. Throughout the remainder of the 17th century and most of the 18th century, the site continued to the settled and farmed. By the early 18th century, as many as six house sites had been developed between Popes and Bridges Creeks. Of these, one belonged to John Washington whose descendants continued to own land here until 1858. Agriculture was the primary early land use of the area, and access to the Potomac River was a critical component in the settlement of this remote site. Although the primary products of agriculture changed, the landscape has continued to be farmed and occupied until the present day. Within this agricultural context, the 19th and 20th centuries witnessed ever-increasing efforts to memorialize the birthplace of George Washington. These efforts culminated in the 1920s and 1930s with the establishment of one of the country’s first national historical parks. Today, George Washington Birthplace National Monument exhibits important aspects of national preservation history while also retaining landscape features that reflect the character of the landscape during George Washington’s lifetime. The major of the structures on the site contribute to the commemorative period. There are fourteen buildings and structures in the historic core area including the memorial house, which were constructed in the 1930s to resemble 18th century structures. The Wakefield National Memorial Association was founded in 1923 to undertake the preservation of the birthplace of Washington, build a park, and construct a replica of the house. Architect Edward Donn was selected by the group to design site improvements, including a replica birthplace house. Various controversies soon arose regarding the feasibility of designing an authentic replica of the birthplace house when little or no documentation of its original character existed. It was necessary for the project’s architect, Edward Donn, to increase the dimensions of his designed replica house beyond the measurements of the foundation in order to design a building imposing enough to suit the association. It was also determined that the structure would be clad in brick, even though no documentation existed regarding the materials of the original house, to reflect the stature of the Washington family as wealthy plantation owners. The controversy surrounding the replica house continued into the 1940s when it was determined that a larger and more structurally suitable foundation, uncovered during subsequent archeological investigations, was most likely that of the birthplace house. This foundation is now considered to be that of the birthplace. The 1931 replica house may be interpreted as a twentieth century memorial to George Washington rather than the actual house in which his birth took place. Overall, the park landscape is in fair condition, due in part to hurricane damage in 2003. Erosion along the river and streams was a serious issue before the hurricane, with 1-3’ disappearing annually along the Potomac River. Up to 50’ of the shore and cliff were lost during the hurricane.

George Washington Birthplace Memorial Core: Cultural Landscapes Inventory, George Washington Birthplace National Monument

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