Yesterday here in Virginia was sunny and warm, so we took off down to the Northern Neck to go see the George Washington Birthplace National Monument, part of the NPS. It is located about 35 miles southeast of Fredericksburg. What is striking is how little historians and archeaologists now know about the actual house GW spent his first three years in. They have located the foundation, but have no survining depiction or description of what the home looked like.
This lack of info, however, did not stop the faithful from erecting what they thought the house ought to look like, which is what stands today at the site. Nevertheless, it is a very pretty spot on Pope’s Creek, and worth a trip to see it. Our ranger guide was very good as well. Its also only 7 miles from Lee’s boyhood home, Stratford Hall.
[Foundation of original house; inaccurate repro in background]
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