Virginia Dynasty: George Washington

This second installment of the Virginia Dynasty blog posts highlights our first president, George Washington, the “Father of his country.”

George’s great grandfather, John Washington, immigrated to America in 1656 and settled in the Northern Neck of Virginia in 1657, on the Potomac River near the present-day town of Colonial Beach. George was born in 1732 on the land his great grandfather, grandfather, and father owned.  He lived here until he was about three years old.

At the entrance of George Washington’s birthplace stands an obelisk that is exactly 1/10^th the size of the monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the property, the foundation of George Washington’s childhood home is marked in an outline of oyster shells.  There is also a house with era-specific furnishings on the property.

George then spent the majority of his childhood at Ferry Farm in Stafford County, Virginia.  Francisco had a great post in 2013 that described this home’s history and National Historic Landmark status.

George Washington’s most popular and well-known property is closer to Washington, D.C. Mount Vernon was a plantation in the Alexandria region on the Potomac River. George’s father, Augustine, built a farmhouse there in 1735 originally called Little Hunting Creek Plantation.  When Augustine died, ownership fell to George’s half-brother Lawrence who renamed the place Mount Vernon after Admiral Edward Vernon, his commanding officer in the British navy.  George leased and eventually inherited the property, expanding it to the size and style that has been preserved.

 

 

George Washington died on December 14, 1799 at the age of 67 in his home, Mount Vernon. He was a surveyor, commander of the Continental Army, and president of the Constitutional Convention before becoming the first president of the United States of America, unanimously elected twice, who shaped the nation.

 

My next installment will feature Thomas Jefferson and his famous home, Monticello.