1 - George Washington

George Washington was born on February 22, 1732, at his family's plantation at Pope's Creek, Virginia.  The house, known as Wakefield, was destroyed by fire on Christmas Day 1779.  Because the appearance of the house is not known, it was never rebuilt; however, its foundation was located and it marked with an outline of oyster shells.  I visited George Washington's birthplace in 1977:




In 1738, when Washington was six years old, his family moved to Ferry Farm, along the Rappahannock River near Fredericksburg, Virginia.  The house no longer stands, but there is a visitor center and guests can walk the grounds.  I have not yet visited the site of this childhood home.


In 1754, Washington began renting Mount Vernon from the widow of his half-brother Lawrence.  When she died in 1761, Washington inherited the plantation.  Although he spent most of his adult life away from home surveying western lands, leading a revolution, and forming a government, Mount Vernon remained his home until his death.  I have visited Mount Vernon many times over the years. 

This photo was taken in the gardens with my sister Marta in 1974:


This photo of my mother and me sitting on the portico was taken in 1985:

 
 

After his death on December 14, 1799, Washington was buried at Mount Vernon.  His body was originally placed in this tomb:
 

In 1831, a new tomb was built.  The photo below, taken with my parents in 1985, is where George and Martha are now interred:
 

 
The first memorial to honor George Washington was the Washington Monument built in 1827 in Boonsboro, Maryland.  I visited Washington Monument State Park in 1978:
 


 
The more famous Washington Monument, in the District of Columbia, was completed in 1884.  The photo below was taken moments after our wedding in July 2012 with our best women, Gina and Kristin:

 
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