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INTRODUCING THE GEORGE WASHINGTON BIRTHPLACE ASSOCIATION

The George Washington Birthplace Association looks forward with great anticipation to hosting the Society’s 2008 Annual Meeting at the George Washington Birthplace National Monument near Fredericksburg, Virginia.   We are honored to welcome the Washington family at the birthplace of your illustrious ancestor.  We will be delighted to share some of the archeological treasures and historic places of this hallowed ground where George Washington was born and where his ancestors lived for three generations.

The George Washington Birthplace Association was founded in 1923 by Washington descendant, Josephine Wheelwright Rust.  Initially, the Association’s goal was to restore the birthplace site for permanent commemoration of George Washington for his 200th birthday in 1932. We built and furnished a memorial house and colonial kitchen.  We created a colonial garden and restored the Washington Family Burial Ground.  In 1932, the George Washington Birthplace Association presented the Birthplace historic area as a gift to the people of the United States through the National Park Service. 

75 years have passed and it is time once again for the Association to make serious enhancements to the visitor’s experience at the Birthplace, and help renew our country’s appreciation for this great man.  Our children receive little education about our nation’s heritage.  It is more important than ever before that the Birthplace and other historic sites educate and inspire our visitors.

The George Washington Birthplace site is a beautiful, pristine colonial farm looking much like it did in the 17th century when George’s great grandfather, John Washington, first settled there.  The National Park Service does a fine job of preserving the 500 acres of the Birthplace, but they are unable to staff plantation with the full-time costumed docents needed to create living history.  That’s why the George Washington Birthplace Association has taken on the goal of making the plantation come alive with people tending the farm and home.  It is a big vision for us to take on but we firmly believe the time has come. 

To meet our goal, the George Washington Birthplace Association is working hard to attract thousands of new members from all over the United States.  To do this, we have enhanced our membership benefits package, which now includes the following:

• An annual historical journal of Washington scholarship based on archeological findings at the Birthplace and other sources of insight into the lifestyle of the Washington family at this site;

• Access to the Birthplace library and behind-the-scenes presentation of the 200,000 artifacts stored at the Birthplace;

• A special vacation package for members to visit George Washington’s Birthplace and nearby Washington Family historical sites;

• Free admission to the Birthplace and gift shop discounts;

• A newsletter to keep members informed of progress toward our vision of a “living history” colonial Washington farm.

• Special events, such as our display of quilts from the George Washington Birthplace collection, to the delight of over 100 regional quilters;

More needs to be done to attract new members and establish the George Washington Birthplace Association as a serious participant in the world of historical research of George Washington.   Several products, designed to attract members or otherwise generate revenue, are under consideration such as:

• Artifact Reproductions
• Ongoing Interpretation and Publication of the Artifacts
• Publication of Unique Insights into the Washington Family Members Who Lived Here
• Unique Washington Genealogy Chart Tied to the Birthplace
• Internet Collection of Washington Publications:  Past, Present, Published, Unpublished.

 
For more information or just to chat about ideas, we’d love to hear from Society members.

George Washington Birthplace Association

1730 Popes Creek Road

Colonial Beach, Virginia 22443

GW@crosslink.net

Feel free to contact

Jan Beckett, Association President

804-580-5179