George Washington’s great-grandfather immigrated from England in 1656 and settled in Virginia where he married Anne Pope, the daughter of a plantation owner. As a wedding present he was given 700 acres of land. By the time George Washington was born, on February 22, 1732, the Washington family holdings had expanded to include the adjoining Popes Creek property.
The original house was destroyed by fire in 1779 and never rebuilt by the family. In 1932 a house typical of the time period was built as a memorial. The grounds include a colonial garden, a kitchen building, a weaving house, a barn, a workshop, John Washington’s house site, the family cemetery, and over a mile of trails. Tobacco is grown in the fields and heritage animals graze in the meadows.The visitor center has displays about the family, artifacts uncovered in an archeological dig, and a short film.
The visitor center is accessible. The loop trail to the house and farm is hard packed, crushed gravel and fairly easy to push along. For an easier trip take the section farthest away from the water, out and back, rather than the entire loop. The nature trail and Dancing Marsh Trail are not accessible due to roots and steep sections. The house has a ramp at the rear entrance but it wasn’t opened when we visited. The kitchen and workshop are accessible. The weaving house has a step up. It’s possible to drive to John Washington’s house site and the family cemetery.
The parking lot has long RV spaces. Birthplace
38.18596, -76.91637
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