George Washington's Childhood Home Found In Virginia

By Sarah Vasques
22:46, July 2nd 2008
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George Washington's Childhood Home Found In Virginia

The home of the first President of the United States, George Washington, has allegedly been found in Virginia, 50 miles south of Washington. Researchers claim that Washington's place overlooked the Rappahannock River, where legend has it the boy threw a coin (stone?) across to Fredericksburg.

David Muraca, director of archaeology for the George Washington Foundation, which owns the Ferry Farm property, said the discovery will advance knowledge about Washington's early years. He lived on the farm from age 6 to about 20. It was known the house was somewhere on the 113-acre property, but finding the actual fact proved a years-long challenge.

The first President's home was built on a foundation including two stone-lined cellars. They recovered some 500,000 artifacts, including a pipe with a Masonic seal. Washington joined the Fredericksburg Masonic Lodge in 1753, which means the pipe dates to around that time. The house was demolished sometime in the early 19th century and the buildings in the area were once again demolished by Union soldiers in the Civil War.

The team previously found another house, which proved to be too old to be Washington's, as it date back to the 17th century. Another attempt found a house that was too new, 19th century. The third time was a charm, it turned out, just as the team was running out of options. The George Washington Foundation seeks to rebuild the property and turn it into a museum of sorts.

It turns out the home proves the Washingtons were quite wealthy, owning an eight-room, clapboard-covered, shingle-roofed, wooden, one-and-a-half story home, with many luxury items inside. The building was around 53 feet long by 37 feet deep and had two large stone fireplaces.

George Washington, who led the Continental Army to victory over the Kingdom of Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War, was in office as the first President between June 15, 1775 – December 23, 1783. He died in 1799 at 67, and following his death the American army wore black armbands for 6 months, the British Navy lowered their flags at half mast and Napoleon ordered 10 days of mourning throughout France.



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