augustine washington

1732Where was George Washington born?

George Washington, the first President of the United States, was born on the marshy banks of Pope's Creek in Westmoreland County, Virginia—not in England or at Mount Vernon, as is sometimes rumored. His actual birthplace, now preserved as the George Washington Birthplace National Monument, holds deep historical significance as the first historic site designated in the National Park System in 1930. The foundations of Washington’s birth house remained hidden for 150 years until rediscovered by archaeologists, and today, white oyster shells mark the spot just 100 feet from the Colonial Revival-style Memorial House. A striking feature is the 50-foot granite obelisk, donated by Congress and moved to its current location in 1930, which stands at one-tenth the height of the Washington Monument in the nation’s capital.

1789Which monument in the United States has the distinction of being the only one erected to a woman by women?

The Mary Washington Monument in Fredericksburg, Virginia, stands as the only monument in the United States erected to a woman by women, honoring Mary Ball Washington, mother of George Washington. Its creation signifies the collective efforts of several women's associations, most notably the Daughters of the American Revolution, to preserve and commemorate the memory of a foundational figure in American history. After decades of stalled attempts and setbacks—including damage during the Civil War and the threatened sale of her grave—the monument was finally dedicated on May 10, 1894, before thousands, with President Grover Cleveland presiding. Its Vermont granite obelisk, inscribed “ERECTED BY HER COUNTRY-WOMEN,” remains a unique testament to American motherhood and women's perseverance.