Volunteer Story: The Robinsons

The Robinsons

Volunteering at George Washington Birthplace National Monument for the past ten years has been one of the most educational, challenging, and rewarding activities I and my two daughters have experienced. As a history lover, the opportunity to see, smell, touch, hear, and taste the same experiences as George Washington, and those who lived on this land before us, has been priceless.

I often feel like we have lived out the old saying, “Before you criticize a man, walk a mile in his shoes.” Living history by wearing colonial era clothes and eating hoecakes cooked over an open fire gave me and my daughters an educational experience and sense of familiarity with the Washingtons that we could not have gained from a history book. Many times I left the park feeling like I gained more knowledge than I imparted to visitors that day. Sometimes my new knowledge was related to a colonial era craft such as weaving. But just as often, my new knowledge came from simply living out the day-to-day tasks of a colonial woman. Knowing I was experiencing the same sights and sounds as a young pregnant Mary Washington almost 300 years ago was enough to make me pause and reflect on humanity’s common experiences.

We have met visitors from all over the world, and interacting with them has been both challenging and rewarding. Some visitors have barely spoken English; others were full of awe and questions. I consider it a privilege that my daughters and I have been able to welcome so many visitors. Hopefully we’ve given them fond memories, and occasionally a cute picture, to take home.

Watching my daughters grow up at the Park, gain an appreciation of the hard work our founders invested in this country, and learn about the native and enslaved peoples who walked this same ground has been rewarding for me as a mother. Working together to decorate for the holidays and serve cake on Presidents’ Day are some of my fondest memories at the Park. The NPS rangers we have had the privilege to meet and work with over the years have been inspiring as each one has invested their own strengths to preserve George Washington’s land and memory.

I still have much to learn, and I look forward to discovering more each time I volunteer at George Washington Birthplace National Monument.

Rhonda, Tabitha, and Abigail Robinson

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