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Welcome to George Washington Birthplace National Monument—a place where history meets memory. You’re standing on land that once cradled the beginnings of a national icon. But the house where George Washington was born in 1732? It’s no longer here. In fact, only remnants of the buildings from Washington’s time remain. What you do see are memorials and buildings made to honor Washington’s family and legacy. While this living monument does not recreate the past, it commemorates the ideals Washington came to represent throughout our nation’s history. This audio tour will guide you through the park’s key landmarks—each one offering a window into how Americans have remembered and honored George Washington here over the centuries. As you explore, you’ll uncover stories of how memory shapes history—and how those stories are preserved on the landscape around you. 
Download our NPS app to follow along with the audio stops as you walk the grounds. NPS 
Stop 1: Popes Creek
Discover how Native Americans and the Washingtons adapted to the area around Popes Creek. 
Stop 2: The Birthplace Monument
Learn more about the history surrounding the Birthplace Monument. 
Stop 3: Building X
Discover one of the park's greatest mysteries. 
Stop 4: Colonial Revival Kitchen
Learn about colonial era cooking, tools that would have been used, and how they would have prepared meals. 
Stop 5: Memorial House Museum
Learn about the decade-long controversial effort to build a Memorial House honoring George Washington at his birthplace. 
Stop 6: Colonial Revival Garden
Planned and created during the Colonial Revival period in 1930, the garden today is maintained by the Northern Neck Master Gardeners. 
Stop 7: Farm Workshop
Discover the Farm Workshop located in the Memorial Area, featuring tools that were used for colonial trades. 
Stop 8: Rockefeller Barn
Discover John D. Rockefeller Jr.'s involvement with the creation of the park. 
Stop 9: The Log House
The Log House was originally designed to offer refreshment and overnight accommodations to park visitors. 
Stop 10: John Washington House Site
Learn more about the history of the John Washington House Site and the history of the Washington Family. 
Stop 11: Washington Family Burial Ground
Learn about the history of the Washington Family Burial Ground. 
Stop 12: Potomac River Beach
Learn about the Washington family and their involvement in Atlantic World trade from their wharf on the Potomac River. 
Virtual Passport StampDon't forget your Passport stamp! If you have completed the Landscape Stories audio tour from home, you can commemorate your virtual park visit with a special digital Passport stamp. Simply download the image (right-click on the stamp and select “Save Image As”), print it, cut it out, and tape it into your Passport book.Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to continue exploring more stories from the landscape! |
Last updated: September 2, 2025