Last updated: October 17, 2022
Place
Building X
NPS image
Quick Facts
Location:
1732 Popes Creek Road, Colonial Beach, VA 22443
Significance:
Ruins of one of the oldest structures at George Washington's Birthplace, but its significance is still unknown
Designation:
National Monument
Amenities
1 listed
Benches/Seating
In January 1930, George Washington Birthplace National Monument was created as a unit of the National Park Service. At the same time the park was created, the Wakefield National Memorial Association was working to preserve the landscape of George Washington's childhood. Among the Association's plans was to build a Memorial House worthy of the first president.
During the building of the Memorial House, the National Park Service located a foundation yards away from where the Memorial House was built. The NPS waited until the completion of the Memorial House before further investigation of the foundation was made. When the foundation was finally opened up a few years later, many artifacts were discovered, leading some to speculate that this was the original location of George Washington's Birthhouse. The foundation was named Building X, due to the uncertainty of what it truly represented.
Another archeological project was completed here in the 1970s. Despite no new evidence to state that the site was where the birthhouse had stood, the NPS began to refer to this location as the definitive ruins of the birthhouse. Why the change?
Timing. In 1976, the nation would be celebrating its bicentennial year. Pressure was on to identify the location of the actual birthhouse. The birthplace of the first president of the nation could not have the location of the original birthhouse be unknown. Therefore, Building X, without any new evidence of its significance, became the location of the birthhouse.
Over the next 35 years, park interpretive staff referred to the area as the birthhouse. However, in the early 21st century, with a more thorough understanding of colonial American archeology, park staff and archeological teams conducted an investigation into past excavations done at the site. A reassessment of the earlier findings led to doubts that Building X truly was the location of Washington's birthhouse.
Two more significant events in the history of the location are quickly approaching; the centennial of George Washington Birthplace National Monument in 2030, and George Washington's Tercentenary (300th birthday) in 2032. Will the location of the original birthhouse be resolved by then?
During the building of the Memorial House, the National Park Service located a foundation yards away from where the Memorial House was built. The NPS waited until the completion of the Memorial House before further investigation of the foundation was made. When the foundation was finally opened up a few years later, many artifacts were discovered, leading some to speculate that this was the original location of George Washington's Birthhouse. The foundation was named Building X, due to the uncertainty of what it truly represented.
Another archeological project was completed here in the 1970s. Despite no new evidence to state that the site was where the birthhouse had stood, the NPS began to refer to this location as the definitive ruins of the birthhouse. Why the change?
Timing. In 1976, the nation would be celebrating its bicentennial year. Pressure was on to identify the location of the actual birthhouse. The birthplace of the first president of the nation could not have the location of the original birthhouse be unknown. Therefore, Building X, without any new evidence of its significance, became the location of the birthhouse.
Over the next 35 years, park interpretive staff referred to the area as the birthhouse. However, in the early 21st century, with a more thorough understanding of colonial American archeology, park staff and archeological teams conducted an investigation into past excavations done at the site. A reassessment of the earlier findings led to doubts that Building X truly was the location of Washington's birthhouse.
Two more significant events in the history of the location are quickly approaching; the centennial of George Washington Birthplace National Monument in 2030, and George Washington's Tercentenary (300th birthday) in 2032. Will the location of the original birthhouse be resolved by then?