An obelisk fashioned from Vermont marble, a one-tenth replica of the Washington Monument in Washington, DC, greets visitors at this national monument, run by the National Park Service. The site is interesting enough as Washington's birthplace, but it's more engaging as a peek into the lifestyle of the plantation owners who formed Virginia's original aristocracy, a class of essentially large-land-owning gentry, which stood in contrast to the small plot farmers and mercantile class of Northern colonies like New York and Massachusetts.
George Washington Birthplace National Monument
Virginia
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Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
26.56 MILES
In the 1600s, St Mary's City was a busy port and served as the state's first capital. Today, the spot is a living history museum romantically positioned…
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20.22 MILES
On a gentle slope overlooking the Potomac River is St Ignatius Church, which hosts the oldest continuously active Catholic parish in the country. The…
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29.33 MILES
Sits between Potomac and Mattawoman Creeks. There are a few very easy nature trails that run through local hardwood forests, and the Retreat House, a…
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16.86 MILES
Stretch your legs by the waterfront and admire the large compass rose design at the wharf. There's a small playground, and you can rent kayaks and stand…
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North St Mary’s County Farmers Market
21.47 MILES
If you'd like to interact with the Mechanicsville Amish, the easiest way is at the North St Mary's County Farmers Market, where local Amish farming…
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28.47 MILES
In Chancellorsville, Robert E Lee, outnumbered two to one, split his forces and attacked both flanks of the Union army. The audacity of the move caused…
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Old Jail Museum & Visitor Center
17.13 MILES
Completed in 1876, this small jail replaced the 1858 jail – which was apparently quite easy to escape. The Old Jail is two stories high and the cells were…
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29.7 MILES
Newly opened to tourists, this 113-acre farm next to the Rappahannock River was the boyhood home of George Washington, who lived here from age six until…
Nearby Virginia attractions
16.86 MILES
Stretch your legs by the waterfront and admire the large compass rose design at the wharf. There's a small playground, and you can rent kayaks and stand…
2. Old Jail Museum & Visitor Center
17.13 MILES
Completed in 1876, this small jail replaced the 1858 jail – which was apparently quite easy to escape. The Old Jail is two stories high and the cells were…
20.22 MILES
On a gentle slope overlooking the Potomac River is St Ignatius Church, which hosts the oldest continuously active Catholic parish in the country. The…
4. North St Mary’s County Farmers Market
21.47 MILES
If you'd like to interact with the Mechanicsville Amish, the easiest way is at the North St Mary's County Farmers Market, where local Amish farming…
26.56 MILES
In the 1600s, St Mary's City was a busy port and served as the state's first capital. Today, the spot is a living history museum romantically positioned…
28.47 MILES
In Chancellorsville, Robert E Lee, outnumbered two to one, split his forces and attacked both flanks of the Union army. The audacity of the move caused…
29.33 MILES
Sits between Potomac and Mattawoman Creeks. There are a few very easy nature trails that run through local hardwood forests, and the Retreat House, a…
29.7 MILES
Newly opened to tourists, this 113-acre farm next to the Rappahannock River was the boyhood home of George Washington, who lived here from age six until…