An interpretive replica of the house that young George Washington lived in with his family is being built at his boyhood home at Ferry Farm near Fredericksburg, Virginia. This replica is being constructed on the exact location of the original. Through the use of a specially-designed concrete cradle, the replica will not harm any of the original architectural remains underground. In this video, we see the construction of this cradle and learn about the science and skill that makes this engineering feat possible.
In 1996, the Trustees, Regents, and staff of The George Washington Foundation, known then as the Kenmore Association, were part of a large and vocal group of concerned citizens that banded together to save the site of George Washington’s Boyhood Home from commercial development. While all the Washington-era structures, yards, and fences vanished almost 200 years ago, it was critical to preserve this significant place in our nation’s history—where beginning in 1738 young George and his family called home.
After years of meticulous research and planning by historians, architects, archaeologists, and curators, the Foundation is fulfilling that goal. Up to this point Ferry Farm has been an archaeology park known for its grassy fields, beautiful views of the Rappahannock River, large-scale archaeology excavations, and an amazing and extensive collection of Washington artifacts. Today with the beginning of the construction of the interpretive replica of the Washington house and the surrounding landscape Ferry Farm is beginning its transition to an outdoor living museum.
George Washington lived at Ferry Farm from age 6 to around age 22. The Cherry Tree and the Stone Throw legends were set here. He learned to survey, joined the Masonic Lodge, read his first book on military adventurers, copied the Rules of Civility, and petitioned colonial Virginia’s British Governor for his first military office at Ferry Farm. This is the landscape that was formed by the Washingtons and their enslaved workers, and George Washington’s years on this ground were essential to his development into an extraordinary man.
An architectural rendering of front facade of the interpretive replica of the Washington house at Ferry Farm.
Starting with stone masons, who are now working on the site, the construction process involves a succession of skilled artisans, employing a mix of modern and traditional techniques, including brick masons, blacksmiths, carpenters, joiners, plasterers, and painters, who together will produce the rich detail and beauty of a colonial home.
Once the replica house is in place, the Foundation will reconstruct the support buildings, fences, and yards, informed by archaeology and historical research, that surrounded and served the house. To date, we have unearthed remnants of a kitchen, slave quarter, trash yard, work yard, hen yard, and storehouse from the Washington period. As archaeology continues to reveal additional structures and other elements, they will be added to the landscape until we create a place that evokes early Virginia and portrays what life was like for young George Washington. Because the house is a reconstruction, we look forward to presenting colonial America in ways not possible for most historic house museums. We will light fires in the fireplace, open windows, and invite visitors to sit in the chairs. This unique environment will let guests experience eighteenth-century life with all their senses.
Architectural floor plans of the interpretive replica of the Washington house at Ferry Farm.
As Ferry Farm transitions from grassy fields to construction site, please stop in and witness the making of history up close. George Washington’s Boyhood Home in Stafford County, Virginia, is open Monday through Sunday. We invite you to explore Ferry Farm with the self-guided iPad tour, “Uncovering George Washington’s Youth,” or participate in a dynamic educational program relating to archaeology, history, and the natural environment. The Foundation also offers special events and tours at its sister site, Historic Kenmore Plantation in Fredericksburg. You can follow the progress at Ferry Farm on this blog, as well as the Foundation’s Facebook page and website, where we will offer glimpses into eighteenth-century construction techniques and address historical issues. We hope you will visit George Washington’s Ferry Farm soon.
David Muraca
Director of Archaeology
Learn more about building George Washington’s boyhood home in Clint Schemmer’s article, “George Washington Really Did Sleep Here”, on the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star’s website.
Among Kenmore’s collection is an 18th century seven-day clock that requires winding weekly. In this video, Collections Manager Heather Baldus shares the clock’s history and winds the clock for another week.
Master Stonemason Ray Cannetti dresses a stone that will be part of the foundation of an interpretive replica of George Washington’s boyhood home being constructed at Ferry Farm in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Watch Part 1: “Splitting the Stone” here.
The George Washington Foundation is undertaking a multi-year venture to build this interpretive replica of the Washington house on its archaeological footprint. The first phase of the project will also reconstruct the kitchen, the enslaved quarters structure, and an outbuilding as well as recreate the period landscape.
Master Stonemason Ray Cannetti and his crew split large sandstone boulders into smaller pieces that will then be dressed into foundation stones for an interpretive replica of George Washington’s boyhood home soon to be constructed at Ferry Farm.
The George Washington Foundation has begun a multi-year venture to building this interpretive replica of the Washington house on its archaeological footprint. The first phase of the project will also reconstruct the kitchen, the enslaved quarters structure, and an outbuilding as well as recreate the period landscape.
Several months ago, Historic Kenmore concluded the refurnishing effort in the Dining Room. After painstaking research and scientific investigation, that room has been returned to a state that would be immensely familiar to Fielding and Betty Washington Lewis.
It might look somewhat unfamiliar, however, to later occupants of Kenmore. The first picture below was taken sometime between 1880 and 1902 when the Howard family occupied the house.
When, in 1881, Kenmore was purchased by Mr. William Key Howard of Maryland, the place was in deplorable condition.
Kenmore suffered considerable damage to its ornamental plaster ceilings during the Civil War. Young William K. Howard, Jr. urged his father to allow him to repair them. When scaffoldings were built, the artistic lad worked long and patiently making his own molds for replacement elements when needed.
The Howards saved the ceiling but, naturally, their goal was not to return the building to its colonial-era appearance. When Kenmore became a historic house museum, changes still had to be made over many decades to achieve a historically accurate décor that closely resembles the one the Lewises would have known in the late 1700s.
The second picture shows the dining room as it appears today after meticulous restoration and refurnishing. Comparing the two photos, we see the biggest architectural change to the room was the removal of the gothic arched niches on each side of the fireplace. The arches were returned to the original square doors.
The narrow oak flooring, which replaced the original floor stained with the blood of Civil War soldiers who received medical treatment at Kenmore, was itself replaced with heart pine flooring. Late last year, the floor was covered with a beautiful replica 18th century carpet.
Decorative coal grating and surrounding bricks were removed from the fireplaces making them larger.
The wood molding put on the walls to create false panels was removed and replaced with plaster molding whose original location was found during removal of paint during restoration work.
Those are just a few of the changes both large and small that can be seen when comparing these two photos. The changes occurred over many decades and involved many dedicated people but each started, in many ways, with the Howards. They and all the rest of us who have spent our days at Kenmore have taken something old and made it new again.
Heather Baldus, Collections Manager
Zac Cunningham, Manager of Educational Programs
The George Washington Foundation broke ground for The Washington House and the First Phase of Construction at Ferry Farm on Saturday, April 25. Doris Kearns Goodwin, world-renowned presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author, delivered keynote remarks. Read more about the ceremony and project in The Fredericksburg Free Lance-Starhere.
The large area of dirt encompasses the Washington House’s location. Preparations for the groundbreaking take place in the background.
Washington House cellar
Visitors await the ceremony’s start.
Doris Buffett, local philanthropist and sister of investor Warren Buffett, will serve as honorary national fundraising chairwoman of “The Future of Our Past Campaign.”
The Stafford Board of Supervisors present George Washington Foundation President Bill Garner with a check for $470,000 for the project.
Back in late February, staff revamped the orientation exhibit in the visitors center at George Washington’s Ferry Farm. The new exhibit called The Science of History at Ferry Farm tells the story of how archaeologists and historians discovered the location of the Washington family home using, in some cases, the latest scientific techniques. It includes a variety of artifacts recovered from the house site. This team effort involved members of the Curatorial, Archaeology, and Buildings and Grounds departments. These photos present a glimpse behind-the-scenes into how an museum exhibit gets put together.
The process begins with a fresh coat of paint in the gallery space.
Archaeology and curatorial staff prepare objects to be moved from their temproary display case into the new exhibit area.
Staff wear white cotton gloves to protect the artifacts from damaging oils on their hands.
These objects form the part of the exhibit that explains how colonial people made glues to mend their ceramics. Several pieces of Mary Washington’s ceramics excavated at Ferry Farm have glue residue on them.
George oversees the work.
Glass covers await to be reunited with the display cases.
Moving the exhibit display cases.
Proofing the new exhibit text a final time before hanging.
Editor’s Note: The behind-the-scenes tour mentioned at the end of this post and on the video’s end title is sold out.
Today, we’re linking to a behind-the-scenes video on The George Washington Foundation’s YouTube channel. In the video, Heather Baldus, Collections Manager, gives us a tour of Historic Kenmore’s underground heating and cooling system. This geothermal system helps maintain the proper climate inside the mansion and protects all of the furniture and historic objects on display.
You can see more during “Kenmore: Behind-the-Scenes” on Saturday, March 21 when Meghan Budinger, Aldrich Director of Curatorial Operations, gives an extraordinary tour of the mansion, including rare stories and insights into its history, furnishings, and ongoing preservation. Visit the cellar, second floor, attic, and other spaces behind-the-scenes! Admission: $12.00 adults, $6.00 ages 12-17. Reservations required and space is very limited. Please call 540-370-0732 x24 or email hayes@gwffoundation.org. Please note: on this tour, participants visit each floor in the mansion, climbing a total of 80 stairs. A few passageways and stairwells are narrow and confined.
Lives & Legacies 