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Washington Heritage Trail Visitor Services History Calendar of Events Other Self-Guided Tours Links & Resources
Washington Heritage Trail
 
 
Jefferson County, WV
About Jefferson County
Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Jefferson Rock
Shenandoah Canal
Shepherdstown
Entler Hotel
Rumsey Monument and Tobacco Warehouse
Morgan's Grove Park
Peter Burr House
Charles Town
Jefferson County Courthouse and Museum
Zion Episcopal Church
Happy Retreat
St. George's Chapel Ruins
Harewood
Cedar Lawn
Claymont Court/Blakeley
Middleway Historic District
Berkeley County, WV
About Berkeley County
Martinsburg
B&O Roundhouse & Station Complex
Belle Boyd House
Berkeley County Courthouse
Triple Brick Museum
General Adam Stephen House
Green Hill Cemetery
Van Metre Ford Bridge
Bunker Hill Mill
Morgan Chapel
Morgan Cabin
Gerrardstown Historic District
Hays Gerrard House
Mill's Gap
Sleep Creek Wildlife Management Area
Hedgesville Historic District
Mt. Zion Episcopal Church
Snodgrass Tavern
Morgan County, WV
About Morgan County
Spruce Pine Hollow Park
Berkeley Springs
Dutch Cemetery
Throgmorton's Inn
Bath Historic District
Berkeley Springs State Park
George Washington's Bathtub
Roman Bath House & Museum of the Berkeley Springs
Washington's Lots
Sir John's Run
Panorama Overlook
Great Cacapon
Camp Hill Cemetery
Paw Paw
Paw Paw Tunnel
Coolfont Manor House
Cacapon State Park

Washington Heritage Trail

 

GEORGE WASHINGTON'S LOTS


Lots in the newly established town of Bath were initially auctioned in 1777 and George Washington purchased two overlooking the warm springs on the southeast corner of Fairfax and Mercer streets. Lord Fairfax retained lots nearby. Steamboat inventor James Rumsey was contracted by Washington in 1784 to build a summer home and outbuildings on these lots as required by the ordinance establishing the town. After considerable delay and several recorded mishaps, Rumsey eventually built two structures later described by a Washington aide as “badly built and of bad timber.” There is no record of Washington ever inhabiting them. After Washington’s death in 1799, the lots and buildings were sold to his nephew Bushrod for $380.

In 1868, Judge William Dole, Abraham Lincoln’s Commissioner of Indian Affairs, built an elaborate summer cottage on the lots which in turn was razed in 1952 for the current structure.

The Visitors Center is located across Fairfax Street in a century-old commercial building. It is open Monday through Saturday and filled with information about the area’s many attractions. The Visitors Center houses both the Chamber of Commerce and Travel Berkeley Springs.

“I am very glad Colonel Lewis purchased a lott or two for me at Warm
Springs, as it was always my intention to become a proprietor there if a
town should be laid off at that place.”

George Washington to Samuel Washington – October 27, 1777

 



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