2009 Calendar of Events, George Washington Birthplace National Monument

February 16: George Washington’s Birthday. (Federal Holiday) Living History Demonstrations.  Free Admission

February 21: George Washington’s Birthday. Living History Demonstrations by the 4H Heritage Club.

February 22:  George Washington’s Birthday. (actual) Cake and Punch served at the Visitor Center at 1:00 pm. Birthsite to be candlelit for George Washington’s 277^th Birthday.

March 28: George Washington Birthplace 4H Heritage Club Event.  Our own 4H members and leaders share their fun with our visitors. Costumed interpretation of Colonial crafts like blacksmithing, spinning and cooking will be presented. 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

April 25: Junior Ranger Day.  Candidates from 5-12 can earn the coveted George Washington Birthplace Junior Ranger badge. Celebrate Junior Rangers with a variety of historic demonstrations and hands-on activities. Free patches will be available to Junior Rangers on a first come, first served basis. 10:00 am - 4:00 pm.

April 26: First Inauguration.  George Washington took the oath of office as the first president of the United States of America on April 30, 1789. Visitors get a chance to win prizes and glory as contestants in the First Inauguration Presidential Trivia Contest. 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.

May 30: Spring on the Plantation.  George Washington was a product of plantations. To understand Washington, we must understand plantation life. 18^th century activities and demonstrations such as sheep shearing, tobacco planting, blacksmithing and open hearth cooking will be offered at Popes Creek Plantation. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

July 4: Independence Day.  Special activities in conjunction with our sister park, Sulgrave Manor, will be announced at a later date. Sulgrave Manor is the ancestral home of the Washington family. Both they and we celebrate 2009 as the 350^th anniversary of the establishment of the Washington dynasty in the New World with the birth of Lawrence, George Washington’s grandfather, in Virginia. Free admission.

August 22: George Washington Birthplace 4H Heritage Club Event.  Our own 4H members and leaders share their fun with our visitors. Costumed interpretation of Colonial crafts like blacksmithing, spinning and cooking will be presented.

September 4, 2009: NPS Documentary and Lawrence Washington's Birthday Celebration. A showing of a new 45-minute Ken Burns documentary "This is America" will precede a birthday celebration for George Washington's grandfather, Lawrence Washington. He would have been 350 years old this year.

September 13: Constitution Commemoration.  The Constitution of the United States of American was signed on September 17, 1787. As the presiding officer of the Constitutional Convention, George Washington played a crucial role in determining the shape of our government. A lecture by a noted scholar will be presented. 2:00 pm. Admission to the lecture is free.

October 24: George Washington Birthplace 4H Heritage Club Event.  Our own 4H members and leaders share their fun with our visitors. Costumed interpretation of Colonial crafts like blacksmithing, spinning and cooking will be presented.

December 26: A Washington Christmas.  George Washington loved music, dance and festive occasions. Like other colonials, the Washington family celebrated the 12 days of Christmas which begins on Christmas Day. The Memorial House will be decorated for the holidays and filled with colonial music. All day the plantation will be busy with demonstrations and activities performed by costumed interpreters. 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. Free admission.