This shaft, of Vermont granite, weighs about 50 tons. It is nearly one-tenth the size of the Washington Monument in the Nation’s capital, and of the same relative proportions. First erected in 1896 by the War Department (at or near the foundations of the home in which George Washington was born), it was moved to its present location near the entrance to the national monument in 1930. [Illustration: GEORGE WASHINGTON BIRTHPLACE NATIONAL MONUMENT—_Westmoreland County, Va._] _Points of interest within the National Monument area:_ 1 GRANITE MONUMENT 2 SUPERINTENDENT’S OFFICE 3 MAIN PARKING AREA 4 POST OFFICE 5 SITE OF BUILDING “X“ 6 MEMORIAL HOUSE 7 COLONIAL STYLE GARDEN 8 GROVE OF NATIVE “CEDARS” 9 KITCHEN & HISTORICAL MUSEUM 10 SITE OF SMOKE HOUSE 11 DUCK HALL PICNIC AREA. _(Parking)_ 12 SITE OF ANCIENT BUILDING FOUNDATION 13 WASHINGTON FAMILY BURIAL GROUND 14 POTOMAC RIVER VIEW [Illustration: _Tilt-top table in the dining room. The only piece of furniture in the memorial house believed to be from the home in which Washington was born._] [Illustration: _Dining room. Many of the items of tableware shown are similar to types unearthed at Washington’s birthplace._] [Illustration: _Brick foundations of a part of Building “X”, an early building unearthed at Washington’s birthplace._] 2. Superintendent’s office. Visitors seeking information are always welcome here. 3. Main parking area. 4. Post office, Washington’s Birthplace, Va. Souvenirs, postcards, potted plants, and soft drinks may be purchased in the post office building. 5. Site of Building “X.” So-called because its history is unknown, the brick foundations of Building “X” were discovered in 1930. They were partially unearthed that year, and completely excavated in 1936. The boxwood plants outline only one room of the building, known as Unit “A.” The brick foundations of Building “X” were the most extensive ones unearthed at Wakefield. Including the projecting wings, the foundations were almost 70 feet long. The center of the building was approximately 19 feet wide. One wing was 22 feet wide, the other 32 feet wide. The possibility that it, rather than the smaller foundation on the memorial mansion site about 60 feet away, was the exact spot where George Washington was born cannot be ignored and will perhaps always remain an intriguing question. 6. Memorial house. This was built in 1930-31. The furnishings are of the 1700-50 period. One item, a tilt-top table, is the only existing piece of furniture said to have been in the original house at Wakefield, having been saved at the time of the fire in 1779. Much of the pottery, porcelain, glassware, tableware, and metalware in the house are similar in period and style to many of the artifacts which were unearthed near the birthsite during archeological excavations. 7. Colonial-style garden.