In 1966, Walmart bought George Washington’s Virginia farm. But locals raised $2.2 million to save his childhood home. Now, it stands as a historic landmark

George Washington, the Founding Father and the first president of the United States, served from 1789 to 1797. People admired him for his leadership during the American Revolution, his role in shaping the nation’s early government, and his commitment to public service. So, it was no wonder that when Walmart wanted to demolish his childhood farm in Virginia, the locals stepped in and saved it from demolition.

George Washington’s Ferry Farm in Virginia

George Washington, born in Westmoreland County, moved to Ferry Farm with his family after spending a brief period at Mount Vernon, reported People magazine. He was 6 at that time. After his father died at 11, Washington was left all alone to inherit the farm and take care of his family.

Washington learned cultivation, the fundamentals of agriculture, and how to survey land on Ferry Farm before joining the military and eventually taking the responsibilities of a President. For several years, the property remained unprotected until Walmart purchased the land in 1996.

Locals saved George Washington’s farm

Walmart wanted to build a Supercentre on the land, reported WJLA. That’s when the locals protested. Cessie Howell, a local, objected to the idea. ‘I just kept thinking, it just can’t be a done deal. It can’t be. George Washington, our hero, to have a Walmart next door,’ she said. From there, advocates ‘started from the ground up.’

The outrage started spreading like wildfire, with the locals raising $2.2 million to buy back the land. Walmart accepted. After that, the property was donated to the Kenmore Foundation, which is now known as the George Washington Foundation.

George Washington’s Ferry Farm now

In 2000, Ferry Farm was bestowed with the honour of a National Historic Landmark. Although the recognition doesn’t protect it from commercial development, it increases its exposure and prestige.

At present, the property’s only remaining building is a small shed which dates back to the 1870s. In 2008, archaeologists discovered the structural foundation of Washington’s childhood home. Cut to 10 years later, a replica of it was completed and made open to the public