Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site
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Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site is in Newburgh, New York, USA. It consists of the Hasbrouck House, the last and longest-serving headquarters of George Washington during the American Revolutionary War, and two other structures.
It is also the oldest house in the city of Newburgh, and the first property acquired and preserved by any U.S. state for historic reasons.
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[edit] History of the house
The first fieldstone farmhouse on the site was built in 1750 by the Huguenot couple Jonathan and Tryntje Hasbrouck, who operated a gristmill among other activities such as farming and commerce. The house was surrounded by a large farm estate. It underwent two significant enlargements before it served as a headquarters. In order to do so, additional kitchen space was added leaving the house in its present eight-room state. Additional buildings such as stables and barns were also constructed on the site. However, most of the latter were removed afterwards at Tryntje Hasbrouck's request.
In 1850, it was acquired by the State of New York and became the first publicly operated historic site in the country. Today, it is a museum furnished to recreate its condition during the Revolutionary War. It covers an area of about seven acres (2.8 ha) with three buildings: Hasbrouck House, a museum (built in 1910) and a monument named the "Tower of Victory", which was opened in 1897 after 11 years of construction in order to commemorate the centennial of Washington's stay.
Also on the property is the grave of Uzal Knapp, one of the longest-lived veterans of the Continental Army. For many years it was believed that he had served as one of Washington's personal guards, but more recently historians have come to doubt this.
[edit] Washington's headquarters
Hasbrouck House served as Washington's last headquarters during the Revolutionary War from April 1782 until the end of the war in August 1783. It was chosen for its comparatively safe location north of the strategically important West Point. The 7,000 troops of the Continental Army were encamped near what is today known as Vails Gate, a few miles to the southwest.
In the headquarters at Hasbrouck House, Washington rejected a suggestion to institute an American monarchy and defused the threat of a mutiny among his officers over pay and pensions. He also created and first awarded the Badge of Military Merit which became the forerunner of the Purple Heart. On April 19th, 1783, he issued an order for the "cessation of hostilities"', which formally ended the Revolutionary War.
[edit] Location
The Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site is located on Liberty Street in downtown Newburgh. It is several blocks from the Hudson River and enjoys a commanding view of it and Beacon Mountain beyond.
[edit] Management
Although owned by New York's Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the site, like all other NYSPRHP properties in the mid-Hudson region, is operated by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission.
