First Public Historic Site in the Nation: Washington’s Headquarters

Newburgh

General George Washington held his headquarters at Newburgh from April 1782 to August 1783, his longest stay at any building during the American Revolution. In 1850 the State of New York acquired and opened the site to the public, making it the first publicly owned and operated historic site in the nation.

NY Firsts - Washington Headquarters in Newburgh — Mid-19th century stereograph of George Washington’s Headquarters in Newburgh. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.

NY Firsts - George Washington HQ — Glass-plate negative of Washington’s Headquarters in 1906. Courtesy of the Library of Congress.

NY Firsts - George Washington HQ in color — Washington’s Headquarters State Historic Site today. Photograph by Linda Harms.