George Washington House, West Coast Travel Guide

George Washington House, nestled in the historic Garrison area of Bridgetown, Barbados, offers a unique glimpse into the life of the future first U.S. President. This beautifully restored 18th-century Georgian-style mansion is the only house outside the continental United States where George Washington resided. In 1751, a 19-year-old George Washington accompanied his ailing half-brother, Lawrence, to Barbados in search of a cure for Lawrence's tuberculosis.During their six-week stay, Washington experienced the vibrant culture and sophisticated military defenses of this British colony. He also contracted and survived smallpox, an event that some historians believe influenced his later leadership. The house itself, originally built around 1717, showcases a typical, yet not lavish, plantation residence of the mid-18th century. Visitors can explore the period-furnished rooms on the ground floor and an interactive museum on the second floor. The museum delves into the rich cultural heritage of the island during the 17th and 18th centuries, a time when Barbados was one of the wealthiest countries in the hemisphere. A highlight is the access to a section of the Garrison Tunnels, an extensive network constructed in the 1820s, offering insights into military engineering and Barbadian history. A small cinema on site shows a 16-minute docudrama about Washington's visit.