George Washington's reputation for
sleeping around was not limited just to Revolutionary War sites in
the U.S.
The first
president of the U.S. also was a Caribbean tourist; in fact, his
only visit outside the U.S. was to Barbados in 1751 when he and his
older, half-brother and guardian Lawrence stayed for seven weeks in
a historic plantation house known as Bush Hill House.
According to
Washington's diary, Lawrence was ailing with tuberculosis, and the
younger sibling cared for him during that time.
The Bush Hill
Tourism Trust, in collaboration with the Barbados National Trust,
has restored the house and
outbuildings during a six-year renovation project that culminated
with the reopening of the site on Feb. 22 for tours and private
functions.
The restored
Georgian-style house is furnished as a typical 18th-century
plantation residence and also offers a Visitor Admission Center, a
museum, a gift shop and a cafe in the newly restored
stables.
A performance
stage for evening events and a landscaped wedding arbor also are on
site.
George Washington
House is open on weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the cost of
a tour is $5 per person.
For information,
visit www.georgewashingtonbarbados.org.
To contact
the reporter who wrote this article, send e-mail to Gay Nagle Myers
at[email protected].