 ferry at Ferry Farm across Rappahannock River |
 site of Washington's boyhood home |
 archeology at Ferry Farm (2005) |
 visitor center |
 making a space for visitors |
 floodplain between boyhood home and Rappahannock River |
 once thought to be Washington's survey cottage |
 sandstone boulders used to make Kenmore steps |
- why did George Washington live here? why did he move away?
- is every home of Washington "important"? should his boyhood homes here be rebuilt?
- why didn't the Washington family make a profit from the ferry?
- why was George Washingtom home-schooled? throughout his life, did he follow the Rules of Civility that he once copied while living at Ferry Farm?
- if you wanted to through a rock across the river... what sort of rock would you find on the banks of the Rappahannock River?
- why would Parson Weems create a story about chopping down a cherry tree? think other stories about Washington's piety are equally valid?
- why is Ferry Farm open to the public? why was Wal*Mart unable to build here?
- how valid is the interpretation of this site based on current research? think the archeology results will increase, reduce, or have no impact on public interest in preserving the site?
- if you were responsible for managing Ferry Farm, what would you do to attract visitors? should the place be open just on weekends during the summer, to reduce operating costs?
- do taxpayer dollars support Ferry Farm preservation or operations, directly or indirectly?
- in your opinion, is this particular place worth saving? if so, why... and how would you raise the funds to protect it?
- should the government assume volunteers and private fundations will protect historic sites for the next 400 years?
- what's the difference between a floodway and a floodplain?