Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site

Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site, also known as the Hasbrouck House, has been the owned and operated by the State of New York since 1850. Located in historic Newburgh, New York, General George Washington made the home of Jonathan and Tryntje Hasbrouck his headquarters from April 1782 to August 1783. During his time in the fieldstone farmhouse, Washington stayed with his wife Martha, officers, and enslaved people while serving as the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army. Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site, recognized as the first publicly owned and managed historic site in the country, has been furnished to reflect the time of Washington's stay and is open to tour.

The Hasbrouck House is a Dutch farmhouse in Newburgh, New York that was originally the home of Jonathan and Tryntje Hasbrouck. Built in 1750, the house would serve as General George Washington’s headquarters for the last sixteen months of the Revolutionary War. At this point in the war, the Continental Army had recently triumphed at the Battle of Yorktown in Virginia, and an American victory was nearly guaranteed, but many British troops still occupied New York.

Washington’s army decided to relocate to Newburgh while the peace treaty was being drafted, hoping to prevent any further aggression in the North. Washington's wife Martha and an unknown number of enslaved people accompanied him to the new headquarters. No Revolutionary War battles occurred in Newburgh, but during his tenure here, Washington successfully handled what is known as the Newburgh Conspiracy. The American Army was growing tired of waiting for Congress to supply sufficient funds that paid them for their service, and many soldiers began to doubt the future of the United States, questioning whether it should adopt a republican government.

Eventually, an anonymous letter began making its way around, encouraging soldiers to take up arms against Congress and demand their payment. Washington delivered a stern speech, referred to as the Newburgh Address, urging soldiers to avoid drastic actions. His plea apparently worked, and soldiers dropped any idea of a measure to threaten Congress. Once again, General Washington had won the loyalty of his officers with his admirable leadership skills. At the Hasbrouck House, Washington also established the Badge of Military Merit, the forerunner of the Purple Heart. In April 1783, the General issued a cease-fire from the headquarters, marking the official end of the Revolutionary War.

Washington’s Headquarters in Newburgh was declared a state historic site in 1850, the first in the United States to receive such a designation. The 18^th century Dutch farmhouse has been well-preserved over the centuries. The floorboards are original, and the desk and chair that Washington used when he signed the cease-fire remain on view. Washington’s Headquarters also holds a museum, first built in 1910, which houses the award-winning exhibit Unpacked & Rediscovered: Selections from Washington’s Headquarters’ Collection. The house, situated on a bluff, also offers pristine views of the Hudson River.

Just behind the Hasbrouck House stands the 53-foot-high Tower of Victory, overlooking the west bank of the Hudson River. The Tower was built in honor of General Washington and holds a life-sized statue of him. Commissioned in 1883 by Robert Todd Lincoln, then the secretary of war, to mark the 100^th anniversary of the end of the Revolutionary War, the Tower was officially opened to the public in 1887. Washington's Headquarters in Newburgh is a pivotal historic site. In addition to being the first publicly owned historic site in the nation, this is where General George Washington made some of the most critical decisions as the Commander in Chief of the Continental Army and laid the foundation for the new republic.

Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site: History, New York State Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. Accessed July 4th 2022. https://parks.ny.gov/historic-sites/17/details.aspx.

Gentry, Kit. George Washington's Headquarters - The End of the American Revolution / The Newburgh Conspiracy Newburgh, New York, Kit Gentry. Accessed August 20th, 2022. https://www.kitgentry.com/roadtrip07_newburgh.html.

Associated Press. Newburgh monument hailing end of Revolutionary War reopens, Times Herald-Record. April 26th, 2019. Accessed August 20th, 2022. https://www.recordonline.com/story/news/2019/04/26/newburgh-monument-hailing-end-revolutionary/5334704007/.

Washington's Headquarters State Historic Site, Maurice D. Hinchey Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area. Accessed August 21st, 2022. https://www.hudsonrivervalley.com/sites/Washington-s-Headquarters-State-Historic-Site-/details.

Schenkman, A.J. The Hasbrouck Family of Newburgh and Slavery, New York Almanack. February 2nd, 2012. Accessed August 23rd, 2022. https://www.newyorkalmanack.com/2012/02/the-hasbrouck-family-of-newburgh-and-slavery/.