1749 Survey by George Washington

Call number: Mss1.St824a1

This document is Washington's earliest-known survey, made when he was surveyor of Culpeper County in 1749. At the time, Culpeper was on Virginia's frontier. Washington's work as surveyor fostered in him a growing interest in the West—an interest that would remain with him throughout his life. It would bring him to the attention of Governor Dinwiddie who appointed him commander of the Virginia Regiment in January 1754. In this capacity, Washington led a small band of Virginians and their Indian allies against a French scouting party, setting off a conflict that became the French and Indian War.

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In this video, Vice President for Collections E. Lee Shepard discusses Washington's 1749 survey.

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Learn more in "Washington's Mentor: Gov. Dinwiddie's Correspondence, 1751–58"

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