Sitting Where George Washington Slept

The Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, PA brought the first Oval Office to Lawrenceville, NJ this weekend. As part of their Oval Office Project, the museum brings a replica of the oval-shaped tent General Washington used during the Revolutionary War to meet with his most trusted colleagues. It is referred to as the original oval office. The original is on display in Philadelphia. Realizing they wanted to share it with a larger audience, from 2013-2015 the museum teamed up with Colonial tradesmen to create a replica tent. This took place before they opened their doors to the public in 2017.

Looking at their schedule, they seem to spend one weekend a month with a team of reenactors. About six months ago, Paul, with the Lawrence Historical Society, announced this event would take place. At the time it seemed so far in the future. Suddenly the day was here! The December day was brisk with four to six inches of snow in the forecast for the next day. The reenactors were divided on their feelings of taking really cool pictures of the tents covered in snow versus getting it home and dry on schedule. I'm sure they opted to take it down Saturday after the last of the visitors left.

The reenactors were all top notch. I spoke with the woman in charge of programming at the museum. I did not want to break character and learn her 21st century personality, as learning she has a modern job was at odds with the Colonial attire she was wearing. She was mesmerizing to listen to as she and another person were adjusting the tent poles. She said they keep it real at these events.

The man inside the oval office tent showed how there is a smaller tent inside the main one, thus allowing the general's slave, William Lee, to be near, but to be able to keep working while Washington met with his team. It was surprisingly cozy inside the inner section. Washington's bed was inside another inner section. Closing off the bedchamber would have kept him snug. At 6'2", though, he would not have been able to stretch out on his bed.

Another docent told us there are three levels of mattresses. Can we guess what they are made out of? Each layer gives a different level of firmness. The levels are: hay, horsehair, and feathers. His monogrammed pillowcases were filled with feather pillows. No question was deemed wrong to answer by any of the people working the event. Perhaps on the drive home they laughed about the strangest question, just as Fort Mifflin volunteers can't believe how often they are asked why their historic site was built so close to the airport.

Much to my surprise, I was encouraged to sit on the bed to feel how comfortable it was. I can honestly say I sat where "Washington" once slept. 

Photo credit to Laurie K.

Several smaller tents were brought with the large oval one. Inside one of the smaller tents were clothes you could dress up in to pretend to be a soldier. I was given the impression they were child-sized. 

If you are interested, keep an eye out on their schedule. With the sesquicentennial taking place next year, they anticipate having a lot more activities. Being able to step inside the tent made history come to life.