In 1930, philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. made a major contribution to the effort to preserve the landscape where George Washington was born. The Wakefield National Memorial Association approached Rockefeller for financial support to develop a memorial at Washington’s birthplace. Rockefeller responded by initiating the acquisition of 267 acres for $115,000 in the late 1920s and holding the property in trust while the association raised money for its project. He completed the final deed transfer and financial release in early 1930, just days before the site was formally established as a national monument on 23 January 1930; Rockefeller handed over the land to the association. This final step allowed Rockefeller to formally handover the land to the association for immediate conveyance to the federal government. The National Park Service says almost half of today’s park acreage was donated by Rockefeller.
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