Washington's Southern Tour
Craven County, Craven County, North Carolina
Marker Inscription
Washington's Southern Tour. President Washington, on April 20, 1791, was a guest at the home of Col. John Allen, which was 5 mi. E.
Erected by North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources
The Story
On April 20, 1791, President George Washington passed through this area during his grand tour of the southern states, lodging at the nearby home of Col. John Allen. Washington undertook the journey to see the young nation firsthand and to bind its far-flung citizens to the new federal government. His detailed travel diaries record stops like this one along the route.
Why it matters
Washington's Southern Tour was a deliberate act of nation-building, carrying the new presidency directly to the people of every state in the fragile early republic.
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Related people
- · George Washington
- · John Allen
Related events
- · Washington's Southern Tour
Themes & tags
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