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George Washington's 1791 Southern Tour
Newly elected president George Washington set out to visit the new nation aware that he was the singular unifying figure in America.
The journey's finale was the Southern Tour, starting in March 1791. The long and arduous trek from the capital, Philadelphia, passed through seven states and the future Washington, D.C. But the focus was on Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia. The president kept a rigorous schedule, enduring rugged roads and hazardous water crossings. His highly anticipated arrival in each destination was celebrated with countless teas, parades, dinners and dances. Author Warren Bingham reveals the history and lore of the most beloved American president and his survey of the newly formed southern United States.
The journey's finale was the Southern Tour, starting in March 1791. The long and arduous trek from the capital, Philadelphia, passed through seven states and the future Washington, D.C. But the focus was on Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia. The president kept a rigorous schedule, enduring rugged roads and hazardous water crossings. His highly anticipated arrival in each destination was celebrated with countless teas, parades, dinners and dances. Author Warren Bingham reveals the history and lore of the most beloved American president and his survey of the newly formed southern United States.
144 pages, Paperback
Published February 15, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 13, 2020
A tour de force on Washington's southern travels?
read this book for research to update my own book "George Washington's Liberty Key," so I know a little bit (no pun intended) about the challenge of making what could be dry data into interesting information, and there is a lot of interesting information to find here. For example, I learned that Washington slept in 280 houses during the Revolution alone, that he visited Mount Vernon only twelve times during his 8-year presidency, and that he penned over 20 thousand letters during his life. But maybe that's not your cup of tea. Maybe you'll like the fact that he used an odometer on his carriage to count the almost 1900 miles of his trip. Or perhaps you'll like the information about Washington's white/gray horse Prescott, or his dog Cornwallis, both of which accompanied him on his four-month trip, starting on 21 March 1791, going through seven states and the future Washington, DC, and lasting until 6 July 1791. Or interesting information about the many houses, taverns, towns, and cities he passed through on his way from and back to the nation's capital of Philadelphia. OTOH, I do take great exception to the author's comment on page 12 (in my copy) that "he [GW] did not espouse great thoughts or philosophy in either spoken or written form." Well, how about GW's moving verbal addendum to his officers after the Newburgh Address (which averted a conspiracy which would have brought down the government) or his written Farewell Address, which is studied to this day as one of our founding documents? Regardless, I think most will find much to like about this highly recommended book!
read this book for research to update my own book "George Washington's Liberty Key," so I know a little bit (no pun intended) about the challenge of making what could be dry data into interesting information, and there is a lot of interesting information to find here. For example, I learned that Washington slept in 280 houses during the Revolution alone, that he visited Mount Vernon only twelve times during his 8-year presidency, and that he penned over 20 thousand letters during his life. But maybe that's not your cup of tea. Maybe you'll like the fact that he used an odometer on his carriage to count the almost 1900 miles of his trip. Or perhaps you'll like the information about Washington's white/gray horse Prescott, or his dog Cornwallis, both of which accompanied him on his four-month trip, starting on 21 March 1791, going through seven states and the future Washington, DC, and lasting until 6 July 1791. Or interesting information about the many houses, taverns, towns, and cities he passed through on his way from and back to the nation's capital of Philadelphia. OTOH, I do take great exception to the author's comment on page 12 (in my copy) that "he [GW] did not espouse great thoughts or philosophy in either spoken or written form." Well, how about GW's moving verbal addendum to his officers after the Newburgh Address (which averted a conspiracy which would have brought down the government) or his written Farewell Address, which is studied to this day as one of our founding documents? Regardless, I think most will find much to like about this highly recommended book!
June 1, 2022
I purchased my copy of this book at the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh when visiting the city in November 2021. It is an entertaining little volume that covers George Washington's 1791 tour of the southernmost states of the newly-formed United States of America. Washington had been sworn in as the nation's first President barely two years earlier. He launched off on an ambitious series of travels to see all 13 of the states, culminating in the 1900-mile odyssey described in this book which took him from the nation's capital of Philadelphia through Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, and then back. Almost all of this remarkable journey was by horse-drawn carriage over uncertain roads, and punctuated by meals and overnight stays in roadside taverns and private homes, some of them apparently pretty janky. In larger communities like Charleston the President was celebrated and feted with pomp and style. Throughout the trip, Washington spoke with citizens and observed his surroundings with a keen eye in order to take the measure of the land and gauge the temperament of the populace, recording his thoughts in a diary. The book's author is a native North Carolinian who has followed Washington's 1791 route and he shares many myths and apocrypha that have developed over the last couple of centuries about where George Washington slept and his various exploits on this "Southern Tour", along with many photos of surviving structures and various plaques and historical markers scattered along the route. The author's tone is light yet informative. I greatly enjoyed this book. I wish I had read it prior to my visit to the Carolinas last year. Four out of five stars.
March 20, 2024
Great short book about George Washington's southern tour. He took a few months and met folks and key players in various states, from Philadelphia to Georgia. He spent time in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. Back in 1791, horses and carriages were the means of transport. GW had eight men with him including two slaves, and six horses. Roads were non-existent and not easy to maneuver. GW was up and out at 4am almost every day-good way to avoid crowds, etc. He was doing his job as a federalist. I recently heard the author speak about the southern tour and his book and he did a fantastic job.
March 17, 2020
Fascinating travelogue!
Imagine have personal tour guide accompany you in visiting all the places Washington saw on his Southern Tour. That’s what this book is. You can imagine hearing his voice as he moves from place to place pointing out little known artifacts and telling the most interesting stories. (Did Washington really have a dog named Cornwallis?) I enjoyed this book very much! You will too!
Imagine have personal tour guide accompany you in visiting all the places Washington saw on his Southern Tour. That’s what this book is. You can imagine hearing his voice as he moves from place to place pointing out little known artifacts and telling the most interesting stories. (Did Washington really have a dog named Cornwallis?) I enjoyed this book very much! You will too!
February 24, 2017
A good overview of Washington's Southern Tour told in a "storyteller" fashion. It was a good read and I was reluctant to put it down. The pictures included in the book were great visuals to go along with the text.
May 30, 2019
One of the worst books I’ve ever read. Someone needs to teach this guy how to write and not have ADD.
September 9, 2025
Rather dry
January 26, 2026
Well researched by author Bingham, book has details that bring history alive not to bore and with a purpose to connect to modern times (i.e. imagine Washington’s horse drawn coach as the the equivaleny of “air force one”. One cant help to note How much greater Washington seems compared to our recent white house occupants. While Washington focused on unifying the country with this tour, modern presidents focus on division. Washington took pains to not profit from his Presidency, awarding gifts to charity, while today’s office is up for sale and full of bribe and grift for pardons and favors.
Washington maxims to live by: See and be seen. Circulate. Network. Rise early for Profit and health.
Washington maxims to live by: See and be seen. Circulate. Network. Rise early for Profit and health.
April 8, 2016
Great read! Author Warren Bingham puts the reader in the passenger seat of George Washington's carriage - helping you envision what it would be like to travel through the South in the late 1700s. Bingham does an excellent job entwining stories of the tour with related stories about the areas that Washington visited. Readers will be motivated to check out many of the stops of his tour, wondering how they compare 225+ years later. The text is complimented by great pictures taken by the author that attest to the amount of time, research and travel he dedicated to writing this great contribution, a wonderful resource on Washington's tour.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews