Collingwood Library and Museum on Americanism

On October 20th 1976, without fanfare, a library and museum unique in America came into existence. It is an entity dedicated to providing information about our national heritage to the American Public. This facility is available to anyone who cares to learn of the heroic efforts made by American Patriots, particularly members of the Masonic Fraternity, in founding and developing this, the greatest nation on earth.

In the early 1970's the National President of NATIONAL SOJOURNERS, INC. formed a committee to find and establish a National Home. In 1975 this committee reported to the National Convention that they had located what they believed to be the perfect property for this purpose. The real estate they had found consisted of almost nine acres fronting on both the Potomac River and the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Alexandria, VA. This property had been purchased by George Washington in 1760 and made a part of his River farm, the largest of the five working farms which were a part of the the Mount Vernon estate. In 1785 a modest farm house was built, most likely as a residence for his assistant manager. As the years passed there were at least three major additions to the house. The current building had been neglected over the years while being put to a variety of uses. It was a "fixer-upper" to test the mettle of the most dedicated restoration devotee.