Episode 194: Longfellow House- Washington’s Headquarters, NHS

by Holly WhiteJuly 10, 2018

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As part of its mission, the National Park Service seeks to protect and preserve places saved by the American people so that all may experience the heritage of the United States. These places include those with historical significance.

Supervisory Park Ranger Garrett Cloer joins us to explore the Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site so we can discover more about the Siege of Boston (1775-76), the birth of the Continental Army and the life and work of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

About the Show

Ben Franklin’s World is a podcast about early American history.

It is a show for people who love history and for those who want to know more about the historical people and events that have impacted and shaped our present-day world.

Each episode features a conversation with a historian who helps us shed light on important people and events in early American history.

Ben Franklin’s World is a production of the Omohundro Institute.

Episode Summary

Supervisory Park Ranger Garrett Cloer joins us to explore the Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site so we can discover more about the Siege of Boston (1775-76), the birth of the Continental Army and the life and work of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.

During our exploration, Garrett reveals the early history of the house that John Vassall built; Details about how the Vassall House came to serve as George Washington’s home and headquarters during the Siege of Boston; And information about how both Washington and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow used and experienced life in the house.

What You’ll Discover

The National Park Service as a steward of Historic Sites
The Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters National Historic site
The connections of the Longfellow House to American history
John Vassall and the early history of the historic site
Architecture of the Vassall House
John Vassall, Loyalist
The British Occupation of Boston
The Siege of Boston
Washington’s arrival in Boston in July 1775
Washington’s headquarters in Cambridge
Washington’s life in the Vassall House
Enslaved people and the Vassall House
Evacuation Day
How Washington’s Headquarters became Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s House
Longfellow’s life in the Vassall House
Frances “Fanny” Appleton Longfellow
Longfellow on abolitionism and women’s rights
How the Longfellow House became a National Historic Site
What we can see and tour during a visit to the Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters NHS

Links to People, Places, and Publications

Garrett Cloer
Longfellow House-Washington’s Headquarters
Independence National Historical Park
Adams National Historical Park
Boston National Historical Park
Minuteman National Historical Park
Cleveland Meet up at Shooters on the Water July 21, 4pm

Sponsor Links

Omohundro Institute
Daniel Livesay, Children of Uncertain Fortune:Mixed Race Jamaicans in Britain and the Atlantic Family, 1733-1833 (Listener- Only 40 Percent Discount Code 01BFW)

Complementary Episodes

Time Warp Question

In your opinion, what might have happened if George Washington had chosen to make his headquarters in another house? What would have happened to the Vassall House if George Washington hadn’t made it his temporary residence?