Building Y

View of the entire excavated brick foundation in the Memorial Area.

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

1732 Popes Creek Road, Colonial Beach, VA 22443

Significance:

Building Y was partially explored in the 1930s and is believed to date to the first third of the 18th century

Designation:

National Monument

Amenities

1 listed

Benches/Seating

On December 2, 2024, National Park Service archeologists and their partners began excavating a Colonial-era building located in the Memorial Area of the park. The excavation site will be open to the public through the end of December, weather dependent, providing visitors with a unique opportunity to see the archeological remains of what is known as Building Y. 

Building Y was partially explored in the 1930s and is believed to date to the first third of the 18th century. From December 2 through December 7, archeologists investigated this significant feature to better understand its use and function within the 18th-century landscape. 

Among the artifacts discovered were various utensil and pipe stem fragments, wine glass shards, and pieces of ceramics.  Ceramic finds include fragments of Westerwald, a distinctive stoneware that originated in the Westerwaldkreis region of Germany. Recognized for its unique salt glaze and gray color, Westerwald is often decorated with striking cobalt blue designs. German stoneware fragments are commonly found at 18th-century Colonial sites, illustrating the extensive trade networks that connected the broader Atlantic World in which the Washingtons lived. 

While many insights were gained from the excavation, most notable are that the building was not an icehouse, dairy or smokehouse. Further analysis is needed before we can confidently determine its intended use. 

Now that the excavation is over, work has transitioned indoors, where the post-fieldwork processes of cleaning and cataloging artifacts, analyzing findings, and investigating comparable buildings at other historic sites will begin to gain a better understanding of Building Y. 

We extend our gratitude to the many individuals who contributed to the Building Y excavation, including staff from George Washington's Mount Vernon, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields National Military Park, Richmond National Battlefield Park, and the Northeast Archeological Resources Program. Special thanks to Dr. Phil Levy and his graduate students from the University of South Florida, as well as the park volunteers who dedicated over 250 hours to the project. We would also like to acknowledge the park staff, whose collaborative spirit and can-do attitude made this project possible.