Bathtub weekend in Berkeley Springs

Berkeley Springs celebrates its most unique historic site, George Washington’s Bathtub, with a weekend devoted to Mount Vernon peanut soup, dollar sales and local history. From Friday through Sunday, March 16-18, the town highlights the country’s only outdoor monument to presidential bathing.

According to event organizer and historian, Jeanne Mozier, the mid-March weekend was selected, because it is the anniversary of Washington's first visit to the springs when he was a 16-year-old surveyor's assistant. “He returned repeatedly, owned property in town and bathed in the springs,” she said. “Washington was probably one of the first people to use Lord Fairfax’s bathhouse built in 1768. He came often during that decade.”

Located in the State Park, the stone tub is one of the most photographed sites in town. “We’re launching a campaign to have people send us their photos of the bathtub for an online gallery,” said Mozier.

The season’s opening of the Museum of the Berkeley Springs is a main event of the weekend. In addition to the traditional reading from Washington’s papers at 2 p.m. on Saturday, the Museum also presents a discussion of Clean Streams at noon. Museum hours are Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Washington was a great naturalist. The weekend offers a Friday evening Star Party at the Morgan County Observatory and a Wildlife Signs walk at Cacapon State Park at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

For all the details of Washington Bathtub weekend specials call 1-800-447-8797 or check posters featuring George in a tub posted around town. George Washington’s Bathtub Celebration is produced by Travel Berkeley Springs.