An act of Congress granted the Association authority to erect a building on the birthsite "as nearly as may be practicable, of the house in which George Washington was born."
By act of Congress, January 23, 1930, the 394.47 acres owned by the Federal Government was designated as George Washington Birthplace National Monument to be administered by the National Park Service of the United States Department of the Interior.
The dream of the patriotic women came true when the new Memorial Mansion was erected in 1930-31. It was immediately opened to the public.
Reliable information concerning the appearance of the original house could not be found, therefore the house that was erected represents a typical Virginia plantation house of the eighteenth century.
In the old-fashioned garden established near the Memorial Mansion there is a sundial bearing this inscription:
"A place of rose and thyme and scented earth—
A place the world forgot,
But here a matchless flower came to birth,
Time paused and blessed the spot."
Wakefield plantation is a memorial to the many people who had a part in saving it and bringing it to life again, as well as a monument to George Washington.