Washington ' s Headquarters State Historic Site Washington ' s Headquarters State Historic Site is a historic site in Newburgh , New York , USA . It consists of the Hasbrouck House , the longest - serving headquarters of George Washington during the American Revolutionary War , and three other structures . It is also the oldest house in the city of Newburgh , and the first property acquired and preserved by any U . S . state for historic reasons . For both that and its historic value it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961 . History of the house . The first fieldstone farmhouse on the site may have been built in 1725 by Burger Mynderse . The property was sold to Elsie Hasbrouck , and she in turn gave it to her son , Jonathan , who married Catherine ( Tryntje ) Dubois and they built the existing structure on the original foundation , if any , in 1750 . The house was surrounded by a large stock farm . The home underwent two significant enlargements before it was completed in 1770 . The home has an original " Dutch Jambless " fireplace . A temporary kitchen was built by the army upon their arrival in 1782 . Changes were made inside the house including the addition of an " English " style fireplace in the General ' s bedroom . Existing buildings such as stables and barns were also enlarged and improved on the site . Most Army buildings were removed by the Quartermaster - General ' s Office at the end of the war , with the exception of a " Ho : ( use ) in the garden " , which was given to Mrs . Hasbrouck . It no longer exists . In 1850 , it was acquired by the State of New York and became the first publicly operated historic site in the country . Today , it is a museum furnished to recreate its condition during the Revolutionary War . It covers an area of about seven acres ( 2 . 8 ha ) , with three buildings : Hasbrouck House , a museum ( built in 1910 ) , a monument named the " " Tower of Victory " " , which was completed in 1890 after four years of construction in order to commemorate the centennial of Washington ' s stay , and a maintenance shed / garage built in the Colonial Revival style in 1942 . Also on the property is the grave of Uzal Knapp , one of the longest - lived veterans of the Continental Army . For many years it was believed that he had served as one of Washington ' s personal guards , but more recently historians have come to doubt this . The gravestone , though simple , is the work of the Studio of Henry Kirke Brown . There is a statue entitled " The Minuteman " , by Henry Hudson Kitson , that was erected on the grounds on November 11 , 1924 . The site was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961 . It is also one of the more than 2 , 000 contributing properties to the East End Historic District , the most of any district in the state . Washington ' s headquarters . Hasbrouck House served as Washington ' s headquarters during the Revolutionary War from April 1782 until August 1783 . It was chosen for its comparatively safe location north of the strategically important West Point . The 7 , 000 troops of the Continental Army were encamped near what is today known as Vails Gate , a few miles to the southwest . In the headquarters at Hasbrouck House , Washington rejected a suggestion to institute an American monarchy and defused the threat of a mutiny among his officers over pay and pensions . He also created and first awarded the Badge of Military Merit which became the forerunner of the Purple Heart . On April 19 , 1783 , he issued an order for the " cessation of hostilities " , which formally ended the fighting of the Revolutionary War . Location . The Washington ' s Headquarters State Historic Site is located on Liberty Street in downtown Newburgh . It is several blocks from the Hudson River and enjoys a commanding view of it and Beacon Mountain beyond . Management . Although owned by New York ' s Office of Parks , Recreation and Historic Preservation , the site , like all other NYSOPRHP properties on the west side of the mid - Hudson region , is operated by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission .