Berkeley Springs / James Rumsey
Berkeley Springs
Washington first came here, 1748. Fairfax gave the springs to the public. Established as town, 1776. Virginia treated her sick soldiers here. Gen. Washington, Gen Buchanan, Gen. Gates, Charles Carroll and others bought lots 1777.
James Rumsey
Here, 1782-1785, lived James Rumsey, miller, innkeeper, and inventor of the steamboat. He demonstrated a model of his boat before Washington, 1784. He continued his experiments here and elsewhere until his public demonstration of 1787.
Marker is at the intersection of Fairfax Street and U.S. 522, in the median on Fairfax Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
