Roadside Oddities
George Washington in a British Uniform
Waterford
A Quick History (Because Even Oddities Deserve Context)
Erected in 1922, the statue honors Washington’s journey through the region during the French and Indian War.
It depicts him as a 22‑year‑old British officer, long before the powdered wig, the presidency, or the cherry tree PR campaign.
Waterford locals have embraced the statue’s quirky charm, and it’s become a beloved roadside curiosity for travelers who do a double‑take and ask, “Wait… is that Washington?”
What Makes It a Weird Erie Oddity
1. The Uniform That Launched a Thousand Questions
Most Washington statues show him as the Revolutionary War hero—stoic, windswept, and very much not wearing British red. Waterford’s version flips the script, giving us a rare glimpse of Washington’s early career… and confusing tourists since the 1920s.
2. A Monument to a Moment, Not a Myth
This isn’t the Washington of dollar bills and marble memorials. This is the Washington who trudged through snow, dodged musket fire, and probably wondered why he ever agreed to this assignment.
3. Peak Local Flavor
Only in Northwest Pennsylvania would we proudly display a statue that makes history buffs nod approvingly while everyone else squints and whispers, “Is that supposed to be him?”
If you’ve ever driven through Waterford, PA and felt a strange tug of historical déjà vu—like George Washington is watching you but… something’s off—you’re not imagining it. Standing proudly in the town square is one of the region’s most delightfully odd landmarks: a statue of George Washington dressed head‑to‑toe in a British military uniform.
Yes. That George Washington. Those British.
Welcome to one of Northwest Pennsylvania’s most charming historical curveballs.
Why Is Washington Wearing Redcoat Couture?
Before he became the first President of the United States, Washington was a young surveyor and officer serving under the British Crown. In 1753, he traveled through this very region on a diplomatic mission to warn the French to vacate the Ohio Valley. Waterford proudly commemorates that moment—but with a statue that looks like it wandered off the set of a colonial costume drama and never found its way back.
The result? A monument that’s historically accurate and visually bewildering. A perfect fit for Weird Erie.
Why We Love It
The George Washington statue in Waterford is a reminder that history isn’t always tidy. Sometimes it’s weird, sometimes it’s contradictory, and sometimes it dresses your founding father in the uniform of the empire he eventually fought against.
And honestly? That’s what makes it wonderful.