In 1805, veterans of the American Revolution claimed a plot of land in Ohio as reward for their military service, settling the town of Mount Vernon. In honor of President George Washington, the town was named after his colonial farm, and Mount Vernon remained true to its image, earning it the nickname of "Ohio's Colonial City." The town takes pride in its many original, well-preserved grand historic homes and mansions. An architectural gem and America's oldest, authentic 19th-century theater, the Woodward Theater is currently being renovated and 200 years later, today's vehicles still rumble over the Colonial City's original brick streets.