George Washington's Mount Vernon

Situated in northern Virginia, George Washington's home, Mount Vernon, sits atop a hill (not a mountain =)) overlooking the Potomac River. It is an impressive looking mansion fitting for a king... or "the Father of a Country." Originally belonging to Washington's great grandfather, it was called Little Hunting Creek Plantation. Washington inherited it from his older half-brother, Lawrence, who had renamed it Mount Vernon after his commanding officer, Admiral Edward Vernon of the British Navy.

The vast front yard, called the bowling green, shows Washington's love of English landscaping. In his day, it was regularly cut with scythes and smoothed with a roller.

George Washington was first and foremost a Virginia gentleman and an innovative plantation owner. Increasing his estate from 2000 to almost 8000 acres, he then divided it into five working farms (including the Mansion House Farm where he lived), each with a separate overseer responsible for that farm. He also managed an active fishery, farm shops (blacksmith, flour mill, etc.) and hundreds of slaves. It was this managerial and interpersonal relationship experience that helped him organize and lead the Revolutionary Army and later shape the country as its first president. 

After the Revolutionary War, George Washington was known for two things- he loved this country and he hated war. He had this weather vane specially made... a dove carrying an olive branch... to be a constant reminder. However, he had little time at Mount Vernon before he was unanimously elected to be the first president.

Washington loved spending time at Mount Vernon. Like many of the founding fathers and early presidents, he was a well-educated man who never stopped learning and debating with friends. Coming home to Mount Vernon was a time of introspection and deep thought for him.

Washington spent much time on his large patio, or piazza, with its view of the Potomac River (right).

We toured the Mansion (no photography allowed) seeing the very same mirror Washington caught his reflection in, the dishes he ate off of and the bed he died in. The history preserved there is phenomenal. But it wasn't always that way. Just prior to the Civil War Mount Vernon had fallen into a state of extreme disrepair and was about to be abandoned after the federal government declined to purchase it from Washington's great-grandnephew, the current owner. Louisa Cunningham, a Southern gentlewoman from South Carolina, who saw the house and heard the story as she cruised up the Potomac, decided to gather a group of women together to do fund-raising and save the house. The Mount Vernon Ladies Association was formed (and still runs the estate today!), raised enough money to purchase the estate and begin restoring it. They allowed soldiers from both the Union and Confederate Armies to use the estate to make their camps but firmly insisted it was a "no weapon" zone and all guns, artillery, etc. had to be stored outside the gate. Soldiers treated the mansion and other buildings with respect- no looting, no vandalism- at the instance of the Ladies. Hmm... perhaps there is a lesson for us in all this?

Our family has enjoyed watching both National Treasure movies many times. The second movie, National Treasure: Book of Secrets, was filmed in part at Mount Vernon and we wanted to see where and hear the stories. The National Treasure Tour took us "behind the scenes" into the basement where part of the movie was filmed. For those who haven't seen it, I won't spoil the movie- but those who have will recognize the pictures below. I highly recommend both the movie and the tour- both are great fun!

Look familiar? In real life, the left photo is near the Mount Vernon's pier, the middle photo is the ice house and the right photo is a replica (the original is in the museum) of the cornerstone with Lawrence Washington's initials.

Washington's Tomb is on the Mount Vernon property. He, Martha and several family members are buried here. 

Mount Vernon is a wonderful place to learn about the Father of our Country, to see bits of history and to reflect on the "what ifs." What if Washington had been power hungry rather than humble? Would we have become a monarchy? What if he and Martha had set a different tone for the First Family? What if he had never developed the business skills he had- would he have led our country differently? Oh- and be sure to sit a spell on the piazza as you ponder what might have been.