Mr Vernon '11

Tourist Entrance

We also visited Mt Vernon---- George Washington’s plantation on the Potomac River near Wash DC…..  It is huge - 8000 acres which were separated into five different farm sites and multiple buildings    

  

The entry for tourists is from the inland circular drive, but the residence can also be approached from the Potomac River. 

The back of the residence faces the Potomac 

  

Looking South

with sweeping views of the river in both directions.

Mt Vernon Dock House on the Potomac

 At Mount Vernon you can explore the mansion, the outbuildings, the gardens and the new museum and learn about the life of America's first president and his family.

The dining room on the main floor

All the rooms on the main floor were decorated for Christmas in a manner consistent with Washington's   lifetime 

George and Martha Washington's Bedroom on upper floor

 We were especially lucky, in that  we got to tour not only the main rooms on the first floor, but all of the upper floors rooms as well.  The stairways are very narrow and cannot handle the volume of people that want to tour the building during spring, summer and fall.  Normally tourists are only allowed onto the first floor of the residence.  Just before Christmas the crowds slack off, and visitors are allowed into the inner sanctum.

G. Washington's Office at Mt. Vernon

We toured all of the out buildings

Slave Quarters – had had over 500 which he freed upon his death

Slave Quarters – had had over 500 which he freed upon his death

 and gardens in the estate

Espaliered fruit trees in herb garden

Then we headed to the new museum dedicated to George Washington's life

and to his contributions to the nation. The exhibition reveals the real George Washington not only as a general and president, but as a young land surveyor, experimental farmer and savvy entrepreneur. Washington’s views on religion and slavery, and the influence of his wife, Martha, are also explored.

Washington's Grave

An amusing highlight of the museum was an exhibit of the only surviving complete set of Washington’s famous dentures,    No, they are not wood.... Sorry to disappoint you, but apparently all four sets of Washington's dentures were made of ivory, human teeth and animal teeth.  

G.W Dentures

Another interesting aside is that one of his step great grand daughters ( from Martha Washington’s son by her first marriage) married Robert E Lee.

All told, the tour of the estate and museum took us the better part of a full day, but it was well worth it  for the appreciation we gained into the courage and genius of  George Washington