Mt. Vernon

On Monday we departed from WA DC and headed out for Mt Vernon. After a most frustrating morning of driving, we finally arrived at 1:30 PM. We didn't have time to tour the working Grist Mill and Distillery, but were able to tour the estate where the home actually sits.

George Washington's home

A smaller version of his house was given to him by his older half brother. Over the years Washington added on to the existing house to end up with this larger one.

We were not allowed to take any photos inside. There was only one picture I really, really wanted to take, and that was of the original key to the Bastille in France! France sent it to Washington after their revolution as kind of a pledge that they would keep freedoms like America.

I bought a post card with the picture of the dining room. All in its original colors, it was very pretty and peaceful. The entire inside of the home was recreated to appear like it did the day Washington died from epiglotitis. Same bed he died in and everything!

His home is built on the Potomac River. He started out farming tobacco, but came to abhor smoking, so switched to other crops with farming innovations he created, such as a green manure crop.

How would you like to sit out on his back deck with this view of the river? Nice!

Washington was first buried in this family vault, but left directions to build the new burial vault that he had designed but not yet built at the time of his early and unexpected death.

After it was built, they moved all the family into the new vault.

George and Martha are kept in the front in cement caskets, and the rest of the family are inside that black door you see in the rear. The verse that was chosen to display in the vault is John 11:25 "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live, even if he dies."

One of the slaves' quarters

Today archaeologists still search for more clues that may help us know even more about that time period.

The greenhouse, where Washington grew his seedlings to plant. He always used his own seed, once the original crop was planted. Farming was his first love, and one he reluctantly set aside in order to help his country.

George Washington's sword that he used in the Revolutionary War.

After the tour of Mt Vernon, I (Shirley) have a far greater respect for the man George Washington. I know that in more recent years there are those who want to sully his name, but when I see all he sacrificed for a mission he did not chose, he remains a great hero in my eyes.