November 2
Mount Vernon is the most visited historical site in the U.S. Barb and I thought we were smart in visiting it during the week in this “off season” month. As we pulled into the parking lot, we could not count the number of buses in line along the street. Most were school buses. The site was teeming with kids.
As the Bush and Kennedy families, among others, have been labeled American aristocracy, George Washington’s family truly represents this label. His great grandfather was granted 5000 acres on the upper Potomac in 1674. Mount Vernon is part of that grant.
Washington’s plantation, 8000 acres at its zenith, was manned by 60 or so slaves. It was a pleasant retreat, a farm, and a place where George, when not serving as the Father of our County, would putter about refining farming techniques and inventing and developing tools and equipment. George, Martha and other family members are burie
d there. Interestingly, Washington never fathered any children, but he did father our nation.
The mansion grounds, 500 acres, were purchased from the Washington family in 1858 and today is owned and operated by a nonprofit. It is well maintained. The displays and exhibits are some of the best that we have seen. The best spot of all is sitting on the back veranda of the original home overlooking the Potomac. You can imagine sitting there with Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Lafayette or many other notables.
We spent five hours there and it was not enough. It is a special place with a special message. Aristocratic or not, President Washington was a man of dedication and honor. A man
whose father died at age eleven, sought a pragmatic education equal to only an eighth grade education, was the right person for the times.
We visited Greg, Christie, Noah, and Emma Aune in the evening. Greg is my nephew and is in his residency at John Hopkins in Baltimore. Christie is an Army physician at Walter Reed. This incredibly busy couple, along with their two beautiful children (4 year old twins), entertained us for dinner. An evening with family, highly cherished.
Mount Vernon is the most visited historical site in the U.S. Barb and I thought we were smart in visiting it during the week in this “off season” month. As we pulled into the parking lot, we could not count the number of buses in line along the street. Most were school buses. The site was teeming with kids.
As the Bush and Kennedy families, among others, have been labeled American aristocracy, George Washington’s family truly represents this label. His great grandfather was granted 5000 acres on the upper Potomac in 1674. Mount Vernon is part of that grant.
Washington’s plantation, 8000 acres at its zenith, was manned by 60 or so slaves. It was a pleasant retreat, a farm, and a place where George, when not serving as the Father of our County, would putter about refining farming techniques and inventing and developing tools and equipment. George, Martha and other family members are burie
d there. Interestingly, Washington never fathered any children, but he did father our nation.The mansion grounds, 500 acres, were purchased from the Washington family in 1858 and today is owned and operated by a nonprofit. It is well maintained. The displays and exhibits are some of the best that we have seen. The best spot of all is sitting on the back veranda of the original home overlooking the Potomac. You can imagine sitting there with Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Lafayette or many other notables.
We spent five hours there and it was not enough. It is a special place with a special message. Aristocratic or not, President Washington was a man of dedication and honor. A man
whose father died at age eleven, sought a pragmatic education equal to only an eighth grade education, was the right person for the times.We visited Greg, Christie, Noah, and Emma Aune in the evening. Greg is my nephew and is in his residency at John Hopkins in Baltimore. Christie is an Army physician at Walter Reed. This incredibly busy couple, along with their two beautiful children (4 year old twins), entertained us for dinner. An evening with family, highly cherished.
Pictures are the mansion, the view from the back veranda, the garden, and Greg and Christie. Noah and Emma were already in bed.
1 comment:
Your comment about sitting on the veranda really struck a cord with me. I can just imagine the history: You make it seem like I was there too. Keep it up. Vicki
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