Loop Dreams

Loop Dreams

Sunday, September 16, 2012

Sept 9, Mount Vernon

September 9

George Washington worked tirelessly for nearly half a century to expand his plantation to 8,000 acres and to improve the appearance of the Mansion, outbuildings, and extensive gardens and grounds.  Washington died 1799 at Mount Vernon in his bedroom and the Washington family continued to live at the Mansion until 1860. The house and furnishings have been preserved and the vibrant wall colors
demonstrate Washington's wealth and style.  Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take interior pictures.



 
Mount Vernon Estate was the home of George and Martha Washington from the time of their marriage in 1759
to the time of his death in 1799.  Despite long absences for military and public service, Washington diligently expanded his Mansion from six rooms to twenty one.

 
The outside of the mansion is wood, made to look like stone.  Long pine boards are
grooved and beveled to create the appearance of masonry.  The boards are varnished and painted, and fine sand is thrown on the wet paint.  George Washington used the rustication technique when he expanded the mansion in 1757-59.

 
Mount Vernon back of the home views the Potomac River.
Note the size of the pecan tree!
 
Note the Potomac River in the background.
 
 
Washington had several horse drawn vehicles like this one.
 
 

 
Stables
 
 
Detached kitchen, note the ice cream maker!
 
 
Wash and ironing room.
 
 
 Black Smith
 
 
White Ash tree, 1819
 
 
 
On February 22, 1732 George Washington was born at Westmoreland, Virginia at his family's plantation. At age 17 he embarked on an inland adventure as a surveyor on the Virginia frontier.  With new lands being claimed constantly, surveying paid well and offered him the chance to obtain land of his own and move up in society.  He fought in many battles and  at age 23, the Virginia Assembly made him Commander in Chief of all Virginia Forces, the highest rank attainable for a colonial officer in America.  On July 3, 1775, at  Cambridge, Massachusetts, he took command of his ill-trained troops and embarked upon a war that was to last 6 grueling years.  The Revolutionary War finally came to an end in 1781 with the aid of French allies-Washington forced the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown.
 
 
On April 30, 1789 George Washington standing on the balcony of Federal Hall on Wall Street in New York,
took his oath of office as the first President of the United States. He served two terms.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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