Mount Vernon

What better trip to write about on Independence Day than George Washington’s Mount Vernon.

 

 

 

The land where Mount Vernon stands was in George Washington’s family since his great grandfather’s time 1674 and was originally called Little Hunting Creek Plantation. In 1735 when George Washington was just 3 years old his father moved the family to the property and a modest home was built. When George Washington’s half-brother Lawrence inherited the property he renamed it Mount Vernon in honor of Admiral Edward Vernon his commanding officer in the British Royal Navy. When George Washington began leasing and then inherited the plantation he expanded the home raising the roof making it two and a half stories high and added north and south wings, a cupola and a piazza. The mansion is 11,028 square feet in size. The exterior of the mansion looks like it is made of stone, but in reality it is wood that was then painted and had sand thrown on it to give it a more impressive and expensive look, it truly does have the impactful look of sandstone.

Every room inside this grand house it full of detail and impeccable craftsmanship, perhaps the most awe-inspiring room is The New Room as Washington called it as it was the last addition made to the mansion. This room served as a “salon” similar to those found in 18^th century British homes, meaning it served a variety of functions to include receiving visitors and as a place to hold large parties and dinners. This room alone is larger than most homes would have been during that time frame.

Along with the new room this mansion boasts two parlors, a central passage where visitors where greeted when they arrived and entertaining took place during the hot Virginia summers, dining rooms, a study and numerous bedrooms. Our tour guide pointed out that during this time period it was not unusual for guests to arrive and expect to have a room for extended periods of time, this mansion would have been full of guests at almost all times.

In the Washington’s bedchamber there is a bed that was purchased in the 1790’s, it is just over 6 foot 6 inches long making it large enough for the6 foot 2 inch George Washington to sleep comfortably. It was in this bedchamber that George Washington died on 14 December 1799. Upon his death Martha closed up this room and moved to her bedroom on the third floor. Today some visitors report seeing George Washington’s ghost in this bedroom.

On the back of the house overlooking the Potomac River is a large piazza that runs the full length of the mansion; this space was often used for afternoon tea as it was a cool space due to the river breezes. Today it continues to offer spectacular views of vast green space and the river running in the background.

Back Piazza

 

Outside the home the slave quarters, blacksmith shop and other outbuildings were located. During its peak Mount Vernon housed over 300 slaves. George Washington became a slave owner at the age of 11 when he was willed 10 slaves by his father Augustine, over his life George Washington purchased more slaves and also acquired dower slaves from Martha Washington’s first husband Daniel Parke Custis’s estate. Sources offer different accounts of George Washington’s treatment of his slaves with some neighbors reporting that he treated them with more severity than other men and others saying he was far more human. It does appear that over time George Washington’s stance on slavery changed and while he never publicly supported abolishing slavery he did leave directions in his will that 123 slaves were to be freed after the death of his wife Martha. George Washington left instructions in his will that any elderly slaves or those who were sick and unable to work were to be supported by the estate for the remainder of their lives. Sadly this did not free all of the slaves at Mount Vernon as neither George nor Martha could by law free the dower slaves from the Custis estate and upon Martha’s death they reverted back to the estate and were divided among her grandchildren. After the death of George Washington, Martha Washington was advised to set all of the non-dower slaves free and in December 1880 she signed a deed of manumission in regards to these slaves. They were finally granted their freedom on 1 January 1801.

 

 On the grounds there stands a memorial to these men, women and children who were kept in slavery, it is located at the site of the cemetery where many slaves were buried. Because many graves would have been unmarked and those that were marked may have been lost over time there is no way to know for sure how many bodies call this their final resting place. Visitors to the plantation have reported hearing and seeing things in this area to include singing and lights and shadows moving between the trees.

At age 67 while George Washington lay dying he made a request to his secretary Tobias Lear asking him to ensure he had a decent burial and that he not be placed in the tomb before at least three days had past. This was a time when people had been known to “come back from the dead” as medical technology was not as it is today and it was possible to not be able to detect a heartbeat or breathing of someone who had not yet truly passed. To ensure this was not the case George Washington lay in a frozen state for several days due to the cold weather. A good friend and physician William Thornton had been called to try and save George Washington when he became ill. Thornton was distraught to learn that George Washington had died prior to his arrival and composed a plan to resurrect him.

William Thornton proposed that first they thaw him out in cold water and then use blankets to create friction to give him warmth at the same time opening up his lungs with the help of tracheas to inflate them and produce air, then providing a transfusion of warm lambs blood. Martha Washington refused this offer to attempt a resurrection and George Washington was laid to rest 18 December 1799 on the property of Mount Vernon as per his last will.  In 1830 a disgruntled ex-employee of the plantation attempted to steal George Washington's skull. The next year a new vault was constructed to replace the original family burial vault and in 1831 George Washington along with his wife Martha's remains were transferred to this new vault, encased within a within a marble sarcophagus  where they continue to rest today along with other family members