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30 chapters
The Home of Washington
The Home of Washington
In the year 1674, by Grant of Lord Culpeper, a tract of 5,000 acres situated on the west bank of the Potomac River, fifteen miles south of the present city of Washington, became the property of John Washington and Nicholas Spencer. Half of this tract, or 2,500 acres, descended to Lawrence Washington, who, in 1743, built a residence, and named the estate Mount Vernon, after the British Admiral under whom he had served. At Lawrence Washington’s death (1752) the estate passed to the ownership of hi
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Entrance Gateway
Entrance Gateway
Through this gateway Washington and his guests were accustomed to pass from the main road. The original paving of cobble stones has been found intact and now visitors to Mount Vernon enter as in Washington’s time. An attractive bowling-green extends from the gateway nearly to the Mansion. To the left are the flower gardens, and occupying a similar area to the right is the kitchen garden. These gardens are surrounded by brick walls, the coping of which was restored, in 1895, by Mrs. Christine Bla
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West Front
West Front
The west front of the Mansion was the point of approach for visitors, as indicated by the large central door bearing the original brass knocker. On this side is a spacious court, flanked by several frame buildings—to the right, the kitchen, butler’s house, smoke-house, laundry and coach house, while to the left are the office, the gardener’s house, carpenter shop and spinning house. The kitchen and office are joined to the main building by colonnades, which were rebuilt in 1874 by the combined e
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North Lodge Gate
North Lodge Gate
In 1892, when the Electric Railway located its terminal station near the north boundary of the estate, an entrance at that point had to be arranged for visitors. It is called the North Lodge Gate to distinguish it from the private entrance half a mile away. To provide an appropriate walkway to and from the Mansion, funds were raised, in 1894, by the late Vice-Regent for Pennsylvania—Mrs. Lippincott—and stone flagging laid the entire distance of 1,100 feet. In 1900 the Vice-Regent for Texas, with
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West Lodge Gate
West Lodge Gate
This was the main approach, in olden times, from the much-traveled highway to the homestead, which can be faintly discerned through a vista cleared by Washington. A carriage road winds through intervening valleys to the Mansion, nearly a mile distant. Extending from this gateway to the Potomac River is the part of the estate purchased in 1858 by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. In 1890 Mrs. Martha Mitchell, late Vice-Regent for Wisconsin, provided funds for renovating these ancient lodges w
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Mount Vernon MansionConstruction
Mount Vernon MansionConstruction
George Washington enlarged the original residence, built in 1743 by Lawrence Washington, by increasing its length and height, completing these improvements in 1786. In construction, its foundation walls are of stone and brick; the framework oak; the sheathing Virginia pine, cut, painted, and sanded to resemble stone. The roof is of cypress shingles. A spacious and well-drained cellar underlies the whole house. When the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association came into possession of this property, the M
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Portico
Portico
The east portico extends the full length of the Mansion, and its roof is supported by eight square wooden columns reaching a height of two stories. An ornamental balustrade surmounts the porch roof and adds height to its pleasing effect. The tiles with which the floor is still paved were imported from England by Washington and laid in 1786. In 1915, 1512 tiles were obtained from the original quarry to replace those so badly worn as to be unsafe. The dimensions of the pavement are: length, 95 fee
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Mansion Interior, Central Hall
Mansion Interior, Central Hall
The view of the hall is from the East, showing the main stairway. To the right, doors open into the Music Room and Parlor; to the left are Mrs. Washington’s Sitting Room and the Family Dining Room. The paneling of the hall is as Washington improved it in 1775, and the original colors are restored. The pattern of wall paper above the stairs has been worked out from recently discovered fragments of what was originally there. The key of the Bastile, presented to Washington by Lafayette, in 1789, ha
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West Parlor
West Parlor
The finish of this room—its wall panels, mantel and ceiling decoration—is a restoration of the original. Washington’s coat of arms is carved above the mantel, and his crest and initials are cast in the heavy fireback. An old painting empaneled over the mantel is said to represent a part of Admiral Vernon’s fleet at Cartagena, and was sent by the Admiral to Lawrence Washington in 1743 as an acknowledgment of Washington’s courtesy in naming the estate for him. The rug in the room is particularly i
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Miss Custis’s Music Room
Miss Custis’s Music Room
The prominent feature here is the harpsichord which General Washington presented to Nellie Custis. The stool belonged to Nellie Custis. There is also some of her embroidery on an old tambour frame. Here may be seen Washington’s flute, and two of his chairs; also a citra, or guitar, and a card table, which belonged to relatives of Washington. A quaint old music book has been found, bearing the autograph of Martha Parke Custis, the step-daughter of Washington. This room is in the care of the Vice-
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Family Dining Room
Family Dining Room
The Vice-Regent for South Carolina has furnished this room. The Heppelwhite sideboard is original. All the furniture is of ancient form. The rug is of the Washington period, as are also the handsome brass andirons and fender. In the corner cupboard may be seen a reproduction of the set of china presented to Mrs. Washington by the officers of the French fleet. The stucco ornamentation of the ceiling is the same as applied in 1775. An iron fireback bearing the Fairfax coat of arms, stands in the f
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Banquet Hall
Banquet Hall
This well-proportioned room was planned by Washington for the banquet hall, and this addition, in 1776, completed the enlargement of his house—now dignified by the name of Mansion. The decoration throughout is as he designed it; the present fresh appearance of which is the result of restorations (1884) by Mrs. Justine Van Renssalaer Townsend, then Vice-Regent for New York. An attractive feature is the handsome marble mantel presented to Washington in 1785 by an English admirer, Mr. Samuel Vaugha
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Kitchen
Kitchen
A tour of inspection among the several buildings develops points of interest at every turn. The family kitchen bears evidence, in the proportions of its huge fireplace with ponderous crane and bake-oven near by, of what feasts were prepared therein. The interior of this room was renovated by Miss Amy Townsend, late Vice-Regent for New York, who obtained for it furnishings of contemporaneous date. The smoke-house stood near, and in season was filled with hams and meats for smoking. The larder was
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Mrs. Washington’s Sitting Room
Mrs. Washington’s Sitting Room
The sitting room is in the care of the Vice-Regent for Georgia. The card table and mirror are original Washington articles of considerable interest. The silver candlestick was owned by Col. William Washington, a nephew of the General. It was presented by Mrs. Georgia Page Wilder, late Vice-Regent for Georgia. The four prints representing the siege of Gibraltar are those which hung at Mount Vernon in the days of Washington. The window curtains and hangings are of the type of that period. A mahoga
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Library
Library
This is one of the rooms General Washington added. It was designed for his study, as shown by the old book shelves built in the wall. Back of opposite doors were shelf rooms for his maps and manuscripts. The bulk of Washington’s library he bequeathed to Judge Bushrod Washington, from whose nephews the books were purchased by a syndicate (1848) and deposited in the Boston Athenæum, where they still are. Some scattered volumes recovered by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association include several beari
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Washington’s Room
Washington’s Room
The room in which Washington died (December 14, 1799) deservedly attracts special notice. The items of original furniture and personal effects assembled here add much to the impressive character. A piece associated with Washington’s childhood is his mother’s arm chair. Washington’s bureau, washstand, mirror, etc., are shown. Most prominent of all is the bedstead on which the great and good man breathed his last. The mahogany shaving stand presented to Washington by the first French minister to t
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Mrs. Washington’s Room
Mrs. Washington’s Room
The only room on the third floor historically interesting is the one in which Mrs. Washington died. It must be explained that, following a custom then prevalent, Washington’s room was closed after his death, and his widow selected this attic room because from its only window she could see the tomb where her husband’s body lay. Mrs. Washington died here, May 22, 1802. Until recently, the only original relics in this room were the washstand presented by Mrs. Martha Mitchell, late Vice-Regent for W
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Second Floor
Second Floor
Ascending by the stairway, from the main hall to the second floor, six bedrooms are found—the Lafayette Room, River Room, Guest Chamber, Nellie Custis Room, Green Room and Mrs. Washington’s Room. These are in charge of the Vice-Regents representing, respectively, the following States: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia. The first five rooms contain but little original furniture, although all the articles are of historic importance and represent the correct t
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Third FloorSpare rooms, third floor, furnished by States named
Third FloorSpare rooms, third floor, furnished by States named
The four spare rooms on this floor are furnished appropriately after the old style, by the Vice-Regents for District of Columbia, Connecticut, North Carolina and Maine. Formerly the Washingtons found these rooms useful as spare chambers for the accommodation of guests. The good old custom of keeping “open house” attracted to Mount Vernon hosts of their friends traveling North and South, and doubtless the Mansion was often taxed to its fullest capacity. In the linen room on this floor may be seen
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Flower Garden
Flower Garden
Among all of the charms and attractions of the home of Washington, not one can excel the beautiful flower garden—an ideal spot—with its memories of General and Lady Washington who planned it, the prim box hedges indelibly marking the walks and flower beds now as in the past. Distinguished guests were invited to plant trees, shrubs and flowers, mementos of their visits, many of which plantings have been perpetuated. Lafayette and Jefferson have leafy monuments here, while the roses named by Washi
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Servants’ Quarters
Servants’ Quarters
Two long, red-roofed buildings adjoin the conservatory. These were the quarters for a limited number of servants needed at the Mansion. Comfortable cabins to house the rest of the negroes were located at convenient distances about the plantation. Both these quarters were in ruins, but have been restored—the West Quarters by Mrs. Jennie Meeker Ward, late Vice-Regent for Kansas in 1890, and the East Quarters by Miss Amy Townsend, late Vice-Regent for New York in 1897. While in exterior form these
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Kitchen Garden
Kitchen Garden
George Washington’s fondness for experimental gardening is shown by the care with which he arranged these terraced beds for growing small fruits and vegetables for the use of his household. His diary is evidence enough of the eagerness with which he selected the best-known seed and exploited, with more or less success, the latest improvements in horticulture. Sheltered by the walls he built, scions of original fig bushes still flourish, while bordering the cross walk to the gate, the box hedge h
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The Carpenter Shop
The Carpenter Shop
In Washington’s day this building was the center of much activity, it being the all-essential tool-shop for general repairs. In outward appearance its original character and purpose are still preserved. Its interior arrangement, however, has been altered to meet the urgent need of a fireproof repository for valuable records of the Association....
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The Spinning House
The Spinning House
The spinning house, north of the court, is where much material was prepared for clothing the servants, and where rag carpets and other fabrics were woven for the use of the family. Flax, cotton, wool and silk were there put through the various processes of spinning and weaving by skilled servants. The old loom, wheels, reels, and flaxbrake were recovered by Mrs. Rebecca B. Flandrau, late Vice-Regent for Minnesota, 1892. Hunting Horn Presented to General Washington by Agricultural Society of Sout
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The Barn
The Barn
The oldest building here is the barn, erected in 1733 by Washington’s father. The bricks are said to have been brought from England, and they were laid in strong mortar made of oyster-shell lime. The shingle roof of this building was renewed in 1874, the cost being shared by all the members of the Association. Substantial renovations of the interior were effected in 1896-7 by Mrs. William Ames, the late Vice-Regent for Rhode Island. Here were stabled the coach horses and saddle horses. Washingto
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Summer House
Summer House
On the brow of the steep hillside, south of the Mansion, overlooking the river, is the summer house. It commands a beautiful view of the broad Potomac, with the Maryland hills beyond, and doubtless was a favorite resort in “ye olden time.” It was restored in 1886, the funds being raised by the Vice-Regent for Louisiana, Mrs. Ida A. Richardson, through the school children of her State. The deep cellar under the summer house was intended for an ice house, but it is believed to have been abandoned
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Mount Vernon Wharf
Mount Vernon Wharf
Washington shipped much of his farm produce and supplies by water—and today are landed at the wharf many pilgrims to the home and tomb of the “Father of His Country.” The custom of tolling a bell as a mark of respect to his memory is hallowed by its observance for more than a century. The present covering of the wharf was provided in 1891 by Mrs. Phoebe A. Hearst, late Vice-Regent for California. The parapet for protection of the public was given by the Vice-Regent for the State of Washington, a
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Old Tomb
Old Tomb
On the edge of the hill, midway down the road leading to the wharf, an iron-railed enclosure marks where Washington’s remains rested from 1799 until 1831. This vault was constructed by George Washington, but later, believing it to be insecure, he planned another tomb, which his executors built. In April, 1831, all bodies in the old vault were transferred to the new tomb. The cause of apprehension as to safety of the old structure, resulting in its abandonment, was the frequency of landslides nea
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New Tomb“Within this enclosure rest the remains of General George Washington.”
New Tomb“Within this enclosure rest the remains of General George Washington.”
This plain statement empaneled above the doorway of the rigidly simple brick vault at once marks its importance. Within the doubly ironed portals may be seen two marble sarcophagi; that on the right contains the body of General Washington and the one on the left the remains of his wife. At the rear of this open vault, and connected with it through a square iron door, is an inner vault containing the remains of many of the Washington family. To the memory of Bushrod Washington and John Augustine
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Pohick Church
Pohick Church
The parish church of Mount Vernon, six miles distant from the Mansion, was built during the years 1768-70 from the plans drawn by General Washington, who was a member of the building committee. He was a vestryman of the parish for twenty years, and for the greater part of that time was a regular attendant at service, never permitting, as Bishop Meade says, “the weather or company to keep him from church.” Subsequently Washington became connected with Christ Church, Alexandria, where today his fa
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