Mount Vernon

Josh has been studying George Washington and Abraham Lincoln in school, so once he found out that George Washington's house was in VA, he insisted that we go there! How could I resist?? So we drove up to northern VA to Mount Vernon, the home of the General... which is where he lived during his married life up until he died. The line to get into the mansion was extremely long and very discouraging, but we couldn't come all this way and not see the house. So we stood in line for about an hour before actually getting inside.

We couldn't take pictures inside the house, because about 40% of the furniture and 50% of the artwork was original to the house. And the paint on the walls was original as well! George LOVED color.... because the walls were bright greens and blues... nothing neutral in there! But it was the most expensive paint and the most fashionable, so George had to have the best! Everything, (including the landscaping and grounds) was very European inspired, even though Washington never stepped foot in Europe. I think the boys' favorite part was seeing the toilets, which they called a necessary. It was about 100 feet from the house, and there was one at each end of the house (maybe women's and men's?) But there was three toilets in each... right next to each other... I guess they liked to go in groups???

But it's very pretty there... with a great view of the Potomoc River, with only one other house and dock in view.... Lady Washington wanted to preserve the view so they bought all the land in sight of the house! Okay, is that enough history for you all??

Oh, one more thing I learned. I didn't know how Washington died... maybe I'm just "unlearned"... But he died at home from a disease affecting his esophagus. He spent 36 hours struggling to breath before he finally died in his own bed. (the actual bed was still in the house) After he died, Martha (his wife) shut off that room, and never slept there again... she moved her room upstairs for 3 years until she later died. I thought that was interesting.

Okay, NOW I'm done with my report.... here's some more pictures!!!


Necessaries...

Caleb posing with Mrs. Washington (George's mom)...she was very cute and stayed in character the whole time... after we left, Caleb was so smitten with her, he wanted to go back and give her a kiss!


Josh loved the diaramas of the battlefields... reminded him of "Night at the Museum"...

George Washington's sword!!!