Mount Vernon, Virginia, the home where George Washington would rather be was our last stop on our vacation before flying home the next morning. It rained very hard all day, almost like tears from heaven because we had to leave. But what an incredible place to end our visit.
Inside the entrance is a bronze statue of George, Martha and their two little grandchildren that meet you in the foyer. On the walls are quotes from George Washington. The photo above is one section that impressed us.
This is Mount Vernon. We entered the door on the far left and then toured only the down stairs. They said come back at Christmastime and you can tour the upper two levels. There is a model of the interior of the house in the entrance building so you can see every room. This is the front of the house with the large expanse of lawn that is about 1/4 mile long!
This is the view from the back yard! That is the Potomac River you see. They have a tour called "The National Treasure Tour". You can actually go down in the basement under the house and the tunnel takes you to an outlet down by the Potomac River. We didn't do that tour, but I bet it would have been fun.
This area was the slave quarters, kitchens, laundry, stables, etc.
We had been to Mt. Vernon in 1992 with our young family. But we never went to the doct where George would launch his boats from. Here you can take a dinner cruise or boat ride on the Potomac.
This is the cemetery area. Martha Washington is in the cript on the left, George Washington on the right.
Other family members are buried without this gated area.
Here is the original Arnold Friberg painting of George Washington praying at Valley Forge.
It was hanging in the Educational Center/Museum. It was very large!
There was a display of how a computer could take the measurements from the Houdon live face mask of George Washington that he modeled for and take those measurements and go back in time. The above wax statue was made of when he would have been about 18-20 years old working as a surveyor. I didn't know he had done that. He had been out west and surveyed a lot of our country. No wonder he knew it inside and out, so when the Wars came - he knew the terrain and locations very well. Once again he was in the Lord's design.
When George fought in the French/Indian War the bullets missed him - just like Samuel the Lamanite of the Book of Mormon! He was designed for greatness to get this country started on the right path so that The Church of Jesus Christ could be restored in the Latter Days.
Here is the figure of George as a General on a real stuffed horse (similar to what he rode).
George Washington served our country in the French Indian War, Revolutionary War, became our President and when he was done, he personally went to the Congress and resigned. He did not want to be King. He just wanted to serve his God and Country and then retire quietly home. The statement above is amazing. What a wonderful man George Washington is!
4 comments:
You did all this in 2 weeks? I guess you CAN get around a whole lot faster without little ones in tow.
I've never been back there but really want to someday. Spencer has, but says that there is too much to see all at once. Last time he was there he managed going to the Holocaust Museum... he said is was really hard and only got through half of it in the day he was there... so much to take in and try keeping emotions in check without balling his eyes out.
So much history... so sad (and dangerous) that more people don't care how this country came about... the sacrifice and dedication they had... things that this generation just doesn't have!
Glad you enjoyed your trip... I read every word (though a few of the plaques in the pictures were a little small to make out). I'll have you help me plan our trip out there in about 10 years!
Audrey, we had been in DC back in 1992, so this trip was only things we didn't do last time!
What an amazing trip you guys took!! Love the pics you posted too!!
Oh, they didn't let you go upstairs. I could tell you all about it sometime, unless you looked at the model at the visitor's center. The old restaurant upfront is one of our all time favorites! Amazing wholesome food, like peanut soup that Dale now makes. I ate a whole chicken there once it was so delicious!
Post a Comment