George Washington Wired

MV Mailbox: Greetings from 1908

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:21:26 +0000

On December 30, 1908 Anne Elliott mailed a postcard of Mount Vernon’s Banquet Hall (now called the Large Dining Room or New Room) to her friend Josie Colehower in Watsonville, CA. Her message was one simple sentence: “To see this is only to believe it.” This postcard was made in Germany by a New York [...]

I Spy… a Spyglass!

Mount Vernon Contributor — Fri, 17 May 2013 13:42:03 +0000

When George Washington died in 1799, the inventory of Mount Vernon listed twelve spyglasses in the house: eleven in Washington’s study and one in the Central Passage. Why did Washington accumulate so many spyglasses? Washington had numerous occasions to use a spyglass (or handheld telescope) over the course of his life. As Commander-in-Chief during the [...]

Encyclopedia Entry: New York, NY

Mount Vernon Contributor — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:00:24 +0000

“New York City played an important role in the public life of George Washington, spanning the final five decades of the eighteenth century,” argues Michael D. Hattem, doctoral candidate in history at Yale University. Interestingly, Washington both “suffered his worst military defeat and experienced some of his greatest personal triumphs in New York, including the [...]

Can You Dig It?

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 14 May 2013 14:06:34 +0000

On April 25th and 26th George Washington Ohio Teaching Ambassador, Jason Anderson, brought 22 students from Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron, OH to Mount Vernon for a special program on archaeology. Why come all the way from Ohio to get your hands dirty with Mount Vernon’s archaeologists? This visit represented the culmination of a [...]

Encyclopedia Entry: Wooden Teeth Myth

Mount Vernon Contributor — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:00:43 +0000

The mythology of wooden teeth remains one of the most widely held misconceptions surrounding George Washington’s life. However, as pointed out by William Etter in today’s featured encyclopedia entry, “While Washington certainly suffered from dental problems and wore multiple sets of dentures composed of a variety of materials–including ivory, gold, and lead–wood was never used [...]

Preservation Weekend Recap

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 09 May 2013 14:11:12 +0000

To celebrate our participation in the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Partners in Preservation grant competition, Mount Vernon hosted our first ever Preservation Weekend on May 4th & 5th with a number of special events held across the Estate. Storyteller Nancy Dever performed “Saving Mount Vernon,” the story of the courageous women of the Mount [...]

Encyclopedia Entry: Edward Savage

Mount Vernon Contributor — Wed, 01 May 2013 16:58:25 +0000

Edward Savage’s career was defined by his relationship to George Washington, argues Lydia Mattice Brandt, assistant professor of art history at the University of South Carolina. Remarkably, Savage “painted at least seven portraits of Washington and two of Martha Washington,” including the famed 1798 portrait The Washington Family, the only contemporary painting that showed Washington [...]

Vote for George!

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:00:52 +0000

George Washington’s Mount Vernon is competing for a $100,000 grant to support the restoration of the Large Dining Room, or “New Room” as it was known to Washington. As one of the 24 finalists in the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Partners in Preservation competition, Mount Vernon needs your votes in order to win this [...]

Plowing and the Pleasures of Spring – Part 2

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:25:12 +0000

This post is Part 2 of our 2 part series on Spring preparations in the fields and gardens at Mount Vernon. Part 1 appeared on Tuesday April 16th. Last week we blogged about plowing the fields at Mount Vernon to prepare for the Spring planting. This week we look at the other side of Washington’s [...]

Encyclopedia Entry: Benjamin Franklin Bache

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:08:16 +0000

The grandson of Benjamin Franklin, Benjamin Franklin Bache served as the editor and publisher of the Philadelphia-based newspaper the General Advertiser, known popularly as the Aurora. As described in today’s featured digital encyclopedia entry by Frank Casale, Assistant Professor of History at Morgan State University, Bache was trained in the craft of printing by his [...]

Making hand-ground paint for the New Room

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:30:39 +0000

As part of the New Room restoration project, a fresh coat of paint will be added to the walls. Unlike painting a home today, our staff at Mount Vernon cannot head to the nearest hardware store to pick up a few gallons of Benjamin Moore. Instead, we have enlisted the help of paint experts to [...]

Collection Care at Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:20:47 +0000

Just as doctors consult medical charts for insight into a patient’s health history before treatment, we compile our own “medical charts” for each object at Mount Vernon with a condition report. Condition reports help us to record the physical shape of new acquisitions to our collection, and are a vital tool in maintaining the long-term [...]

Digital Encyclopedia: Coat of Arms

Mount Vernon Contributor — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 18:35:08 +0000

“Throughout his life Washington. …had the family’s heraldic crest applied to such diverse personal belongings as silverware, wax seals, horse-drawn carriages, walking sticks, and interiors of buildings including Mount Vernon,” points out Alan Capps, doctoral candidate in History at George Mason University. Originally silver on a red background, the Washington family crest underwent various changes [...]

Plowing and the Pleasures of Spring – Part 1

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:01:36 +0000

This post is Part 1 of our 2 part series on Spring preparations in the fields and gardens at Mount Vernon. Part 2 will appear on Thursday April 25th. George Washington spent his years at Mount Vernon working to improve his agricultural practices. Each Spring, as the temperatures began to rise, Washington’s mind turned toward [...]

Object SpotLIGHT: The Central Passage Lantern

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:00:17 +0000

Try to imagine life without electric lighting. For George Washington and those who lived in the 18th century, indoor spaces were much darker than modern eyes are used to. The main sources of light for interiors were candles, oil lamps, fireplaces, and natural sunlight streaming through windows. The Central Passage at Mount Vernon would have [...]

Encyclopedia Entry: Mount Vernon During World War II

Mount Vernon Contributor — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:30:08 +0000

Though Mount Vernon is best known for the years when George Washington lived on the Estate, it remained an important historical location, especially during times of war, throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Today’s featured entry from the Digital Encyclopedia of George Washington reflects on Mount Vernon’s continued importance as a site of visitation as [...]

…And we’re live! Introducing George Washington’s Mount Vernon Midden Project Website

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:30:22 +0000

A midden is an archaeological term meaning trash deposit and our newest website, George Washington’s Mount Vernon Midden Project, was created to present artifacts excavated from the 18th century South Grove Midden archaeological site here at Mount Vernon. Located behind the kitchen, the South Grove Midden revealed the most significant collection excavated to date related [...]

Object Displays: The Journey to the Museum

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 19:00:00 +0000

Visitors to the Donald W. Reynolds Museum & Education Center can tour 23 galleries and see over 700 objects related to the life of George Washington on view at any given time. Twice a year, the Collections staff at Mount Vernon installs more than 60 objects in our permanent galleries; the first rotation of 2013 [...]

George Washington’s Personality

Mount Vernon Contributor — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:45:55 +0000

Given his importance to American history and his prominent place within American popular culture, the true nature of George Washington’s personality has become somewhat difficult to measure. Through the numerous personal writings and other papers written by Washington, it becomes possible to glimpse aspects of both his public and private personalities. Today’s featured entry from [...]

“I can’t tell a lie… you know I can’t tell a lie”

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 14:30:19 +0000

In The Life of Washington, Mason Locke Weems places a great deal of value on honesty in his story of six-year old George Washington confession after chopping down his father’s favorite cherry tree. Weems writes, “‘I can’t tell a lie, Pa; you know I can’t tell a lie. I did cut it with my hatchet.’ [...]

March Madness at Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 20:07:15 +0000

March Madness at George Washington’s Mount Vernon has nothing to do with basketball, but is just as exciting as March is the month that we welcome the lambs and piglets. It is also the time that our dedicated livestock crew suffers sleep deprivation while they monitor the condition of the expecting mommas-to-be 24/7. This year [...]

Encyclopedia Entry: Slave Resistance at Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon Contributor — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:10:37 +0000

Mount Vernon’s enslaved population resisted their forced servitude in a variety of ways. As argued by Mary Thompson, Mount Vernon’s Research Historian, “The enslaved population at Mount Vernon did not meekly accept their bonded lot in life.” Rather, slaves practiced a mixture of methods of resistance, including tactics such as work slow downs and feigning [...]

That’s Plaster on the Walls?

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:23:26 +0000

One of the challenges facing the New Room conservators is repairing and, when necessary, replacing decorative elements throughout the room, including the intricate decoration on the walls and ceiling. At first glance, it might appear as if the bell flowers and swags throughout the New Room are carved from wood; however, carved wood paneling was [...]

An Ideal Environment

Mount Vernon Contributor — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:17:47 +0000

Do wood doors in your home stick in the summer, but not in the winter? Have you ever noticed that the curtains in your windows fade over time? These common household problems are caused by changes in temperature and humidity, and exposure to sunlight. At Mount Vernon, the Collections Management staff is charged with monitoring [...]

Encyclopedia Entry: Pilgrimages to Washington’s Tomb

Mount Vernon Contributor — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 05:30:26 +0000

“Pilgrims from across the country converged on Mount Vernon during the early nineteenth century intent on feeling the aura of America’s first national hero,” explains Matthew Costello, doctoral candidate in History at Marquette University. In today’s featured encyclopedia entry on pilgrimages to Washington’s tomb, Costello points out that the pilgrims visited the tomb “to pay [...]

Plant me, peas! Planting Early Spring Vegetables at Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 14:30:35 +0000

Spring in the 18th century always arrived with great excitement. The arrival of daffodils and crocuses in the early spring meant that all the bulbs planted the previous November would soon be blooming. When the Washington’s saw their tulips and crown imperials begin to sprout they knew that the turnips, radishes, potatoes, carrots, dried peas [...]

Object Spotlight: How many times did George Washington sit for his portrait?

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 19:15:36 +0000

George Washington may be the most recognizable figure in American history. You’ve probably seen many different portraits of him–in fact, there are hundreds! But what you may not know is Washington didn’t pose for each portrait himself. So, how many times did Washington sit for an artist to take his likeness? Portrait sittings were not [...]

Artifact Highlight: Buckle, Buckle, Who’s Got the Buckle?

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:00:44 +0000

When was the last time you noticed the buckles on your clothing? Belts and shoes today typically come with buckles already attached; however, in the 18th century buckles were sold separately and were used as a means to express status and individuality. Excavated from the South Grove Midden (the Washington family’s domestic trash pile), this [...]

Behind-The-Scenes: The Acts of Congress Tour

Mount Vernon Contributor — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:00:50 +0000

After being on exhibit at Mount Vernon, George Washington’s copy of the Acts of Congress has begun a 13 site tour at the National Archives’ Presidential Libraries. On a cold February morning the Acts of Congress left Mount Vernon and traveled 2,715 miles across the country to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in [...]

Encyclopedia Entry: George Washington’s Papers

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 20:00:30 +0000

Given his role in the founding of the United States, it should come as no surprise that George Washington accumulated an incredible amount of correspondence and other documents over his lifetime. Washington was well aware of his important place in history and as such made efforts to ensure that his papers would be available to [...]

VA Regional 5 National History Day Recap

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 15:00:13 +0000

Congratulations to all the students who participated in the VA Regional 5 National History Day competition this past Saturday at Mount Vernon High School. Over 250 Junior High School and High School students entered individual or group projects in one of five categories: Historical Paper, Exhibit, Documentary, Website, and Performance. This year’s theme was Turning [...]

On This Day: The Washington Family Receives a Land Grant

Mount Vernon Contributor — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:00:09 +0000

March 1, 2013 marks the 339th anniversary of the land grant given to Lt. Col John Washington (George Washington’s great-grandfather) and Col. Nicholas Spencer for the land that we today call Mount Vernon. When visitors come to Mount Vernon to see George Washington’s home and gardens, one of the major aspects of his life that [...]

Encyclopedia Entry: H.M.S. Savage

Mount Vernon Contributor — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:35:45 +0000

During the spring of 1781, seventeen Mount Vernon slaves took advantage of the arrival of the British warship Savage on the shores of the plantation to make a bid for freedom. With George Washington away from his home serving as commander of the Continental Army, the Savage arrived at Mount Vernon seeking supplies. Writing about [...]

Conservation: Where Science, Art, and History Meet

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:45:00 +0000

It may seem obvious that the people who work at Mount Vernon love history, but did you know there is a role for art and science as well? At the beginning of February we blogged about restoring Mount Vernon’s New Room throughout 2013. This project draws on many disciplines, not just history. In order to [...]

Happy Birthday George Washington!

Mount Vernon Contributor — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 15:50:42 +0000

Celebrations of George Washington’s birthday date back to the Revolutionary War when soldiers at Valley Forge gathered to wish their Commander-in-Chief a happy 46th birthday. More celebrations followed, including the 1781 celebration by French troops, ordered by the Comte de Rochambeau in Newport, Rhode Island. Here at Mount Vernon we have been celebrating the General’s [...]

Keeping House

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:30:51 +0000

Every morning, before the first visitors arrive at Mount Vernon, 4 members of our Collections Management team are hard at work cleaning and caring for George Washington’s home and furnishings. Each room in the mansion is cleaned daily, and at least once a month each room receives a deep cleaning. Deep cleaning means that the [...]

Encyclopedia Entry: Phillis Wheatley

Mount Vernon Contributor — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:00:45 +0000

George Washington’s connection to enslaved poet Phillis Wheatley illustrates “a telling example of his moral complexity and capacity for humanitarian understanding,” argues Adam Meehan, a doctoral candidate in Literature at The University of Arizona. Wheatley was brought to Boston from West Africa at only seven years of age. Uncommon to the practices of the time, [...]

What’s (about to be) Blooming in the Garden?

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 15:00:33 +0000

In order to ensure a lush, bountiful, and successful spring, Mount Vernon’s gardening team is hard at work throughout the winter. When the temperatures dip to the 30s and below, our gardeners are doing exactly what George Washington’s did 200 years ago. Phillip Miller’s The Gardeners Kalendar (the 16th edition was published in 1778) offered [...]

Behind-the-Scenes: Winter at Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon Contributor — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 14:00:37 +0000

Visitation at Mount Vernon during the winter months may slow down, but that doesn’t mean our staff is resting on our laurels. We interviewed colleagues around the Estate to find out what they have been working on during the off-season. Melanie Welles, Greenhouse Grower: “We’ve been busy starting vegetables and flowers to be planted on [...]

George Washington on Love

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:00:39 +0000

“Love is said to be an involuntary passion and it is therefore contended that it cannot be resisted. This is true, in part only; for like all things else when nourished and supplied plentifully with [aliment,] it is rapid in its progress; but let these be withdrawn and it may be stifled in its birth [...]

Encyclopedia Entry: The Courtship of George and Martha

Mount Vernon Contributor — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 19:44:36 +0000

The Digital Encyclopedia of George Washington is a new digital history project that allows users to interact and explore primary source materials and objects from the Mount Vernon collection. Entries focus on the totality of Washington’s life and experiences, while also covering the Mount Vernon Estate, its history, and preservation. The encyclopedia includes entries written [...]

George Washington and Richard III… are cousins!

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 19:38:46 +0000

The University of Leicester confirmed last week that the human remains found last fall in Leicester, England belong to King Richard III who died at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. The body of King Richard III was buried in the Greyfriars Priory, a Franciscan monastery, which was destroyed during the Protestant Reformation under Henry [...]

What’s “NEW” at Mount Vernon?

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 21:00:18 +0000

It’s a big year for Mount Vernon’s New Room (formerly known as the Large Dining Room) which is undergoing an intense 12 month restoration. This room was the last addition George Washington added to his mansion, and it’s been over 30 years since it was last cleaned and repainted. According to the team working on [...]

Encyclopedia Entry: Barbados

Mount Vernon Contributor — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:00:39 +0000

We’re Back!

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:00:17 +0000

“I make this remark for no other reason, than to show you it is better to offer no excuse than a bad one, if at any time you should happen to fall into an error.” - George Washington to his niece Harriet Washington Philadelphia, 30 October, 1791 It’s a new year for the George Washington [...]

Object Spotlight, Party Edition: Drinking Punch with the Washingtons

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 15:00:07 +0000

Christmas was an especially busy and festive time in the Mount Vernon household. George and Martha Washington welcomed dozens of visitors into their home in December, serving elaborate dinners and a variety of cheerful libations to celebrate the season. One staple of eighteenth-century social gatherings was punch, a drink commonly made from a mixture of [...]

Encyclopedia Entry: George Washington and Religion

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 14:00:03 +0000

Christmas at Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 14:00:22 +0000

Christmas season is well underway here at Mount Vernon and the estate is decked out with a variety of holiday regalia! As you can see from the slideshow above, Christmas trees and poinsettias currently create a festive atmosphere in the Reynolds Museum and Education Center. However, it is interesting to note that neither of these [...]

Encyclopedia Entry: Edward Everett

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:00:46 +0000

A Camel for Christmas?

Mount Vernon Contributor — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 14:00:58 +0000

Based on diaries, letters and cash accounts we know that George and Martha Washington played host to numerous guests throughout the year. In addition to human guests, there is also an all too cryptic reference to the brief visit of a particularly interesting animal: “By the man who brot. a Camel from Alexa. for a [...]

Object Spotlight: Holiday Scenarios in the Mansion

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 18:00:34 +0000

Although Christmas was primarily a religious holiday in eighteenth-century Virginia, like today it was also a festive occasion marked by visits of friends and relatives, parties, and public assemblies. The celebrations in the Washington household were based on English customs, which stressed sociability and entertaining. Other inhabitants of Mount Vernon’s five farms, both free and [...]

MV Mailbox: Greetings from 1789

Mount Vernon Contributor — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 14:00:09 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving month! In 1789, George Washington proclaimed a national thanksgiving day to be held on November 26th so that Americans could be publically grateful for the new nation and conclusion of the war. No doubt Washington’s personal celebrations involved lots of food which brings us to the postcard above, a picture of the Mount [...]

Thanksgiving Proclamation

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 14:00:20 +0000

What’s New at the Dig?

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 14:00:24 +0000

As our excavations in the laundry yard draw to a close, we’re in the final stages of mapping the features we’ve uncovered in the last four weeks. In the last blog post (10/9/12), we mentioned that our fence wasn’t found at the rear of the south lane outbuildings, so we expanded our test units to [...]

George Washington’s Prayer for His Country

Mount Vernon Contributor — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 14:00:06 +0000

On this Veterans Day, we would like to humbly thank all the men and women of the armed forces who so bravely and selflessly serve this great nation. We thought it fitting to post George Washington’s prayer for his country that was directed to the governors and states of the new nation. Huzzah! George Washington’s [...]

What’s Blooming in the Garden?

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 14:00:53 +0000

In 1917, renowned botanist Charles Sprague Sargent was called upon to examine the multiple trees growing on the Mount Vernon estate. Sargent bestowed great praise upon the estate’s trees, and claimed “no trees planted by man have the human interest of the Mount Vernon trees. They belong to the nation and are one of its [...]

Object Spotlight, Election Day Edition: “First in Peace”

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 16:30:06 +0000

As Americans head to the polls after a very (very) long election season, it is difficult to comprehend a presidential election with no primaries, no campaign rallies, no endless stream of advertisements, and no debates. But this was the case when George Washington was elected as the nation’s first president. In fact, Washington did not [...]

Presidential Precedents

Mount Vernon Contributor — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 14:00:40 +0000

What’s New in the Archaeology Lab?

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 14:00:58 +0000

The small brass plate pictured above is essentially the 18th century equivalent of modern a luggage tag; however, in this instance the parcel in question would have been a wooden trunk, not a cloth suitcase. Perhaps the most important–and exciting–characteristic of this trunk plate is its inscription to a certain “Genl Washington.” This piece was [...]

Object Spotlight: Key to the Bastille

Mount Vernon Contributor — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 14:30:46 +0000

On the wall of the Central Passage of Mount Vernon hangs a key to a building that no longer exists. Prominently displayed in a custom-made gilded case, this heavy iron key once opened the doors of the Bastille, the infamous Paris prison where thousands of political dissidents were locked up by agents of the French [...]

Digital Encyclopedia of George Washington Launches

Mount Vernon Contributor — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 17:30:26 +0000

George Washington understood the value of owning a comprehensive encyclopedia. Washington explained as much in a September 1797 letter to Clement Biddle, the manager of his Philadelphia business affairs, writing: “As the Encyclopaedia might be useful, to have by me…I would…request Mr. Dobson to have all that are published, neatly bound and sent to me.”1 [...]

Object Spotlight: Map of the Siege of Yorktown

Mount Vernon Contributor — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 17:32:56 +0000

Exactly 231 years ago, on October 19, 1781, the British officially surrendered to the American and French armies after a sound defeat at the Battle of Yorktown. Several days later, French Lieutenant Colonel Jean Baptiste Gouvion sat down and drew a detailed map of the momentous siege. This rare map documents the fortifications and troop [...]

MV Mailbox: Greetings from 1908

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:00:07 +0000

Before the George Washington Memorial Parkway was constructed in the 1930s, visitors to Mount Vernon took a trolley or electric train to the estate. The author of this week’s postcard wrote to Ada Hudson of 934 22nd NW, Washington D.C. to describe her visit Mount Vernon, including the trolley ride. She writes, “You should take [...]

What’s Blooming in the Garden this Week?

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 14:05:02 +0000

In keeping with last month’s trend, this blog also focuses on a lesser known garden here at Mount Vernon–the Botanical Garden. Although not at all lesser, George Washington’s “little garden by the salt house” is the smallest floral enclosure on the grounds of the estate. Like the Fruit Garden and Nursery, this “little garden” served [...]

What’s New at the Dig?

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 13:22:45 +0000

Work continues in the laundry yard as we search for evidence of the fence that enclosed the space during George Washington’s lifetime. One of the questions we’re frequently asked by visitors to the site is “how do you know if you’ve found the fence?” When we look for traces of fences or buildings that were [...]

Object Spotlight, Family Edition: Portrait of Fanny Bassett

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 17:20:15 +0000

Is it her long flowing hair? That coy smile? The way her head tilts gracefully to one side? Whatever the reason, many visitors find themselves enchanted by the portrait of Fanny Bassett that hangs on the wall of the West Parlor at Mount Vernon. Frances Bassett, known as Fanny, was closely connected to the Washington [...]

What’s New in the Archaeology Lab?

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 14:00:01 +0000

At first glance, the archaeologically recovered figurines pictured above appear very…well, unimpressive. They look plain, eroded, broken–they don’t even have heads to add at least some visual interest! And yet, they are both objects rife with historic significance. How, you may ask, can objects so seemingly dull possess so much importance? The answer is simple: [...]

MV Mailbox: Greetings from 1919

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 14:00:50 +0000

One M.H. Taylor wrote to Miss Eleanor Pendleton on September, 16, 1919 from Mount Vernon with an interesting question; “How would you like to have to climb in your bed every night-with steps.” The mysterious author is referring to Eleanor (Nelly) Parke Custis’ bed which, according to the description on the back of the card, [...]

MV Mailbox: Greetings from 1919

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 14:00:18 +0000

A Historic Announcement

Mount Vernon Contributor — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:00:17 +0000

This is truly a historic day, as the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association announces the selection of Curtis G. Viebranz as the next President and Chief Executive Officer of George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Chosen from a wide array of candidates, Curt is only the tenth person to head Mount Vernon since 1858. In the spirit of [...]

What’s Blooming in the Garden This Week?

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 14:00:39 +0000

Rather than highlighting the fantastic flora present in the popular Upper and Lower Gardens, this week’s blog concerns a lesser-known cultivation area on George Washington’s estate: the Fruit Garden and Nursery. Washington referred to this area as the “Vineyard Inclosure,” and its original purpose–as can be extrapolated from this title–was as an experimental vineyard. Unfortunately, [...]

Object Spotlight: Fan Chair

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 14:00:55 +0000

Anyone who has visited Virginia recently knows that summer brings brutal heat and humidity. How did Mount Vernon’s eighteenth-century residents keep cool on those sweltering August days–without air conditioning? Opening windows, doors, and the cupola on top of the Mansion helped keep air circulating throughout the house. But when this wasn’t enough, an ingenious fan [...]

What’s New at the Dig: The Dynamic Landscape of the Laundry Yard

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 28 Aug 2012 15:00:06 +0000

Our summer excavation in search of the 18th century fence surrounding the Laundry Yard has revealed a great deal about the changing uses of the space over time. The six test units that are currently underway are cut by many modern utilities, but also include more recent features and a few potential 18th century postholes. [...]

What’s Blooming in the Garden This Week?

Mount Vernon Contributor — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 14:00:40 +0000

Unseasonably warm temperatures and dry conditions at Mount Vernon this summer have been difficult for some plants, but there are many varieties that Washington is known to have cultivated that thrive in the summer months. The three flowers featured in this blog were all introduced to North America in the 18th century from abroad, and [...]

Welcome To Our Newest Addition

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 18:04:52 +0000

This Milking Devon calf was born this past Saturday, August 18 on the Mount Vernon estate. She is our newest addition to the livestock family and is currently being bottle fed 4 times a day. Our livestock managers even come back in at 10 p.m. to give her the last bottle of the night. Milking [...]

MV Mailbox: Greetings from 1910

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:00:52 +0000

In 1910, an unknown visitor to Mount Vernon sent this postcard to Miss Catherine Reed of Natchez, Mississippi. The note reads: Saw this hall Aug. 16, 1910 Washington was a wealthy man and was President of the U.S. It was necessary for hime[sic] to entertain a good deal, hence this handsome[sic] banquet hall. The banquet [...]

On This Day: George Washington is Sent a Job Application

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 13:58:13 +0000

On August 16, 1789, Nathaniel Ramsey–former Revolutionary War soldier and member of the Congress of the Confederation–wrote to George Washington seeking a post in the new, federal government. Writing from his home in Maryland, Ramsey explained that he had “been informed that it is your wish that every person who is disposed to serve in [...]

Fanning the Flames of Fashion

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 14:00:49 +0000

On August 6th, 1768, George Washington recorded the weather of that day: “Exceeding hot – & still till the Evening.” Sound familiar? Whether you visited Mount Vernon today or in the 18th century, you would have experienced the three “h’s” of a typical Virginia August: hazy, hot, and humid. How did the Washingtons and their [...]

Object Spotlight, Entertaining Edition: A Presidential Dinner Invitation

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 14:00:23 +0000

For many of us, the summer months are a time for socializing and celebration. Although they didn’t fire up the grill or host any pool parties, George and Martha Washington were no strangers to entertaining. During Washington’s two terms as President, he and Mrs. Washington hosted dinner parties every Thursday for members of Congress, foreign [...]

On this Day: Washington Established Badges of Military Distinction and Merit

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 13:21:14 +0000

On August 7, 1782, George Washington created three new military badges that would honor the service of ordinary, common soldiers. As Washington explained, his motives were to honor acts of bravery amongst his regular soldiers, because “The road to glory in a patriot army and a free country is thus open to all.” In his [...]

What’s Blooming in the Garden this Week?

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 14:00:42 +0000

George Washington: general, president…farmer? The Pioneer Farm and Slave Cabin gardens remind us that Washington was not only a great American leader but also a great American farmer who invited all members of his plantation to cultivate their agricultural talent. One of the most recognizable staples on any plantation in the eighteenth century, besides tobacco, [...]

On this Day: Lafayette Receives his Commission

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 14:00:34 +0000

On July 31, 1777, the Marquis de Lafayette arrived in Philadelphia to receive his commission as Major General in the Continental Army. Lafayette was recruited originally because of his of his connections to the Court of Louis XVI, rather than his military acumen. In fact, the young Lafayette had yet to have seen military combat [...]

What’s New At The Dig: Martha Washington

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 26 Jul 2012 14:00:06 +0000

We had a fun discovery in the archaeological laboratory this week. While washing artifacts from our laundry yard excavations, our field and lab tech Laura Tancredi, noticed writing on one of the recently recovered ceramics. On closer inspection, she identified the ceramic as a piece of Chinese porcelain with the letters “ode.” Opening our study [...]

MV Mailbox: Greetings from 1955

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:00:21 +0000

Summer at Mount Vernon means lots of vacationing tourists! Presumably on their own summer vacation, Mary and Henry sent this postcard on June 27, 1955 to their parents, Mr. and Mrs. G.J. Divens of Vinton, VA. “Hello folks, Having a good time wish you all was with us. Love, Mary and Henry.” The most striking [...]

What’s Blooming in the Garden This Week?

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 14:00:01 +0000

“There is an immense, extremely well-cultivated garden behind the right Wing. The choicest fruits in the country are to found there…” Baron Ludwig von Closen, one of the many tourists at Mount Vernon, made the comment above in his journal during a 1782 visit. The Baron, like so many other visitors to the estate, delighted [...]

On This Day: Washington Pardons Whiskey Rebels

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 14:00:47 +0000

In January of 1791, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton proposed an excise tax “upon spirits distilled within the United States, and for appropriating the same.” The vehement rejection of this tax by Americans living in Western Pennsylvania challenged the authority of the nascent American government. By 1794, the so-called Whiskey Rebellion led President Washington [...]

18th Century Celebrations: July 4

Mount Vernon Contributor — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 14:00:30 +0000

Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring our independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. Although Independence Day is now commonly associated with fireworks, parades, barbecues, picnics, and concerts it was much different in the 18th century. In the late [...]

Powel Iceries

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 14:00:57 +0000

The recent heat waves have sent Americans running to their freezers to grab a pint of ice cream, but how was this delicacy preserved and dished in George Washington’s time? In February 1790, George Washington purchased “2 iceries compleat” from the Comte de Moustier, the French minister to the United States for use at the [...]

What’s New At The Dig: Washington’s Laundry Yard

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 14:00:34 +0000

Mount Vernon’s archaeologists began their summer excavations in the laundry yard a few weeks ago. The work is designed to learn about the fence which surrounded the yard during George Washington’s life. In 1988 and 1989 the archaeologists excavated in this area and discovered evidence for at least three fences — one built in the [...]

Mount Vernon Acquires George Washington’s Acts of Congress

Mount Vernon Contributor — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 14:00:51 +0000

George Washington’s original copy of the Acts of Congress is returning to Mount Vernon. On June 22, the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association secured the prized volume for the shelves of the Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington. The acquisition ranks among the most significant in the history of the association. [...]

On this Day in 1775: Washington Allays Fears

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:00:13 +0000

On June 26, 1775, George Washington met with leaders from the New York Provincial Congress while passing through New York City en route to Boston to take command of the Continental Army. The group gathered to celebrate Washington’s naming as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army just eleven days earlier. Peter Van Brugh Livingston, president of [...]

MV Mailbox: Greetings from 1913

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 14:00:21 +0000

Almost one hundred years ago, Mrs. Thompson of Little Rock, Arkansas received this postcard from a friend or relative named Sue who was having “such a grand time” in Washington, D.C. The front of the card shows Mount Vernon’s small parlor interpreted as a music room. The room prominently features Eleanor (Nelly) Parke Custis’ harpsichord [...]

Interpreting History at Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 14:00:25 +0000

Anyone visiting the estate this summer will have the chance to meet and interact with a new character interpreter — representing an important historical figure from Washington’s time. Christopher Sheels worked as a body servant to George Washington. The term “body servant” in today’s vocabulary sounds more like a body guard, but in the late [...]

What’s Blooming in the Garden This Week?

Mount Vernon Contributor — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 14:00:16 +0000

Summertime is in full swing and as our visitors well know the garden is as beautiful as ever. You will see in the slideshow above just a few examples of the flowers to be found this week in the upper garden. The first flower you see is a larkspur; the flower of which looks remarkably [...]

VIDEO: Unearthing Washington’s Backyard Garbage

Mount Vernon Contributor — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:00:32 +0000

In George Washington’s day, people didn’t have the same aversion to trash pits that they do today. That’s because throughout colonial and early America, people threw their garbage away not so far from their houses. After all, there were no garbage collectors to haul it off. Mount Vernon was no exception, and in the early [...]

VIDEO: Mount Vernon is Abuzz With Bee Hives

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 19:54:58 +0000

It’s always Mount Vernon’s goal to keep the estate as true to original form as possible. That’s why we jumped at the chance to get our own apiary, where several hives of bees will produce honey, just like in George Washington’s day. Visitors need not worry about bee stings, the hives are kept just [...]

Catch Us On Ye Old Colonial Instagram

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 21:22:51 +0000

What’s cooler than viewing Mount Vernon through the eyes of someone in the 18th century? How about through the washed-out, overexposed shades of an Instamatic photo. Mount Vernon has joined the 30 million-something photo-sharing users who have downloaded the wildly popular Instagram app onto their smartphone. Not sure what the fuss is all about? Instagram [...]

VIDEO: The Archaeology Behind MV’s New Library

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 29 May 2012 21:18:04 +0000

Perhaps you’ve heard about Mount Vernon’s new library, where we’ll be storing George Washington’s books and manuscripts and conducting leadership conferences? Before we could start constructing the multimillion-dollar structure, our director of archaeology, Esther White, and the rest of our archaeology team conducted an exhaustive study of what’s buried in the ground on the site. [...]

Photo of the Day: Thanksgiving Turkeys in May

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 25 May 2012 21:34:35 +0000

Half a year ago Apple and Cider, the two turkeys pardoned by President Barack Obama at last year’s Thanksgiving, came to Mount Vernon to make their permanent home at the estate. Although they were on display for the holiday season, we had to take them off site afterward since they’re not a historic breed. Their [...]

Behind the MV Scenes: The Estate Greenhouses

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:53:20 +0000

Of all the plants being grown behind the scenes in the Mount Vernon greenhouses only three are thought to be the clipping and cutting descendants of original Mount Vernon vegetation that was growing in George Washington’s day: boxwood, fig trees and tulip tress. Even if the other plants don’t have the same historic cache, they [...]

A Good Cause Rows Past Mount Vernon

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 22 May 2012 22:07:56 +0000

Making his way from Miami to New York in a 15-foot rowboat in an attempt to raise $50,000 for Alzheimer’s research, Lewis Colam, 24, stopped at Mount Vernon late last week for a meal, night’s rest and quick tour before heading up the Potomac River to Washington, D.C. Colam, who left his job as a [...]

Object Spotlight: Washington’s Decanter Case

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 18 May 2012 21:11:34 +0000

Lonely cowboys had their flasks, but what did people during the Revolutionary War use to sneak a sip? Washington may have kept his stash of spirits in this personal decanter case, which legend holds was given to the General by Lord Fairfax. It’s also possible the above box was the “1 Small Spirit Case” listed [...]

MV Mailbox: Greetings From 1910

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 16 May 2012 20:46:56 +0000

Approximately 112 years ago on May 27, 1910, a Mrs. Sarah Mendenhall of Yeagertown, Pa., received a friendly postcard from a niece or nephew who visited Mount Vernon. The structure on the front of the note won’t be recognizable to those familiar with the estate today. The “Mt. Vernon Lunch Room” as it was called [...]

Object Spotlight Mother’s Day Edition: Easy Chair

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 11 May 2012 20:19:54 +0000

Easy chairs might not seem comfortable by today’s standards. Although upholstered, their stiff backs and arms can make for a rather rigid sitting experience. But in the 18th century, these chairs were meant for the infirm, elderly or expecting or nursing mothers who might benefit from the soft padding and wings to protect from drafts. [...]

Know Your Founding Fathers: Robert Morris

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 08 May 2012 21:07:11 +0000

Today marks the anniversary of the death of Robert Morris, signer of the Declaration of Independence and financier of the American Revolution, who died in 1806. Perhaps not so well known as George Washington, he was an important founding father in his own right. Born in England in 1734, Morris made his way to the [...]

On This Day in 1789: Washington’s Inaugural Ball

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 07 May 2012 19:18:13 +0000

On May 7, 1789, America’s inaugural inaugural ball occurred in New York City, the temporary capital of the federal government back when the presidency was just getting started. Since George Washington wasn’t following any particular protocol when he attended the dance thrown in honor of his swearing in, there was no way for him to [...]

Photo(s) of The Day: Lady Gaga’s First Haircut

Becca Milfeld — Sat, 05 May 2012 04:02:07 +0000

Lady Gaga, one of Mount Vernon’s yearling sheep, received her first shearing on Friday. Many people watched as wool came flying off the old fashioned way, sans electric shears. The event was part of an ongoing sheep shearing demonstration, which takes place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday in May from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. [...]

Washington and his Early American Oranges

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 03 May 2012 19:39:45 +0000

George Washington, ever the fan of pineapple, also loved oranges. His first mention of them in his diary occurred when he went to Barbados with his brother as a teenager. As an adult they were something that he ordered a dozen or two at a time from the West Indies. They also made great gifts [...]

MV Mailbox: Greetings from 1931

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:34:04 +0000

Approximately 81 years ago someone with rather unintelligible handwriting sent one Mrs. H a postcard from Mount Vernon. We took her address off the postcard on the chance that Mrs. H is still alive and residing at the same locale (if you’re out there Mrs. H, please give us a shout!), but since even her [...]

What’s Blooming in the Garden This Week?

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:15:38 +0000

Squarely in the middle of spring, Mount Vernon is abloom with fragrance and color that changes every week. Above is just a sampling of the rich foliage and petals that are presently found in the upper garden, where George Washington grew ornamental flowers along the edges of beds and vegetables in the middle. One [...]

Object Spotlight: Fish Kettle

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:30:05 +0000

A fish kettle almost looks like a cozy home for an aquatic animal – it is after all, just the right size for a fish or two. But no fish wants to end up in one of these. Used for poaching and boiling, this apparatus would have come in handy at Mount Vernon in April [...]

Whatever Became of the Washington Cockatoo?

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:17:49 +0000

George Washington was more of a dog lover, but Martha Washington appears to have had a soft, feathery spot in her heart for birds. If it weren’t already evident by the green parrot named Snipe that the Washingtons brought with them to the presidency, then it should be apparent by the fact that days before [...]

Mount Vernon’s Front Door Makeover

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 19:25:06 +0000

Sometimes restoration just comes a knocking, especially when you have a front door that needs fixing up. Much of the woodwork throughout Mount Vernon, including its west (front) door is made of local yellow pine, which was neither fancy nor expensive. George Washington employed graining to make the wood in his house appear as if [...]

What’s Blooming in the Garden This Week?

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 19:25:45 +0000

George Washington’s flowering upper garden is a rich cache of petals and blossoms this time of year, with every week (and sometimes day) bringing a new assortment of blooms. Although everything planted there was known to exist in 18th-century gardens, we’re not exactly sure which species Washington planted in these flowering beds except for fritillaria, [...]

GW Voted Britain’s All-Time Greatest Foe

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 15:59:09 +0000

Across the pond in Britain, George Washington, whose feats of bravery long ago thwarted the powerful nation, still reigns supreme as a worthy opponent — in fact, as Britain’s greatest foe ever according to a contest run by the nation’s National Army Museum. Online voters chose from an assortment of Britain’s historical military adversaries and [...]

Friday the 13 Superstition Edition: Witch’s Heart

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:26:20 +0000

There’s not much evidence of superstition on record at Mount Vernon during the 18th century. In fact, our historians and curators were hard pressed to come up with any Friday the 13-worthy practices carried out by the Washington household. People in the 18th century commonly buried items in their walls to ward off evil spirits. [...]

Final Lamb Count 2012: 47 Babies

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:28:44 +0000

Lamb birthing season is over and Mount Vernon’s final count for 2012 is 47 lambs, a new record for the estate. Of those born this year, 24 were boys and 23 were girls. Furthermore, eight lambs were singles (no brothers or sisters) and the rest were twins. The prevalence of twins helps explain why this [...]

MV Mailbox: Greetings From 1906

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 17:26:05 +0000

Approximately 106 years ago an unspecified visitor to Mount Vernon sent this post card to one Miss Irene Tringle in Madison, Wis. There was no message or name of sender on the back, which only has an address, a one-cent Benjamin Franklin stamp and two postmarks — one from Washington, D.C., on March 27, 1906 [...]

Washington and His Preference for Pineapple

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 20:23:45 +0000

If renting a pineapple sounds ridiculous, then it’s only because you’re not from the 18th century. In George Washington’s day, his compatriots across the ocean in England were known to pay a premium to grace their tables with this most exotic fruit, often putting it atop a decorative fruit pyramid. In such instances the delicious [...]

VIDEO: George Washington Gets a Library

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 18:07:09 +0000

A new home for George Washington’s manuscripts and valuable belongings is being built at Mount Vernon, across the street from the estate. The Fred. W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington isn’t slated to open until summer 2013, but construction is well underway. In addition to the Washington family Bible and a [...]

Object Spotlight: Damask Napkin

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 19:03:14 +0000

Even if they were fancy people, the Washingtons had to wipe food off their faces just like the rest of us. Luckily they had some very fancy napkins. Sometime in the 1790s George Washington purchased a set of 48 napkins with a neoclassical design of lacy swags, flower-filled urns and florid vines. Back then tableware, [...]

Washington’s Cherry Blossoms

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 22:11:50 +0000

It’s the 100th anniversary of Washington, D.C.’s cherry blossoms, which arrived in 1912 when the mayor of Tokyo gifted the nation’s capital some 3,000 cherry trees. But here at Mount Vernon it’s the 200th-something anniversary of George Washington’s cherry trees. And unlike those at the Tidal Basin, Washington’s actually produced fruit. Today there are three [...]

Keeping Up With The Neighbors: Gunston Hall

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:57:11 +0000

Upper-class Virginia was a tight-knit society made even more so by the fact that many of Virginia’s wealthy planters lived on neighboring plantations. Such was the case with George Washington and George Mason, a lesser-known but substantially influential founding father. From a 21st-century perspective, one of the neatest things about these ancient farmers’ proximity is [...]

Lamb Count 2012: 42 So Far, Still More To Go

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 20:47:51 +0000

Mount Vernon has birthed a record number of lambs this year with the arrival of 42 babies in the last week and a half and a handful more expected from the five ewes that still haven’t delivered. The previous lamb record had set the bar at 36 babies in one year. Why so many lambs? [...]

Encyclopedias: They’ll Always Be on GW’s Shelf

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 22:16:55 +0000

This week Encyclopedia Britannica announced that it would be going out of print after 244 years — having come into existence and popularity during George Washington’s lifetime. In the same way that people today get excited about social media and the internet, George Washington was getting really revved up about his new encyclopedias in the [...]

Photo(s) of the Day: Spring’s First Lambs

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 19:16:56 +0000

It happens every year but it never gets any less cute. The first lamb of 2012 was born Saturday and is now on display in the Mount Vernon paddock along with two others that have been born since. All of the sheep at Mount Vernon are members of a historic breed called Hog Island Sheep, [...]

Object Spotlight: Family Dinner Bell

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 16:45:47 +0000

Daylight-saving time wasn’t a part of American life until the late 19th century, but that didn’t mean it was easy for people in the 18th century to guestimate whether it was dinnertime or not. Growling stomachs are notorious culprits for fast-forwarding internal clocks. How did the many guests who joined the Washingtons for a meal [...]

MV Mailbox: Greetings from 1913

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 22:03:41 +0000

This week 99 years ago a father sent his child the above postcard, which depicts the Washingtons’ bedchamber. A caption across the top reads, “ROOM WHERE WASHINGTON DIED, SHOWING HIS BEDCHAMBER AT MOUNT VERNON.” On the back of the postcard was a simple message, “With love from Papa.” The card was postmarked March 3, 1913, [...]

Photo of the Day: Beginning of New Batch of Whiskey

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 23:07:27 +0000

Before whiskey can be imbibed, it goes through many stages. Above, it’s in the form of mash — the state in which the corn, rye and barley mixture that it’s based upon gets fermented. You can see tiny bubbles appearing in the noxiously sweet-sour smelling brine. Mount Vernon’s distillery is beginning a new round of [...]

You Say Buffalo Bill, I Say Buffalo GEORGE

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 16:20:43 +0000

The bison may seem something of an anachronism for George Washington’s day; even if the first president’s riding skills were known throughout Virginia, he was no 19th-century cowboy. Yet the buffalo was a creature very much on Washington’s mind and an animal with which he had first-hand experience. As far as documentation goes, Washington’s fascination [...]

Object Spotlight: Washington’s French Porcelain

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 18:53:03 +0000

Second-hand tableware might not seem the pinnacle of chic, but the 309-piece French porcelain service that George Washington bought from the Comte de Moustier in 1790 was really nice stuff. Dishes in the 18th century carried a cultural cache similar to that of nice cars or designer purses today, so Washington’s purchase was only one [...]

Photo(s) of the Day: New Piglets

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 22:53:05 +0000

Feb. 24 was an exciting day of piglet beginnings at Mount Vernon. Annabeth, a first-time mother, gave birth to a litter of 5 black piglets very early in the morning. A few hours later Genesis gave birth to a litter of 7 spotted piglets. Both mothers and their litters are now on-view and are located [...]

George Washington Friday News Roundup

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 22:43:51 +0000

George Washington had a particularly newsworthy week with Feb. 20th being Presidents Day and Feb. 22 being his actual birthday. With the Feb. 18 launch of Mount Vernon’s newest exhibit, Hoecakes & Hospitality, even the General’s kitchen received heightened attention. Below is the best of this week’s GW-related news: Chicken nugget shaped like Washington turns [...]

Happy ACTUAL Birthday, George Washington!

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:43:42 +0000

Presidents Day may be celebrated the third Monday of every February, but George Washington’s actual birthday was Feb. 22. Although 18th-century birthdays were not the to-dos that they are today, the General being who he was, was often commemorated nonetheless. As Mount Vernon historian Mary Thompson points out: In 18th-century England, as well as in [...]

SLIDESHOW: Presidents Day at Mount Vernon

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 22:39:15 +0000

George Washington is never too old for a birthday party. Feb. 22 marks his 280th birthday and Mount Vernon started the celebration a few days early with Presidents Day. Entrance to the estate was free (as it is every Presidents Day) making this one of our busiest days of the year. Crowds swelled to attend [...]

VIDEO: The Great Hoecake Cook-off

Becca Milfeld — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:01:01 +0000

The hoecake, a cornmeal-based breakfast food that resembles the pancake, was George Washington’s favorite food. He liked his “swimming in butter in honey.” On February 18, Mount Vernon invited four area chefs to a hoecake cook-off in which they put their own spin on this colonial classic. Watch and see which rendition the General preferred.

Newest Exhibit Debuts: Hoecakes & Hospitality

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:29:17 +0000

Anyone who comes to Mount Vernon can pass through the Mansion’s large and small dining room and out into the kitchen. Tables are set and seasonal faux food is placed about. But beginning Feb. 18, Mount Vernon’s newest temporary exhibit, Hoecakes & Hospitality: Cooking With Martha Washington, gives visitors a fuller picture as to the [...]

A Mount Vernon-Centric Broadcast for Students

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:31:47 +0000

Don’t forget to tune in today at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. EST for Alabama Public Television’s “Exploring Mount Vernon” broadcast, which airs on select television stations across the country and on the internet. This interactive electronic field trip targets students grades 4 through 8. Meet George Washington’s doctor, Martha Washington and two Mount Vernon [...]

Valentine Object Spotlight: Heart-shaped Waffle Maker

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 01:20:11 +0000

Nothing says Valentine’s Day like hearts, except maybe heart-shaped breakfast food. This contraption is one of two waffle irons or “Whorfling Irons” that were listed in an inventory taken at George Washington’s death. Does this mean that George and Martha were rising early to make each other heart-shaped noshes for a romantic breakfast in bed? [...]

George Washington, the Thermometer Monitor

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 22:05:15 +0000

As with many locales across the United States, Mount Vernon has seen a vast array of temperatures this winter. February started with a bang as the mercury soared to 71, although today, little more than a week later, afternoon temperatures hovered around 45. George Washington was an avid recorder of thermal readings, which at some [...]

Turning a New Leaf: The Dusting of a Young Surveyor

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:22:25 +0000

Even if the fall foliage in Mount Vernon’s education center exhibit featuring a young George Washington is made of synthetic material, it’s not immune to the hazards of fading color. To spruce up the dusty leaves that frame our Washington-as-young-surveyor scene, we hired an exhibit company to give the forest canopy a fresh spray of [...]

Slideshow: Animal on the Loose

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:24:58 +0000

Counting pretend sheep hopping over fences will put you to sleep, but one of Mount Vernon’s real-life sheep did just that today and had the opposite effect, careening past visitors and trying to escape out the main gate of the estate. Ok, we don’t know that he actually hopped over the fence … he could [...]

Know Your Founding Fathers: Gouverneur Morris

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:35:20 +0000

Today is the birthday of Gouverneur Morris, born in 1752. Besides being notable for his somewhat awesome first name, he’s also memorable for being a close friend of George Washington and one of his biggest supporters in Congress. This statesman was originally from New York where he was born to a wealthy family on its [...]

Round Up: 5 MV Things Best Done in January

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:25:22 +0000

January is one of the chilliest times of the year, which also means that here at Mount Vernon, it’s one of the most overlooked by visitors, who neither stop by for vacation nor pop by for neighborly visits during this coldest of months. It also means January is ideal for having the estate to yourself. [...]

A Special Guy for a Special Edition of TIME

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:04:39 +0000

He’s not quite person of the year, but he does get his own TIME special edition. If the longer tomes dedicated to the nation’s first president aren’t on your reading list (think: His Excellency: George Washington, Washington: A Life and Washington: The Indispensable Man, just to name a few of the best), then pick up [...]

Object Spotlight: Nelly’s Coral Necklace

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:59:48 +0000

In 1751, during his one and only voyage off the North American continent, George Washington accompanied his brother Lawrence to Barbados. While there, he picked up a piece of white coral that he held on to as a memento for the rest of his life. In another Washington-coral encounter, it appears the General gave a [...]

The Washingtons: Not Cat People

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 21:42:39 +0000

Mount Vernon is not known to have been a particularly feline-friendly place. The absence of any mention of pet cats chez Washington may not have had so much to do with an aversion to hairballs as it did the family’s plethora of pet dogs and birds. Fido and feathered friends were more of the General [...]

Slammin Joe: Beam Him Into a Class Near You

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 22:09:23 +0000

Slammin’ Joe was a ditcher. You know, a ditch-digging man, one of George Washington’s enslaved workers who dug holes wherever the General needed them around the estate. Doesn’t sound familiar? Then get to know Slammin’ Joe — a character based on one of the estate’s real-life, 18th-century enslaved persons — a little better via [...]

Photo of the Day: Winter Wonderland at the Gristmill

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:47:16 +0000

It wasn’t cold enough for snow to stick, but the all-afternoon flurry that descended upon Mount Vernon provided the heaviest snow that the estate has seen so far in what has turned out to be an extremely temperate winter.

Object Spotlight: Argand Lamp

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 22:08:59 +0000

The shortest days of the year are upon us, which also means it’s the season when George Washington was likely putting his set of Argand lamps to good use. The General, ever the fan of new technology, was an ardent supporter of this new method of household illumination, which provided significantly more light than the [...]

Biggest Early American NYE Partiers: The Dutch

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 04:57:58 +0000

How did the Washingtons ring in the new year? Celebrating January 1 was more of a Dutch than British tradition, so the Washingtons’ New Year’s festivities were likely at their peak during the period of George Washington’s presidency when the first family lived in New York City, which had been settled by the Dutch. In [...]

Washington Family Leftovers: Meat Pie Edition

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 21:32:24 +0000

Something akin to turducken (the infamous chicken-stuffed-inside-a-duck-stuffed-inside-a-turkey entree), an 18th-century Christmas pie incorporated just as many if not more meats under a crust-like exterior that leaves many modern-day visitors to George Washington’s kitchen believing that they’re looking at a decadent dessert rather than a carnivore-worthy feast. Like 21st-century revelers who come to terms with [...]

On This Day in 1783: Washington Cedes Power

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 18:58:43 +0000

On December 23, 1783, George Washington ceded power by resigning his commission as commander in chief of the Continental Army. In the State House in Annapolis, Md., Washington gave an address to the Continental Congress and other spectators. Eager to be home, Washington returned the next day to Mount Vernon where he intended to resume [...]

Holiday Object Spotlight: Hunting Horn

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:44:31 +0000

Horns sounding in the forest were like Christmas music to the 18th-century ear at Mount Vernon, where the General was known to hunt with his male counterparts, particularly during the holiday season, when horns such as this cut through the silence of the Virginia forest, in a tuneful attempt to keep a hunting party managed [...]

Washington Holiday Table in The Washington Post

Becca Milfeld — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 18:28:19 +0000

A hedgehog cake and sheep marzipan are just a few of the various, sundry and sugary artisanal faux foods Mount Vernon has placed on the Washingtons’ dining table for the dessert course of an imagined holiday meal. The Washington Post Magazine took a fancy to this fanciful spread on its “Closer Look” page, with a [...]

Object Spotlight: The Banyan Washington Wore to Die?

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 21:08:29 +0000

Loungewear is not the couture that George Washington is particularly remembered for, but his banyan — a robe-like vestment meant for the summer months — is notable for the fact that Washington was purportedly wearing it when he died 212 years ago on December 14, 1799. In an unusually macabre sartorial twist, the robe is [...]

Photo of the Day: A Camel Who Even Loves Teens

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 22:15:32 +0000

What do Aladdin the Mount Vernon Christmas camel and Justin Bieber have in common? The ability to draw throngs of adoring teenagers, arms outstretched, with an almost mystical allure. As about 50 middle school students descended on the dromedary this afternoon, Aladdin the camel — a species one would not expect to be overly fond [...]

Enslaved Community Stars in ‘Evening for Educators’

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:32:18 +0000

Every December Mount Vernon hosts its Evening for Educators — a time for nearly 200 area teachers to gather at the estate for a totally free performance, hors d’oeuvres and wine, and candelight tours of George Washington’s Mansion. It’s Mount Vernon’s way of saying thanks to all the educators who work hard keeping America’s children [...]

Mount Vernon Gets 1,000,000th Vistitor in 2011

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:29:00 +0000

Back in 1965, Mount Vernon reached one million visitors in one year for the first time. Since then the majority of years — though by no means all — have welcomed one million guests to the estate. Last year, for example, we had 1,073,796 folks from around the country and world stop by. Turns out [...]

GW and the Mystery of Mount Vernon’s Lonely Peacock

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 23:33:06 +0000

Approximately three months after his marriage to Martha, George Washington brought his new bride and her children to Mount Vernon. As they made their way from Southeast Virginia, where Martha’s plantation was located, the party made a purchase. In his ledger on April 15, 1759, Washington records paying four shillings and six pence for a [...]

VIDEO: Engineering MV Gingerbread Masterpieces

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 22:30:17 +0000

Every year former White House pastry chef Roland Mesnier makes a gingerbread replica of George Washington’s Mount Vernon, but this year he had some special helpers. The entire fourth grade from nearby Fort Belvoir Elementary School applied STEM disciplines — science, technology, engineering and math — to make some extremely accurate replicas of the estate’s [...]

VIDEO: Turkey Pardoned by Obama Arrives at MV

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 02:40:21 +0000

For the second year in a row the turkey pardoned by President Barack Obama (and the spare standby turkey) came to Mount Vernon after its White House pardoning ceremony to live out the rest of his days. Check out this year’s bird, Liberty, as President Obama excuses him from the dinner table and as he [...]

Object Spotlight: GW Thanksgiving Proclamation

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 23:42:28 +0000

On October 3, 1789, George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving Proclamation by a U.S. president, setting aside Thursday, November 26 as a “day of public thanksgiving and prayer.” While it was the first nationally celebrated Thanksgiving, such proclamations were a long-held tradition in North America, where local and colonial governments routinely set aside days for [...]

Aladdin the Christmas Camel Arrives for the Winter

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 23:04:00 +0000

Anyone who’s ever taken a touristy camel ride on vacation in a desert country or met up with a dromedary in a petting zoo might be under the impression that these long-necked animals are ornery creatures who’d just as soon spit at you as nuzzle. But Aladdin the camel (who yes, does have a historical [...]

White House: MV To Receive Pardoned Turkey

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 23:36:38 +0000

For the second year in a row Mount Vernon will be the recipient of the White House’s presidentially pardoned turkey. Last year President Barack Obama pardoned Apple who, along with his buddy Cider (the standby “vice presidential” turkey), came to live at Mount Vernon after the ceremony. After meeting with the president, the pardoned turkey’s [...]

Martha’s Macaron Recipe Links Treat to Old World

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:43:09 +0000

An interesting article in Slate points out that the earliest known recipe for macarons — the small, French, cookie-like dessert that is becoming increasingly popular in bakeries across America — can be found in Martha Washington’s family cookbook. Martha’s Booke of Cookery, which comprises family recipes that were likely written down in the early [...]

The First First Pets: One Lapdog & Green Parrot

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:00:03 +0000

What animals had the honor of being the first first pets? We can’t say for sure how many creatures held this title as there is no official record of the furry and feathered friends who cohabitated with the Washington family in New York and Philadelphia, but two are known for sure: Frisk the lapdog [...]

SLIDESHOW: Veterans Day at Mount Vernon

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:35:21 +0000

In honor of our nation’s veterans, Mount Vernon admitted all active duty and former or retired military personnel free-of-charge on Veterans Day. These honored guests were invited to place a carnation at Washington’s Tomb where the Sons of the American Revolution and Daughters of the American Revolution conducted a special wreathlaying ceremony. Mount Vernon also [...]

Object Spotlight: A Presidential Plate Warmer

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:43:30 +0000

Warm plates. In the 18th century having such tableware was a sign that you had really made it. There were no ovens for heating such things, so George Washington had to purchase a special apparatus – a plate warmer – to achieve the requisite temperature for fine dining. Hot dishes, after all, allowed dinner company [...]

Photo of the Day: Fall Colors on the Forest Trail

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:53:40 +0000

It’s unknown what George Washington’s favorite season was, and since Mount Vernon is attractive even in blustery cold and searing heat, it is impossible for us to divine his preference. But after a walk on the above forest trail, which connects Mount Vernon’s low-lying re-creation farm with the rest of the estate, we feel that [...]

Washington Family Houses: Woodlawn Estate

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 21:50:57 +0000

Almost in the shadow of Mount Vernon lies another great estate of Washington fame: Woodlawn, home to Martha Washington’s granddaughter Nelly Custis and George Washington’s nephew Lawrence Lewis. The Washington family tree is a complex one. Although Nelly Custis was Martha Washington’s granddaughter via her first husband and therefore not a blood relative of George [...]

VIDEO: Washington Boundary Stones Preserved

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 03:45:25 +0000

In the late 18th century, the architects of the nation’s capital set the boundaries for the new city via a series of stones that were placed around its perimeter. Today 36 of the 40 stones that were set are still in place, most of them surrounded by small fences that were erected by the Daughters [...]

Today’s D.C. Groupon: George Washington at Half Price

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:55:53 +0000

Apart from being an all-around great leader, George Washington was a financially savvy guy, keeping detailed ledgers and never letting a good online deal pass him by. At least we like to think he wouldn’t have. Purchase today’s D.C.-area Groupon and visit his estate for more than half off at $7 ($3 for children). Explore [...]

Washington Whiskey Gets NPR Foodie Shout Out

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 21:41:17 +0000

Whether you’re a fan of good whiskey, NPR or George Washington we’ve got a treat for you. NPR’s “Weekend Edition” on Saturday featured Mount Vernon’s Dennis Pogue, vice president of preservation, who talked about the most lucrative and abundant alcohol to come out of Washington’s distillery — rye whiskey. The program coincided with the release [...]

VIDEO: A Free George Washington for Every School

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 03:35:09 +0000

George Washington may be on the dollar bill, but it doesn’t cost schools even a cent to get a free Rembrandt Peale Porthole Portrait of George Washington. Thanks to the kind support of generous donors, Mount Vernon has been giving away free framed portraits since 2007. All it takes for a school to receive its [...]

Cherry Bounce: A True Story About GW and Fruit

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 20:58:33 +0000

The cherry is a fruit well-associated with the nation’s first president, even if the cherry tree story, in which a young George Washington chopped down a cherry tree then couldn’t lie about it to his father, is fictitious. Turns out there are at least some fact-based tales about Washington and the cherry, most involving Washington’s [...]

Object Spotlight: Sundial

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 20:46:58 +0000

George Washington ran Mount Vernon in the same manner he managed the Continental Army and new American government: through careful time management, close attention to detail, and a taskmaster’s sense of duty. It’s no surprise, therefore, that Washington placed a large brass horizontal sundial at the heart of his plantation. Mounted atop a white painted [...]

How Do You Like Them (Brandy) Apples?

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 20:37:43 +0000

In an epic sequel to last fall’s peach brandy, Mount Vernon distillers are wrapping up production of apple brandy at the estate’s on-site whiskey distillery. A president, general and avid farmer, Washington added distiller to his list of vocations in 1797, when his farm manager James Anderson convinced him to build a whiskey distillery adjacent [...]

Study on Washington Monument Ends

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 03:51:29 +0000

The engineering team that has spent the past week dangling from the top of the Washington Monument assessing damage done by the August 23 earthquake that struck the Washington, D.C. area, has concluded its study. The National Park Service will determine how repairs will be done, but the structure remains closed in the meantime, according [...]

On This Day in 1777: Battle of Germantown

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 01:05:51 +0000

On October 4, 1777, George Washington’s troops led a pre-dawn attack on the British encampment at Germantown, Penn. By mid-morning, the battle was over, in large part due to a substantial fog, and heavy losses were felt by both sides. Washington and his troops retreated and retired to winter quarters at Valley Forge, while Sir [...]

Engineers Scale Monument, Search for Damage

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 22:40:01 +0000

Expert engineers scaled the Washington Monument today in an effort to catalog every defect that occurred to the structure during the August earthquake that shook Virginia, the nation’s capital, and surrounding states. “Climbers will work their way up and down the sides of the entire monument, snap photos with a digital camera and tap the [...]

MV Website: Same URL, Sparkly Fresh Look

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 19:23:04 +0000

Mount Vernon has officially launched its brand-new website. Find all the same great information you’ve always searched for at mountvernon.org, but in a flashy new format. Plus, check out our plan-your-day feature, which allows visitors to tailor their experience at the estate based on their areas of interest and time limitations. Our George Washington timeline [...]

Emphasis on History Curriculum: Not Enough?

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 21:14:49 +0000

Mount Vernon’s education staff was extremely inspired by an opinion piece by Norm Augustine in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal. As the former under secretary of the Army and retired chairman and CEO of Lockheed Martin, Augustine emphasized the importance of history in forming tomorrow’s top execs and leaders. We’d love to see your thoughts in [...]

Viewing the Estate the Proper 18th-Century Way

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 21:41:14 +0000

Contemporary visitors to Mount Vernon enter the estate through our orientation center, but in the 18th century, company arrived at the Mansion via the estate’s west gate, an outpost three-quarters of a mile away from the house. From this vantage point, members of the carriage-faring class gained a sweeping view of George Washington’s property, punctuated [...]

This Little Piggy Went to Georgia

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 22:15:01 +0000

Mount Vernon’s only summer piglet, Juliette, has flown the coop, or more accurately, left the pigpen. She’ll be headed to St Simon’s Island, Ga., next week and has been taken away from her mother, Genesis, for weening in the meantime. Despite much squealing, Genesis seemed to forget that she had been separated from her offspring [...]

VIDEO: Washington, Rochambeau Present Trail

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 12:06:13 +0000

On the 230th anniversary of General Washington and General Rochambeau’s pivotal visit to Mount Vernon after they dispatched their forces toward Yorktown, the estate held a commemorative program. On Sunday Revolutionary troops camped at Mount Vernon and did drills, Martha Washington came out and chatted in all her finery, a painting commemorating the two generals’ [...]

On This Day in 1777: Defeat at Brandywine

Becca Milfeld — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 16:37:09 +0000

On September 11, 1777 George Washington was not having a good day. In the afternoon British generals Sir William Howe and Charles Cornwallis, who had split up their 18,000 troops under a veil of fog, began a full-on attack of Washington’s encampment from two directions. Washington and his troops, who were stationed at an outpost [...]

Object Spotlight: Martha’s Bathing Gown

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 21:10:04 +0000

In an era when tanning and beach volleyball weren’t exactly de rigueur, neither was a two-piece, water-friendly swimsuit. That’s why Martha Washington hit the waves in this blue- and white-checked linen bathing gown. What sort of occasions did Martha Washington have to splash around? The Washingtons frequently traveled to what is today known as Berkeley [...]

MV Mailbox: A Summery View

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 14:59:59 +0000

It’s the end of summer, so we thought we’d post a message to take readers back to the very beginning of the warmer months (and of course, back in time!) This postcard, which features a view of the Potomac River from the Mount Vernon Piazza, was postmarked April 18, 1910. Text reads: We are having [...]

VIDEO: MV Visits its Traveling Exhibit in Philly

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 21:31:05 +0000

It’s not easy for most people to get to Mount Vernon, so we’re bringing Mount Vernon to you. Our traveling exhibit, Discover the Real George Washington: New Views From Mount Vernon is touring the country. As of this post’s publication, the exhibit, which includes Washington’s dentures, a reproduction of Martha Washington’s wedding dress, and loads [...]

Estate Sees Little Damage From Irene

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:56:47 +0000

Trees fell and lights flickered at the estate this weekend, but Mount Vernon weathered with ease what turned out to be a lighter storm than expected. Curators and grounds crews spent much of Friday and Saturday preparing for Hurricane Irene by packing away valuables in the Mansion, shuttering and boarding up windows, and sandbagging doors. [...]

Mount Vernon Prepares for Hurricane Irene

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 22:47:32 +0000

The Washingtons and Their Goldfish

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 23:48:22 +0000

Mount Vernon’s 1797 edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica indicates that goldfish were first imported to England in 1691, but weren’t common there until 1728, when they were distributed around London by a man named Sir Matthew Dekker and eventually made their way across the country. It appears George Washington was no stranger to the proliferation [...]

5.9 Earthquake Hits; GW House Sturdy as Rock

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 19:35:42 +0000

A 5.9 earthquake that sent tremors from Virginia to New York City shook Mount Vernon Tuesday, but George Washington’s mansion stood sturdy as a rock. The Mansion and other buildings throughout the estate shook and creaked, but the only damage noted by our team of collection specialists and historians was a nickle-sized piece of green [...]

VIDEO: Educators on MV’s Summer Institutes

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 20:40:31 +0000

Every summer Mount Vernon invites a handful of educators to attend our on-site summer teachers’ institutes. These educators from a diverse array of states and school levels converge for one of several one-week programs focused on George Washington. They receive behind-the-scenes tours of the estate, in-depth lectures by renowned professors, and an overall immersive experience [...]

Washington’s Upper Garden to Star on C-SPAN3

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 21:52:23 +0000

Although C-SPAN is typically for current politicians, you can check out George Washington — or at least his upper garden — this weekend on C-SPAN3. A program featuring the archaeologically based changes that have recently occurred in the garden, making it more like in Washington’s day than ever before, will be featured in a program [...]

On This Day in 1787: Weather Vane Details Made

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 20:33:13 +0000

On August 12, 1787 George Washington, who was then busy at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, wrote home to his nephew, Augustine Washington, who was tending to Mount Vernon in his uncle’s absence. Although the two had already corresponded about the weather vane that was to go atop the cupola, Washington penned a letter on [...]

Object Spotlight: Washington’s Shaving Gear

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 15:50:08 +0000

George Washington was no Abraham Lincoln when it came to beards. A bristly face wasn’t fashionable in the 18th century and Washington isn’t known to have ever adopted whiskers. The General kept his face stubble-free with the help of a few good tools: a razor, a comb, a strop, a whetstone, a shaving brush and [...]

On This Day in 1753: GW Becomes Master Mason

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 18:04:10 +0000

From the Library of Congress, which writes: “On August 4, 1753, George Washington became a Master Mason, the highest rank in the Fraternity of Freemasonry, in his hometown of Fredericksburg, Virginia. The twenty-one-year-old young man would soon hold his first military commission. “Derived from the practices and rituals of the medieval guild system, freemasonry gained [...]

Washington’s D.C.: Tudor Place

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 22:33:05 +0000

Deep in the heart of Washington, D.C.’s, Georgetown neighborhood lies a manse worthy of any George Washington fan’s trip: Tudor Place. Home to Martha Washington’s granddaughter Martha Custis Peter and her husband Thomas Peter, the house, which is open to the public, hosts an array of items from the family’s ownership of the estate, which [...]

Dog Days of Summer: Washington and Hounds

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 18:55:54 +0000

It’s well-known that George Washington is the father of our country, but lesser known that he’s also the father of a breed of dogs – the American Foxhound. The Washingtons owned a variety of dogs over the years from herding dogs to lap dogs, but hounds, especially those for hunting, were particularly prevalent among Washington’s [...]

Mount Vernon Announces 2011 Teacher of the Year

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 20:29:47 +0000

Every year Mount Vernon sifts through a large pile of applications and chooses one D.C.-area educator to be the Mount Vernon teacher of the year. This year’s talented winner is Amy Trenkle, a history teacher at Stuart-Hobson Museum Magnet School in Washington, D.C. In her essay, Trenkle shared a story about a collaborative project she [...]

Today is HOT, But What About 212 Years Ago?

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 20:57:56 +0000

It’s the sort of day in Northern Virginia that makes a person huddle next to their full-blast air conditioner and thank their lucky stars they weren’t born an 18th-century blacksmith. The heatwave that’s been baking half the country has produced temperatures as high as 100 degrees at Mount Vernon, which makes us ponder whether Washington [...]

This Little Piggy … Was Born, Took a Mud Bath

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 21:17:05 +0000

The newest member of the Mount Vernon family, a single piglet that was born Tuesday around 3 p.m., is a quick study — she’s already following her mother into the pigpen mud pit to beat the high-nineties Virginia heat. The piglet’s mother, Genesis, is one of three Ossabaw Island sows at Mount Vernon. The piglet [...]

MV Mailbox: One Room, Two Drawings

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 19:20:42 +0000

The front of these two postcards might look like different rooms but they’re in fact the same chamber — George Washington’s bedroom — only in different decades. An elaborate and extensive series of postcards were made of various Mount Vernon rooms over the years, creating a tourism-kitsch-turned-historical-record of the many iterations in which visitors might [...]

GW’s Bastille-Day Possession: Key to the Prison

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 19:57:05 +0000

On July 14, 1789, French citizens stormed the Bastille, a medieval Parisian fortress that had become a symbol of French royal control. Months later, one of the fortification’s keys would be given to George Washington, eventually making its way from Paris’s narrow, urban streets to the banks of the Potomac. How might the General come [...]

50 Years Ago Today: Camelot Met Mount Vernon

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:05:48 +0000

One can only imagine the things John F. Kennedy and George Washington would have discussed had they ever magically met. As it stands, it doesn’t take much imagination to at least picture Kennedy hanging out at Washington’s stomping grounds. On July 11, 1961, the Kennedys held an elaborate state dinner (fancy even for state dinner [...]

Object Spotlight: Tailor’s Ledger

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:00:58 +0000

William Carlin, a tailor who worked in Alexandria, Va., is not very famous in his own right, but his clients certainly were. Tailor to the stars (of the 18th-century, landed gentry sort), his ledger chronicles the sartorial purchases of Colonel Fairfax, George Mason and George Washington, just to name a few. Visitors can take a [...]

TIME Cover July 6, 1953: George Washington

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 20:00:36 +0000

Born in an era that predates TIME’s “Person of the Year,” at least George Washington got to be person of the week in the magazine’s July 6 edition that came out 58 years ago today. In a cover story titled “HEROES: A Man to Remember,” a writer (who remains bylineless) chronicles Washington’s life and military [...]

VIDEO: Summertime Stuff Hits Mansion

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:13:34 +0000

Living in Eastern Virginia, ever-famous for its humid, hot weather, meant that George Washington and those who called Mount Vernon home had to make a few adjustments when the warmer months rolled around. Today Mount Vernon’s curators do the same, making subtle, but important changes to the accoutrements in the house. Mosquito netting is put [...]

MV Mailbox: A Peek From the Past

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:27:37 +0000

Some postcards are a little cryptic, and this one’s no exception. Sent from Washington, D.C., on May 16, 1909, it has a few indiscernible words and ambiguous punctuation, but one thing is clear: The individual who sat down to pen this letter had a pretty good time exploring the Mansion and Martha Washington’s bedroom while [...]

Object Spotlight: Turtle, the Submarine

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 14:34:38 +0000

Submarine warfare isn’t the type of combat that generally comes to mind when one thinks of the Revolutionary War, but then again the United States only had one type of submarine back then … and it generally failed. Although Mount Vernon doesn’t have an original submarine – or even a replica – it does have [...]

Mount Vernon Makes Second LivingSocial Cameo

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:16:29 +0000

Question: What’s better than coming to Mount Vernon? Answer: Coming to Mount Vernon on a boat! Today’s Washington, D.C., LivingSocial deal is admission to Mount Vernon plus a round-trip ticket aboard the Spirit of Mount Vernon cruise ship, which takes you from Southwest Washington straight to the estate to the tune of a narrated riverfront [...]

Rep. Pushes for Feting GW’s REAL B-Day

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 17:27:01 +0000

Most of us are familiar with Presidents Day, which is celebrated on the third Monday of February, but far fewer of us realize that the day is officially titled Washington’s Birthday. Knowing a little something about how calendars work, it’s also pretty apparent that we’re rarely celebrating Washington’s Birthday on the actual day of his [...]

Rustication Update: House in Two Shades

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 21:13:47 +0000

The Mansion is currently two-toned, but won’t stay that way for long. Mount Vernon is undergoing an extensive rustication process to make George Washington’s faux sandstone more accurate to the first president’s time than ever before. (For a refresher on rustication, click here.) The contrast between the rerusticated and untreated parts of the house is [...]

Photo of the Day: Two Monks and the Potomac

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 21:34:52 +0000

Hailing from Thailand, these two monks stopped to take in the same view of the Potomac River that George Washington enjoyed. Although Washington was never able to voyage any farther than Barbados, visitors today come to his estate from all corners of the earth.

MV Historian Series: Leeman on West Point

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 15:42:04 +0000

In celebration of the groundbreaking on Mount Vernon’s Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington, we’ve asked a few of our favorite historians to weigh in on various aspects of the first president’s leadership style. Historian and professor William P. Leeman writes this week’s installment: George Washington occupies a prominent place [...]

On This Day in 1775: GW Made Commander in Chief

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 20:31:23 +0000

From the Library of Congress: The Continental Congress commissioned George Washington as Commander in Chief of the Continental Army on June 19, 1775. Washington was selected over other candidates such as John Hancock based on his previous military experience and the hope that a leader from Virginia could help unite the colonies. Washington left for [...]

VIDEO: GW’s Pretend Sandstone Gets Makeover

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 20:54:55 +0000

George Washington was no ordinary man and the stone used on the exterior of his house was no ordinary stone. In fact, it wasn’t stone at all. Washington employed a special technique called rustication to make his mansion look as if it were made of sandstone. Boards were cut into squares and covered with paint [...]

MV Mailbox: A Peek at Mail From the Past

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 21:04:29 +0000

In light of the summer holidays Mount Vernon is taking a look at its vast collection of estate postcards from the 20th century. This one, sent from Mount Vernon on October 12, 1907 and received in Sandy Creek in Oswego County, N.Y. two days later, reads as follows: Friday Oct 11 Dear Mother, Am here [...]

MV Historian Series: Holton on Financial Pretext

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 20:33:36 +0000

In celebration of the groundbreaking on Mount Vernon’s Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington, we’ve asked a few of our favorite historians to weigh in on various aspects of the first president’s leadership style. Historian and professor Woody Holton writes this week’s installment: Historians love to debate the founding fathers’ [...]

VIDEO: Behind the Scenes With Martha

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 20:58:52 +0000

Today, June 2, 2011, is Martha Washington’s 280th birthday. In light of the special occasion we sat down with the the modern-day woman behind Mount Vernon’s first lady to ask what it’s like portraying such a well-known character. Check it out above.

VIDEO: Sunset Celebration Recap

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:51:36 +0000

Memorial Day has come and gone, but if you need a mid-workweek refresher, check out Mount Vernon’s Sunset Celebration, which took place May 27-29. The estate stayed open extra late for carriage rides, games on the bowling green, wine and dessert on the East Lawn, 18th-century music and colonial dancing. Relive the festivities or check [...]

Object Spotlight: Tackle Box and Tackle

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 31 May 2011 18:12:40 +0000

In his diary George Washington shares stories of several great catches that include a dolphin and shark in Barbados, a legendary catfish in the Ohio Country, and trout and perch during the recess of the Constitutional Convention in the summer of 1787. It seems as though America’s first president was a commendable angler. When Washington [...]

VIDEO: Nat’l Archives Rolls Out New GW Mail

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 26 May 2011 19:31:23 +0000

Mount Vernon isn’t the only Washington, D.C.-area establishment to display George Washington’s correspondences. At the National Archives “Public Vaults,” where visitors can see a sampling of some of the Archives’ documents, a Washington letter is always on display. Due to the fragile nature of Washington’s more than 200-year-old missives, the documents can’t stay on exhibit [...]

MV Seedlings Gifted by Obama to Royal Family

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 25 May 2011 21:48:57 +0000

Clockwise from top left to right: pecan tree, American holly, persimmon, English boxwood. George Washington may have spent his military career thwarting the British throne and serving King George III with contempt, but more than two centuries later, it’s much more appropriate for a U.S. president to serve the British royal family with gifts of [...]

GW Coffin Shards, Belongings Up for Grabs

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 19 May 2011 20:59:20 +0000

You know you’ve made it big when pieces of your coffin are sold for thousands of dollars, but then there’s really never been a debate as to whether George Washington made it big. A number of Washington’s coffin fragments, surveyor instruments and documents such as letters, deeds and wills are coming up for auction in [...]

VIDEO: Teacher of Year Gets Portrait, Ceremony

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 18 May 2011 21:00:32 +0000

Not every educator is chosen to be Mount Vernon’s teacher of the year like 2010 winner Ellanor Peck, but every school can receive a free copy of Rembrandt Peale’s “porthole” portrait of George Washington. Your school can too, find out how here! Mrs. Peck, a fourth grade teacher at Cameron Elementary School in Fairfax County, [...]

MV Historian Series: Leibiger on Presidency

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 16 May 2011 20:22:46 +0000

In celebration of the groundbreaking on Mount Vernon’s Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington, we’ve asked a few of our favorite historians to weigh in on various aspects of the first president’s leadership style. Historian and professor Stuart Leibiger writes this week’s installment: George Washington made four critical contributions to [...]

Catch Washington on the Small Screen May 21

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 13 May 2011 17:02:11 +0000

Ever dream of spending a Saturday hanging out with George Washington? On May 21, take a 30-minute break and catch “We Fight to Be Free,” a captivating depiction of some of the defining moments in Washington’s life. The show, which plays in Mount Vernon’s Ford Orientation Center during visitation hours, will air at 7 p.m. [...]

Washington’s D.C.: Thomas Law House

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 09 May 2011 22:20:10 +0000

Washington, D.C.’s Southwest neighborhood is known today for its crop of 1950s and ’60s condos that were part of a push for urban renewal that swept the quadrant. Another Southwest neighborhood highlight is D.C’s iconic fish market, a relic from the past where seafood is sold in open air. But lesser-known to residents and visitors [...]

Object Spotlight: Washington’s Watering Can

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 05 May 2011 21:33:39 +0000

In 1760 George Washington ordered “4 large Watering potts,” using the 18th-century nomenclature for watering cans. In an era before water sprinklers, these handy garden tools were one of the next-best things. Today, Mount Vernon has two such receptacles in its possession. Watering cans helped sustain the tremendous gardening operation at Mount Vernon and were [...]

MV Historian Series: Dave Palmer on Leadership

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 03 May 2011 21:52:38 +0000

In celebration of the groundbreaking on Mount Vernon’s Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington, we’ve asked a few of our favorite historians to weigh in on various aspects of the first president’s leadership style. Former lieutenant general of the United States Army and military historian Dave Palmer writes this week’s [...]

A Different British Wedding for the Books

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 21:06:01 +0000

All discussion of matrimony might center on the royal nuptials taken by Prince William and Kate Middleton earlier today, but we at Mount Vernon, with colonial history ever on our mind, thought it the perfect chance to highlight a British wedding of a different sort: that of George and Martha Washington. Less than 10 months [...]

Object Spotlight: Dressing Table

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 11:55:05 +0000

George Washington knew the power of a well-groomed head of hair and a nice suit of clothes, just like most presidents. No piece of furniture in Mount Vernon’s collection makes this more apparent than his dressing table, made in Paris during the reign of King Louis XVI. “This table certainly doesn’t look like an instrument [...]

On This Day In 1793: Neutrality Proclaimed

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 12:37:33 +0000

On April 22, 1793, George Washington issued a proclamation of neutrality, keeping America from any entanglement with a war raging between Britain and France, which had engulfed a number of European countries. Within Washington’s cabinet Thomas Jefferson opposed neutrality while Alexander Hamilton championed it. Although Jefferson would not ultimately have his way on the issue, [...]

The Grass is Always Greener … On the East Lawn

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 12:00:49 +0000

No, visitors’ eyes aren’t playing tricks on them, the East Lawn IS extra green these days. The center section of the grassy area sometimes succumbs to the 1 million or so people (two million or so feet!) who trample across it each year. As a result, the past week has seen sod cutters removing what [...]

Chernow Wins Pulitzer for GW Biography

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 20:04:22 +0000

Pulitzer Prize winners for 2011 have been announced and this year’s award for best biography or autobiography goes to Ron Chernow for his book “Washington: A Life.” The Pulitzer website describes the work as “a sweeping, authoritative portrait of an iconic leader learning to master his private feelings in order to fulfill his public duties.” [...]

VIDEO: Ground is Broken on GW Library

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 21:01:21 +0000

The nation’s first leader didn’t have a presidential library of his own until April 14, when Mount Vernon broke ground on what will become a repository for George Washington’s books, manuscripts and documents as well as a center for leadership conferences and training programs. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and former Sen. John Warner (R-Va.) [...]

Atticus Shaffer of ‘The Middle’ Talks History

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 20:32:05 +0000

Atticus Shaffer of ABC’s “The Middle” visited Mount Vernon on April 11 after serving as grand marshal of the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade. Shaffer, who plays the unusual and bookish Brick Heck, the youngest child in the show’s family of five, is a self-proclaimed “history buff” who loves to learn. He spent the day [...]

Upper Garden Gets Tiny Shoots and Blooms

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 12:39:35 +0000

Mount Vernon’s garden staff has undertaken a considerable project redoing George Washington’s Upper Garden. All changes are based on an archaeological study that the estate did so that the garden could be made more accurate to Washington’s time. Below is an update from Mount Vernon’s director of horticulture, Dean Norton, on the nascent tiny shoots [...]

Lamb Count 2011: 22 And More on the Way

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 19:35:19 +0000

Every spring approximately 30 – 50 lambs are born at Mount Vernon. So far this year, we’ve got 22.

Object Spotlight: Masonic Apron

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 13:33:22 +0000

Martha may have worn the apron in the Washington family, but so too did George, although not in the kitchenly manner that we think of today. Washington was a member of the Freemasons, a fraternal organization that existed then and now. For the first time in more than 200 years, one of Washington’s Masonic aprons, [...]

MV Rolls Out New Tour About Estate, Civil War

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 20:32:59 +0000

The storied histories of Mount Vernon and its most famous resident, George Washington, from the Revolutionary War period are well known, but visitors with a taste for other eras in America’s past are now in for a historical treat of another flavor: Mount Vernon’s Civil War Walking Tour. George Washington was of course long-deceased by [...]

On This Day in 1776: GW Pens Letter on Boston

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 17:30:00 +0000

Boston, its environs and harbor, 1775. (Courtesy of Library of Congress) From the Library of Congress’s Today in History webpage: “On March 24, 1776, one week after the British troops under General William Howe evacuated Boston, General George Washington wrote a letter to the Continental Congress. General Washington expressed his ‘surprize and disappointment’ that the [...]

Washington’s D.C.: Washington Circle

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:36:52 +0000

Today cars speed past a bronze, equestrian statue of George Washington, depicted as commander in chief of the Continental Army, that stands in the middle of Washington Circle in D.C.’s Foggy Bottom neighborhood. The statue, which was made by sculptor Clark Mills and was dedicated in 1860, stands in the middle of the city’s first [...]

VIDEO: Spring Lambs Are Out and Kicking

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 21:54:41 +0000

Each March marks the arrival of a few new members of the Mount Vernon family — 30 to 50 lambs to be exact. Lambing season continues throughout the spring and visitors can see these curious and sometimes mischievous young creatures frolicking with their mothers in our paddock. For an insider look at the lambs with [...]

On This Day in 1780: St. Patrick’s Day Granted

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:28:01 +0000

On March 16, 1793, George Washington’s General Order to his troops granted St. Patrick’s Day to be a holiday. According to John C. Fitzpatrick who edited “The Writings of George Washington,” the General Order was prompted by an action of the Irish Parliament, which “had petitioned Great Britain for the removal of trade restrictions,” to [...]

Object Spotlight: Disappearing Creamware

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 23:37:43 +0000

George Washington’s zeal for keeping up with the Joneses (or in his case the wealthy Fairfax family at the next estate over) is well-documented in the early invoices of goods he acquired from England. In 18th-century Virginia, there was no better way to prove your societal metal than having really nice dinnerware. During the summer [...]

Take an Electronic Field Trip Via Public TV

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 16:59:11 +0000

Alabama Public Television has produced two lengthy digital field trips — one for elementary schools and another for high schools — as part of a recent production that features the estate’s first-person characters, American history experts and glimpses into 18th-century life. Not a resident of the Yellowhammer State, where the show was broadcast live? Click [...]

On This Day in 1793: Inaugural Address Given

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 21:57:30 +0000

Washington’s second inaugural address is written in what is likely the hand of his personal secretary, Tobias Lear. (Document courtesy of the Library of Congress) On this day in 1793, George Washington gave the shortest inaugural address in U.S. presidential history. Washington had hoped to return home to Mount Vernon, but was instead convinced by [...]

Washington’s D.C.: Forrest Marbury House

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 19:45:01 +0000

In our newest blog series, “Washington’s D.C.” we’ll be exploring the traces of George Washington that can be found in and around the Federal City, or what we know today as Washington, D.C. Although it was Congress that deemed a permanent capital should be located on the Potomac, George Washington had chosen the exact spot. [...]

Who’s Greatest?: GW Barely Makes Gallup Top 5

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:57:28 +0000

George Washington may have been first president, but is he still first in the hearts of his countrymen? A recent Gallup Poll shows that the individual whom the largest number of Americans deem “greatest president” is in fact Ronald Reagan. The survey, conducted Feb. 2-5, shows that Washington holds a sold 5th place, with 10 [...]

BIRTHDAY OBJECT SPOTLIGHT: Family Bible

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 22:22:57 +0000

Today is George Washington’s birthday — Feb. 22 — despite the fact that an inscription in the Washington family Bible reads that Washington “was born ye 11th Day of February 1731/2 about 10 in the Morning.” Why the two different dates? No, Washington’s parents weren’t confused. Washington was born while the Julian, or Old Style [...]

Celebrating Presidents Day Chez Washington

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 03:05:47 +0000

How does George Washington celebrate Presidents Day? With a giant surprise party thrown by Martha Washington and her granddaughter Nellie Custis on the Bowling Green, complete with a fife and drum performance and special gifts for the president. The more than 15,000 visitors who came to the estate for Presidents Day festivities were also treated [...]

VIDEO: Starbucks, Colonial Tea Not So Different

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 22:19:37 +0000

Rob Hunter, ceramics expert and editor of Ceramics in America stopped by Mount Vernon to assess the numerous findings from our South Grove trash midden. Smitten with ceramics, he takes an archaeological interest in one piece in particular and shares his thoughts on ceramics, tea and even Starbucks.

Traveling Panel Show Debuts in Alexandria, Va.

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 22:25:24 +0000

For the next six weeks, George Washington will be hanging out on the wharf in beautiful Alexandria, Va. Mount Vernon’s traveling panel exhibit, which consists of seven brightly colored, informative panels about the general, is being shown at the Alexandria History Center and Museum Store (101 N. Union St.) next to the city’s landmark Torpedo [...]

ON TV: McGraw Discovers Ancestral GW Link

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:23:57 +0000

As many celebrities have done, country star singer Tim McGraw allowed NBC’s ancestry series “Who Do You Think You Are?” to delve into his family lineage, taking a peak back in time at his ancestry. As it would turn out, McGraw’s forefathers had a connection to one very important founding father — Washington himself. “Wow [...]

Object Spotlight: Washington Candlestands

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 20:41:48 +0000

It’s hard to know what caught George Washington’s eye when he purchased a pair of American-made candlestands on Dec. 2, 1759, at a time when he was refurnishing his house with mostly British-made goods. The stands’ distinctive form, stylish ornament, and relatively inexpensive price of 3.10 pounds may have tickled his fancy. They rise from [...]

FOR TEACHERS: NCHE’s Seibert on Conference

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 20:01:30 +0000

Peter Seibert, executive director of the National Council for History Education, was kind enough to stop by Mount Vernon and plug his organization’s annual conference, this year in Charleston, S.C. from March 31 through April 2. NCHE always chooses a conference site where the anniversary of a significant event in American or world history is [...]

Groundhogs, Washington Share Love of Weather

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 19:25:45 +0000

There are no known groundhogs at Mount Vernon, but if there were they might have predicted an early spring or at least a spring-like afternoon for the estate on what has shaped up to be a sunny Groundhog Day at Mount Vernon. Although George Washington has no documented knack for predicting the weather, he was [...]

On This Day in 1879: GW Birthday Goes on Book

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 22:50:34 +0000

On January 31, 1879 Congress made a federal holiday out of a day that Americans had already been celebrating for quite a while: George Washington’s birthday. Washington’s special day had already been commemorated in a number of ways; on its centennial celebrations occurred throughout the nation and Congress established a joint committee to organize festivities. [...]

The Piglets: Where Are They Now?

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 23:30:42 +0000

Every year several litters of piglets are born to Mount Vernon’s various sows and become widely dispersed as they grow into adults. This year’s piglets are no exception. The 17 that survived from the three litters born between July and mid-October 2010 have put quite a few miles between them. One piglet was recently flown [...]

Object Spotlight: Washington Notes on Farming

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 18:30:59 +0000

Looking at George Washington’s notes is a little bit like peering into the first president’s brain. Sometime between 1785 and 1799 Washington took pen to paper and wrote down a few things he thought were important from a book he owned by Charles Varlo titled, “A New System of Husbandry.” It was a read on [...]

CONTEST: Win Mrs. Forbes for Your Classroom

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 19:57:39 +0000

It’s not often that a character from George Washington’s life enters a classroom in Nevada, Ohio or any other locale that isn’t in the vicinity of Mount Vernon, but through our Face to Face programs, which beam a number of personalities from Washington’s estate into schools across the country via video conferencing, students have been [...]

Pardoned Bird, Apple, Retires From Public Life

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 22:04:51 +0000

As proud as Mount Vernon is to have received Apple, the turkey pardoned by President Barack Obama at the White House this Thanksgiving, the little guy is not a historically appropriate fowl, so will not be kept on display year-round. Apple, who was on view through the holiday season, has been moved to a coop [...]

Washington Myth Buster Hits Shelves

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:52:20 +0000

Many are the myths that surround the life of America’s first president. For one, George Washington never chopped down a cherry tree and never delivered that famous one-liner, “I cannot tell a lie.” For another, his dentures were NOT made of wood; most of his sets of faux chompers were constructed out of hippopotamus ivory, [...]

On This Day in 1784: U.S. Ratifies Treaty of Paris

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 21:55:25 +0000

Delegates had to sign the treaty before it could be ratified. In this unfinished painting by Benjamin West, American delegates John Jay, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and Henry Laurens sign the treaty in Paris on September 3, 1783. The British delegates refused to pose. In 1784 representatives from the Continental Congress gathered in Annapolis, Md. [...]

Mount Vernon Gets Second Winter Dusting

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 18:07:25 +0000

Wednesday saw snow fall in 49 states plus the District. Although snow blanketed the Northeast, Mount Vernon woke up Thursday to what could best described as a heavy dusting. By midday, full sunshine was only barely beginning to melt the snow.

Object Spotlight: Garret Chamber Plan

Mount Vernon Education Department — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 20:01:25 +0000

Having successfully orchestrated several ambitious building campaigns at Mount Vernon over the course of nearly forty years, George Washington carefully drafted this architectural plan for refurbishing one of the rooms on Mount Vernon’s third floor garret. Dated September 15, 1797, the outline bears Washington’s signature and shows his detailed attention to furnishing the mansion. From [...]

You Might Want to Fact Check That Historical Fact

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 22:26:28 +0000

History textbooks that confuse Mount Vernon and Monticello? That’s what one Prince William County social studies supervisor found when he was reviewing a publisher’s textbook for use in his Virginia school district. A Washington Post article recently brought to light a slew of factual errors made in one publisher’s American history textbook in particular, shining [...]

Visit the General for Cheap Via LivingSocial

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 15:02:45 +0000

Today’s daily deal on LivingSocial, the social buying website much akin (and second in size only to) Groupon, is quite a steal. Tickets to yours truly, Mount Vernon, are being offered at a 53 percent discount, which means $7 for adults and $3 for children. Should it strike your fancy, you can also get $40 [...]

Reveling Chez Washington, New Years Style

Becca Milfeld — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 21:35:19 +0000

Cherry bounce, a drink that the Dutch consumed on New Years Day, according to Abigail Adams. New York, with its midnight ball drop, is a New Years-centric sort of place today, just as it was in early America. No, there were no Times Square jumbotrons or televised celebrations, but there was a substantial Dutch population [...]

On This Day in 1790: GW Talks With the Seneca

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 20:56:08 +0000

Today a statue of George Washington and Seneca leader Guyasuta, a guide to Washington and his party in 1753, overlooks Pittsburgh. On December 29, 1790, George Washington reassured the Seneca Nation via a speech that it would receive fair and friendly treatment under the new U.S. government. He assured the Native Americans that they had [...]

Object Spotlight Holiday Edition: Settee Bedstead

Becca Milfeld — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 04:09:39 +0000

During the Christmas season, Mount Vernon was crowded with the Washingtons’ friends and relatives who traversed poor roads and perilous rivers to celebrate alongside the president and Martha Washington. The presence of so many extra guests made sleeping accommodations tight, and the Washingtons turned to the eighteenth-century version of the sofa bed: the settee bedstead. [...]

VIDEO: Deck the (Mansion) Halls

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 16:14:14 +0000

Long before Christmas lights and far predating the arrival of the Christmas tree in America, the Washingtons were likely sprucing up their Mansion during the holidays with a little bit of greenery and a lot of feast-worthy foods. Assistant curator Laura Simo takes us on a tour of all things holiday in the Mansion this [...]

Mount Vernon Gets Sunday Morning Cameo

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 15:35:15 +0000

In the political frenzy that is Sunday morning’s news talk shows, Mount Vernon will make a guest appearance when various scenes from the estate’s “Christmas at Mount Vernon” appear in the end credits of Chris Wallace’s “Fox News Sunday.” As we’re drumming our fingers in suspense — who will appear, Martha Washington, Aladdin the camel, [...]

Object Spotlight: The Washingtons’ Bedstead

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 21:40:34 +0000

We don’t know whether George Washington was a snorer or a tosser and turner, but we do know what he liked in a good bed thanks to the bedstead that he and Martha Washington purchased in 1797. Generously sized, the high-post bedstead with its slender, turned posts devoid of carving and its low, serpentine-shaped headboard [...]

Mount Vernon Gets First Snow of the Season

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 20:33:09 +0000

George Washington’s estate has turned into a winter wonderland, but like the brave general himself, Mount Vernon will not be stopped or slowed down by today’s inclement weather.

On This Day in 1799: George Washington Dies

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 21:35:00 +0000

On December 14, 1799, George Washington drew his last breath, passing away in his bedchamber at Mount Vernon. Below is an excerpt from historian Jack D. Warren, Jr., who wrote mountvernon.org’s brief biography of Washington: On December 12, 1799, Washington was caught out in sleet and snow while riding over his farms. The resulting illness [...]

VIDEO: Washington’s Mansion, in Cookie

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 22:37:54 +0000

Former White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier recently spent a week at Mount Vernon completing what has become something of an annual tradition: the Mount Vernon gingerbread house. The house will be on display in the foyer of the Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center through January 6.

Object Spotlight: Maritime Print

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 21:59:55 +0000

George Washington had an eye for maritime art, or so it would seem based on the Little Parlor, a small room mainly used as a music room on the ground floor of the Mansion. Here Washington hung six prints depicting maritime scenes such as “A Storm With Lightening,” which he purchased in Philadelphia in early [...]

On This Day in 1884: Monument Completed

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 17:38:39 +0000

The Washington Monument and reflecting pool, as seen in 1884. Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress. On December 6, 1884, the District of Columbia saw the Washington Monument come to completion after more than a century of planning and building. A tribute to none other than George Washington himself, the structure went through many [...]

Founding Fathers, Cokie Roberts Unite

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 17:49:16 +0000

The nation’s first four presidents plus journalist Cokie Roberts joined forces at Mount Vernon on Thursday for the education department’s annual “Evening for Educators.” Although the event usually consists of a lecture, drinks and hors doeuvres, and a holiday tour of the Mansion, teachers this year became part of a live dialogue between George Washington, [...]

VIDEO: Historically Crafted Whiskey is Back

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 16:16:37 +0000

At 10 a.m. today, rye whiskey made the old fashioned way in George Washington’s distillery went on sell for $95 a pop. Because of high demand and a likelihood that it will sell out within hours as it did the last time a batch went on sell in July, customers are limited to purchasing one [...]

Object Spotlight: Hair Trunk

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 02:02:53 +0000

The hair trunk is a beast of a chest, made of leather, wood, iron, copper and cow hide, complete with, of course, hair. George Washington ordered six such containers from a New York merchant in 1783 to transport his official wartime papers back to Mount Vernon, then store them once there. Washington being who he [...]

VIDEO: Pardoned Bird Flies White House Coop

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 02:17:34 +0000

Apple, the turkey who President Barack Obama pardoned earlier on Wednesday, arrives via carriage at his new coop at Mount Vernon to the tune of trumpet fanfare. He’ll be on display throughout the holiday season. Because he’s not a historic breed that is accurate to George Washington’s time, he’ll retire to our on-site livestock facility [...]

Modern-Day Dromedary Stars as GW Camel

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 21:48:12 +0000

Portraying the characters who lived at George Washington’s Mount Vernon can require a lot of studying and practice for human beings, but Aladdin the camel, who hails from a farm in Berryville, Va., seems to play the camel that Washington brought to Mount Vernon in 1787 with little effort. Historians are aware of a historical [...]

Pardoned White House Turkey to Live at MV

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 21:06:55 +0000

The official White House press release announcing the turkey festivities. The turkey President Barack Obama pardons on Wednesday in his annual pardoning ceremony will immediately travel to George Washington’s estate where it will live for the first time ever. Although Disneyland has taken the turkeys since 2004, and a farm in Herndon, Va., took them [...]

VIDEO: Revamped Slave Quarters Reopen

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 23:00:42 +0000

It’s not every day that Mount Vernon fully renovates a part of the estate, but the Greenhouse Slave Quarters were in need of revamping. Located behind George Washington’s greenhouse (hence the quarters’ name) this structure of adjoining rooms was formerly portrayed via one giant bunk room, but now properly depicts men’s quarters, women’s and children’s [...]

Boxwoods, Then and Now

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 21:38:00 +0000

For months Mount Vernon’s horticulture department has been working on restoring our Upper Garden. This spot was a flower and shrub haven in George Washington’s day, and those restoring it are making it more accurate to the way it was under Washington’s tending than ever before. Boxwoods were a major part of the garden’s vegetal [...]

George Washington, an Avid Rusticater

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 23:07:12 +0000

Just as today, brick was a very fashionable and expensive building material in the 18th century. George Washington inherited a wooden Mount Vernon from his older half-brother Lawrence Washington, but this didn’t stop him from giving the structure a good bricking-over, even if he didn’t use any bricks! Washington seems to have been an earnest [...]

Think You’ve Been to Every GW Teacher Seminar?

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 21:23:15 +0000

Maybe you’ve come to one of Mount Vernon‘s summer Teachers’ Institutes. Maybe you’ve been to our Evening for Educators. Maybe you’ve even attended our “Public Days” Local Teachers’ Institute. As a history educator, you have one more institute hurdle to clear before being a master of the George Washington seminar circuit. This summer the Gilder [...]

PHOTOS: Veterans Day at Mount Vernon

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 22:36:17 +0000

Veterans Day is a fitting holiday for George Washington, the nation’s first commander in chief. Even though Veterans Day as we know it was never celebrated during Washington’s lifetime, Mount Vernon marks it nonetheless via several means. One of the most memorable is with a performance by The Harmony Heritage Singers, an all-veteran chorus that [...]

Object Spotlight: Washington’s Weathervane

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 03:55:30 +0000

George Washington certainly lived before the existence of weather.com, but that didn’t stop him from tracking the weather 24 hours a day from his own home. Washington designed a weathervane in the shape of a dove of peace and had it constructed by architect Joseph Rakestraw for the top of the Mansion’s cupola in 1787. [...]

VIDEO: Alexandria Academy Gets GW-Educated

Becca Milfeld — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 21:33:01 +0000

It’s not uncommon for students to enjoy learning about George Washington, but at the Alexandria Academy, located down the road from Mount Vernon in nearby Alexandria, Va., students have a special reason to love the General: He helped found their school. Although established in 1785, Alexandria Academy has been closed for years and only reopened [...]

Refurbished Slave Quarters Open to Public

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 21:45:57 +0000

Although Mount Vernon’s slave quarter doors have been closed to the public while renovations went on inside, they’ll be flung open and the quarters will become available to visitors once again beginning Thursday, Nov. 4. A grand reopening ceremony will feature remarks and participation by Mount Vernon slave descendants. Individuals wishing to view the ceremony, [...]

Evening for Educators Gets Really Presidenty

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:17:07 +0000

Every December Mount Vernon hosts its annual Evening for Educators, but it’s not every year that the evening is so exciting. Area teachers are invited to attend our December 2 “Presidential Perspectives” program, which will include the nation’s first four presidents (yes, in-person as seen above) in a discussion hosted by journalist Cokie Roberts. The [...]

Object Spotlight: Washington’s Rummer

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 21:40:29 +0000

The cold winter months are coming, and this naturally would have provided the Washingtons with ample opportunity to break out their rummers — the elegant, large-bowled glassware that they used to serve any number of beverages. During the late-eighteenth century, rummers were used by members of all social classes to consume anything from wine, cider [...]

Mount Vernon for Teachers Now Tweets

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 17:47:24 +0000

First there was our blog, then there was our Facebook page. Now, in an unprecedented attempt to thrust George Washington out of the 18th century and into the 21st, Mount Vernon for Teachers will be TWEETING. Follow us at MVforTeachers, where you’ll find information about how you can participate in everything happening at the estate [...]

On This Day in 1791: Annual Message Delivered

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 18:08:21 +0000

George Washington, portrayed at the beginning of his presidency in Mount Vernon’s Donald W. Reynolds Education Center. On October 25, 1791, George Washington delivered his third annual message to Congress, which can also be considered the nation’s third State of the Union address. Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution states that the president “shall [...]

VIDEO: George Washington Takes a Bath

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 22:16:57 +0000

Some people put a lot of work into keeping up with the Joneses, but at Mount Vernon we really pull our weight when it comes to keeping up the Georges. Once a year we fly in two experts to touch up and wash our three wax figures of George Washington, which were made using tons [...]

Object Spotlight: Washington’s Toothbrush

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 20:28:48 +0000

This silver toothbrush with ivory inserts and natural bristles is part of a larger toilet set that includes a tongue scraper and a silver case for tooth powder, all owned by George Washington. The nation’s first president had what we might call bad teeth. Beginning in his 20s, Washington started buying toothbrush powders and pastes [...]

Two Big Mount Vernon Hits Combine

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 18:22:33 +0000

The Mount Vernon traveling exhibit “Discover the Real George Washington” plus our portrait project joined forces when George Washington portraits were presented to two different schools at the North Carolina Museum of History, where our traveling exhibit is currently hosted. The portrait project, which invites K-12 schools nationwide to request a free framed portrait of [...]

Chernow Drops by for Book Signing

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 09:55:34 +0000

It may have been Columbus Day weekend, but all attention at Mount Vernon was centered on George Washington on Friday when biographer Ron Chernow stopped by for a book signing and lecture on his new tome, “Washington: A Life.” Dispelling a few myths — no Washington didn’t chop down a cherry tree, his dentures weren’t [...]

Digging the Upper Garden

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 19:42:52 +0000

If you don’t remember the upper garden from our video series, let us reintroduce you. It’s the bricked-in area to the left of George Washington’s mansion, and it’s undergoing complete renovation to make it more accurate to Washington’s day than ever before. The above slideshow shows sequential scenes from digging that has occurred so far. [...]

Media Loves Washington’s Peach Brandy

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 22:25:53 +0000

Photo by Mount Vernon VP of preservation Dennis Pogue. George Washington’s peach brandy has made an appearance everywhere from The Washington Post to Yahoo! News during the course of the last 24 hours. That’s because Tuesday marked the recreation of Washington’s brew in the distillery on Mount Vernon’s grounds. About half a dozen individuals from [...]

904 Pages of George Washington Hit Shelves

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:31:04 +0000

In case the dozens of George Washington biographies that have been penned since the 19th century aren’t enough, famed biographer Ron Chernow’s latest oeuvre titled, “Washington: A Life,” hits shelves today. Garnering positive reviews from the likes of The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, this lengthy birth-to-death overview of Washington’s life explores [...]

New Piglets Ham it Up at Mount Vernon

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 20:23:45 +0000

A new litter of Ossabaw Island hogs is always a crowd-pleaser at Mount Vernon. And with a gestation period of three weeks, three months and three days, new litters are not an uncommon sight on the estate. Hannah, one of Mount Vernon’s five Ossabaw Island hogs, gave birth to nine piglets on September 16. They’re [...]

VIDEO: GW Feasts on Fine Fall Foods

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 21:44:14 +0000

Before the days of pumpkin spice lattes and ghost-shaped Peeps, people were still consuming seasonal autumn foods, if perhaps in a less commercial form. Mount Vernon reflects the changing of the season by placing appropriate food and accoutrements throughout George Washington’s house. Fall was a great time for hunting, so game such as hare and [...]

On This Day in 1781: Yorktown Siege Begins

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 15:53:47 +0000

George Washington accepts surrender by the British at Yorktown. On Sept. 28, 1781 George Washington commenced the siege at Yorktown, which would end the war by mid-October. Washington’s 17,000 French and Continental Army troops fought Lord Cornwallis’s 9,000 British Regulars. The British troops became completely surrounded when 5,000 troops led by the Marquis de Lafayette [...]

Busting Mount Vernon’s Dust Mystery

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 21:45:18 +0000

The inside of George Washington’s house is a pretty dusty place. So dusty in fact, that the collections department here at Mount Vernon launched a dust study, placing 12 petri dishes around the mansion to better understand the microscopic specs that rapidly accumulate here. “In order to clean, we’re trying to figure out what kind [...]

National Archives Launches DocsTeach

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 22:07:05 +0000

A screenshot of DocsTeach.org is shown. The National Archives has recently set the bar for bringing primary sources into the classroom in the digital age with the launch of its new website DocsTeach.org. Educators can search more than 3,000 primary documents (obviously we recommend those connected with George Washington!) and use activity prototypes to incorporate [...]

New Mount Vernon Show to Air on C-SPAN 3

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 20:38:45 +0000

Associate curator Laura Simo is shown along with items from Mount Vernon’s collections department. Last weekend it was Mount Veronon’s conservation lab, this weekend it’s the estate’s collections department: C-SPAN 3′s American History TV program will feature George Washington and his belongings once again. For a preview, click here. This weekend’s installment will focus on [...]

In Case You Missed the Colonial Market & Fair

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 20:37:42 +0000

It’s not every weekend that a sword swallower and a handful of craftsmen and women descend upon the lawn at Mount Vernon. In case you missed the annual Colonial Maket & Fair held Sept. 18 and 19, here in photos are a few of the weekend’s highlights.

Let the Washington-Centric Weekend Begin

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 15:52:05 +0000

The Colonial Market & Fair is shown left; Happy Retreat Estate is at right. The weekend is shaping up quite nicely for a George Washington-centric itinerary. Check out some of the goings on related to the former president: SATURDAY– WASHINGTON FAMILY HOMES TOUR: Mount Vernon is by far the best-known estate associated with Washington’s name, [...]

Mount Vernon Hits Small Screen on C-SPAN 3

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 16:32:18 +0000

Mount Vernon conservators Katherine Ridgway and Anne Kingery talk about objects that belonged to Martha Washington, such as an ivory fan and seat cushion, in an upcomming C-SPAN 3 show. It’s not every weekend that you can catch Mount Vernon on television. In a rare, behind-the-scenes show, C-SPAN 3 will showcase the estate’s conservation lab [...]

Washington Gets a Nod From Current President

Becca Milfeld — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 21:14:13 +0000

George Washington is one of the 13 inspirational Americans who President Barack Obama will feature in a new children’s book set to hit shelves Nov. 16. The book is titled “Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters,” and is a tribute to Americans ranging from baseball player Jackie Robinson to famed artist Georgia [...]

Washington’s Friend, the TV Star

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 21:56:10 +0000

The Marquis de Lafayette is by no means the most famous person in American history (or even an American!), but he played a profound role in the founding of the nation nonetheless. The documentary “Lafayette: The Lost Hero“ debuts tonight at 10 p.m. on PBS (except in New York where it will debut Oct. 4), [...]

VIDEO: Founding Fathers or Founding Frenemies?

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 18:59:57 +0000

George Washington was a pretty nice guy, but that doesn’t mean that he always agreed with everyone, even the other founding fathers! As Mount Vernon sets out to make our newest educational video called “Fractured Union,” which is about the sometimes tumultuous relationships between the founding fathers, we decided to ask the actors who play [...]

School Washington Co-Started Opens After Years

Becca Milfeld — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:41:38 +0000

Not every school can say that one of its founders was a “founding father,” but the Alexandria Academy, newly opened this year, certainly can. In 1785 as one of the school’s original “managers,” George Washington donated 1,000 pounds so that war orphans and “indigent” children might be educated alongside their wealthier counterparts. “It really exemplifies [...]

George Washington: On This Day in 1783

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 16:45:13 +0000

The Treaty of Paris is Signed, September 3, 1783 On September 3, 1783 John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay, the three Americans who were sent to Paris to negotiate a peace process with Great Britain, signed the Treaty of Paris (shown above) guaranteeing several points of national interest for the nascent nation. Of these [...]

Washington’s Teeth Travel the East Coast

Becca Milfeld — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 18:49:18 +0000

Chew on this: Despite legend, George Washington’s dentures weren’t made of wood. Should you like to verify this fact in-person, his three extant pairs are scattered along the eastern seaboard, readily viewable to the museum-going public. Washington’s only full set (both top and bottom dentures) belongs to Mount Vernon and is currently on tour with [...]

George Washington’s Gristmill Grit

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 18:48:23 +0000

George Washington’s ever-fascinating, working gristmill and distillery help visitors at Mount Vernon understand the first president’s entrepreneurial spirit. The two structures are located a brief, three-mile trip down the road from the estate. Both close annualy at the end of October, so if you want to catch them in 2010, the time is now. Teachers [...]

George Washington: On This Day in 1776

Becca Milfeld — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 18:48:14 +0000

Battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776 On August 27, 1776 British and American troops fought the Battle of Long Island, which marked the beginning of the British campaign to take New York and thereby isolate New England from the rest of the colonies. On August 22 the British had landed on Long Island under [...]

Porthole Portrait: Does Your School Have One?

Becca Milfeld — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:11:35 +0000

Mount Vernon’s George Washington Portrait Project has brought Rembrandt Peale’s “Patriae Pater” porthole portrait of Washington into 4,783 schools since the program’s inception in winter 2007-2008, and your school could be next. The project is meant to encourage remembrance of Washington’s leadership and legacy in the curricula of the nation’s kindergarten through 12th grade classrooms. [...]

Happy HALF Birthday George Washington

Mount Vernon Education Department — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 21:08:04 +0000

It’s August 22 and that can only mean one thing: Six more months until George Washington’s REAL birthday. In the meantime, allow these birthday facts, courtesy of the University of Virginia’s The Papers of George Washington website, to hold you over until that joyous day in February. “The first public celebration [of Washington’s birthday], of [...]

Upper Garden Comes Up

Mount Vernon Education Department — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 23:46:47 +0000

Mount Vernon’s upper garden (you know the one, it’s to the left as you face the house) has been filled with flowers for years, but visitors who look at it today might think it was just George Washington’s dirt repository. That’s because all flowers and plants have been uprooted to make way for a new [...]

George Washington: On This Day in 1790

Mount Vernon Education Department — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 16:28:25 +0000

Washington expresses religious tolerance, August 18, 1790 On August 18, 1790 George Washington proved his mettle in religious toleration by penning a letter to a Jewish congregation in Newport, R.I., expressing his opinion as to their citizenship and freedom from persecution. Obviously this was no ordinary correspondence — even in its day the letter went [...]

Mount Vernon Goes Hog Wild

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 21:54:47 +0000

In the 18th century, George Washington’s hogs ran wild in the woods until they were caught, fattened on corn and potatoes, and slaughtered for food each fall. Today, Mount Vernon’s Ossabaw Island hogs lead an easier life — especially the seven piglets that reside on the farm this summer. Here at Mount Vernon, hogs not [...]

Teachers Wrap Up Summer Institute

Mount Vernon Education Department — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 22:16:34 +0000

Friday marks the last day of Mount Vernon’s final George Washington Teachers’ Institute for summer 2010. Throughout the week, teachers grades five through eight have gathered on the banks of the Potomac at George Washington’s estate, immersing themselves in the study and discussion of the founding father’s public and private life. The week’s 24 teachers, [...]

Listen up! George Washington’s Gristmill & Distillery: History and Archaeology

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 13:35:26 +0000

We are all familiar with George Washington as the father of our country, for the roles he played in the Revolutionary War and as our first president. Fewer of us know that he was also a successful and innovative farmer and business entrepreneur. Click her to listen and learn more about his innovations including his [...]

Happy Birthday, Martha!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 19:40:32 +0000

In celebration of Martha Washington’s birthday today, we just wanted to point out some of the fabulous teaching resources we have online that you can use in your classroom. Martha Washington: A Life is a website devoted entirely to teaching about Martha Washington with a biography, lesson plans, an Archive of artifacts and letters that [...]

Mount Vernon Traveling Exhibition Website Receives Award!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 06 May 2010 17:38:04 +0000

Huzzah, huzzah, huzzah for our Discover the Real George Washington: New Views from Mount Vernon website! It won an Interactive Media Award for outstanding achievement. The website is a companion to the Mount Vernon traveling exhibition with the same title. The exhibition, currently at the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, will visit up to nine [...]

“Paper George” Travels the U.S.

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 04 May 2010 19:40:34 +0000

George Washington is on the move once again! Students have been taking “Paper George” to historic sites across the country in order to find out whether George Washington ever visited them. Six- year old Isaac from Baltimore visited Hampton Mansion National Site in Towson with “Paper George” recently and discovered that while Washington likely socialized [...]

Underwater Archaeology at Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 17:16:28 +0000

Beginning on April 24th, Mount Vernon’s Archaeology Dept. will begin an underwater archaeology project in the Potomac River next to Mount Vernon. We asked our Archaeology Director, Esther White, to give us the scoop for our GWW readers. GWW: What are the boats doing? EW: Mount Vernon is partnering with the Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program [...]

The Music of Washington’s World

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 19:02:20 +0000

We are so pleased to announce the airing of History Notes: The Music of Washington’s World tomorrow. This distance learning program explores the soundtrack of George Washington’s 18th century world. It was a time of amazing change- a time that saw the creation of a new nation through a revolution based on the foundation of [...]

Do You Have What It Takes to be Teacher of the Year?

Mount Vernon Education Department — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:04:26 +0000

Are you the type of history teacher that brings a glimmer of excitement to your students eyes when you say the words, “Revolutionary War”? Have you ever dressed up in historical costume in the classroom? Are fellow teachers always on the look out to see what exciting things you’re up to this week? Well then, [...]

George Washington Gets His Groove On

Mount Vernon Education Department — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:02:57 +0000

While George Washington is widely known as an excellent statesman, soldier, and horseman, most do not know that he was also quite the dancer. A life-long music lover, one of his greatest pleasures was listening to his granddaughter play the harpsichord. This tradition of music is continued today at Mount Vernon through concerts, dancing, and [...]

New Views, New Exhibition, New Website

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:03:15 +0000

For those of you who live in driving distance of Pittsburgh and have visited the new traveling exhibition, Discover the Real George Washington: New Views from Mount Vernon, let us know what you think! The exhibition will travel for the next three years, taking many of Mount Vernon’s highlighted objects, such as Washington’s dentures and [...]

Bringing Them Home to Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon Education Department — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:19:49 +0000

There are several exciting things coming up at Mount Vernon soon, with the first being the launch of our new exhibit “Bringing Them Home” tomorrow. This special exhibition is in the Donald W. Reynolds Museum at Mount Vernon, and brings together for the first time over 150 objects linked to George Washington that the Mount [...]

Just Picture This…

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 19:50:18 +0000

You are sitting comfortably on the wide Piazza at Mount Vernon, watching the sun set on the Potomac River. A soft breeze washes over you as you chat leisurely with the teacher on your right. An interesting woman who has the most creative way of teaching about Martha Washington that you have ever heard- you [...]

Celebrating Black History Month

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:41:20 +0000

The history of the slaves that lived and worked at Mount Vernon is an integral part of the story that we tell. George Washington spent 40 years transforming a small farmhouse into the iconic mansion that stands today, as well as expanding his land to include five farms, a gristmill, distillery, and blacksmith shop. While [...]

From Jefferson to the Kennedys to the Obamas…

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:55:14 +0000

Using George Washington’s personal journals and the Mount Vernon Ladies Association guest books, Mount Vernon’s historians are able to track the thousands of famous visitors that have visited Mount Vernon since the years when Washington himself would receive them at the door. Founding Fathers, such as Jefferson, Madison, and Patrick Henry, artists such as Jean [...]

George in a Nutshell

Mount Vernon Education Department — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 15:18:29 +0000

As Mount Vernon educators, we spend a lot of time coming up with creative, novel ways to teach about George Washington and his life at Mount Vernon. We do everything from writing elaborate content to dancing around in costume, giving extremely well-researched tours to plowing fields with oxen, providing detailed lesson plans to cooking hoe-cakes [...]

Mount Vernon in the Snow

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:56:15 +0000

It’s always a wonder to work at Mount Vernon but particularly on days like yesterday. The Estate looked spectacular after the snow storm. We broke records in the DC area for snow fall this past weekend but Mount Vernon was open for business as usual on Monday. We take our mission of passing on Washington’s [...]

Christmas at Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon Education Department — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:03:45 +0000

It’s the Christmas season once again here at Mount Vernon, and things are lovely as always in December. The chocolate makers have the whole estate smelling like warm chocolate as they grind it by hand. The decorations are up in the Education and Orientation Centers (but not in the Mansion since Christmas trees and Santa [...]

Wanna be our Friend?

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:11:57 +0000

If you are 1. an educator, and 2. on Facebook, be sure to become a fan of “Mount Vernon Teachers” and say “hi!” After all, we have long been a fan of you! We know that you already religiously keep up to date with George Washington Wired, but come have some fun with us on [...]

Mount Vernon & Gilder Lehrman: A Perfect Match for Teachers

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:44:02 +0000

For the first time, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History will hold a Summer Institute for Teachers at Mount Vernon this year. Apply now for George Washington and the American Revolution, which will be held from June 27 – July 3, 2010. Andrew Robertson, Professor of History, Lehman College, The City University of New [...]

George Washington and Henry VIII

Mount Vernon Education Department — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:31:50 +0000

Three hundred years before enslaved cooks, Lucy and Nathan, prepared meals for hundreds of visitors a year at Mount Vernon, the kitchens at Hampton Court were the main stay of royal entertaining. Last week, Marc Meltonville, a “food archaeologist” in the Historic Kitchens of Hampton Court Palace, England gave Mount Vernon staff a fascinating “behind-the-scenes” [...]

George Washington: The Video Game

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 16:20:14 +0000

Our very first 3-D animated Mount Vernon website is now live! Ta Da! WashingtonsWorld.org is a website that allows children of all ages to explore Mount Vernon and meet some of the people, such as Dr. Craik and Billy Lee, that lived in Washington’s world. The game Washington’s Treasures is a treasure hunt through the [...]

Drumroll please…

Mount Vernon Education Department — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 15:30:49 +0000

We are so pleased to announce the launch of two brand spankin’ new, “gonna blow your mind,”” just can’t control the excitement” websites! We will feature the first today, and check back tomorrow for the second (it’s called building the suspense). As you know, we have something of a love affair with Martha Washington- she [...]

G.I. George: The Revolutionary War Version

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:38:01 +0000

Through dedication and determination, George Washington accomplished the impossible by leading the Continental Army to victory in the Revolutionary War. On Thursday, October 29th at 1:00 p.m., our panel of historians, including Caroline Cox, William Fowler, Ed Lengel, and Andrew O’Shaughnessy, will explore how Washington’s leadership was instrumental in securing American independence via the distance [...]

Martha Washington’s Booke of Cookery

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:24:48 +0000

The full title of this book sums up its history pretty well: “Martha Washington’s Booke of Cookery and Booke of Sweetmeats being a Family Manuscript curiously copied by an unknown Hand sometime in the seventeenth century, which was in her Keeping from 1749, the time of her Marriage to Daniel Custis, to 1799, at which [...]

Colonial Days Giveaway!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:14:46 +0000

Colonial Days is one of Mount Vernon’s most popular school programs- what child doesn’t want to see colonial crafters such as papermakers and basketmakers, meet a soldier in full regalia, visit the baby animals, or play colonial games down on the Pioneer Farm? It’s the ultimate field trip experience. Of course, teachers seem to love [...]

Are You Looking for “The Lost Symbol”? It’s Not Here!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:54:21 +0000

Yes, George Washington was a Freemason. Yes, we know you are reading Dan Brown’s recently released “The Lost Symbol” and are now planning your trip to Mount Vernon to come look for hidden Masonic symbols. Well, hate to disappoint but you won’t find them here. But here is what we do know about George Washington [...]

Is your Principal a Very Busy Person?

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:23:21 +0000

Since we know how crazy things can get in the principal’s office at the beginning of the school year, we have decided to make lives easier! As you all know, your school can get a FREE oil painting of Rembrandt Peale’s “Porthole Portrait of George Washington” to hang in a highly visible place in your [...]

#7 Put Not Off Your Clothes in the Presence of Others

Mount Vernon Education Department — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:48:04 +0000

Esquire magazine has a hilarious new article online by an author who attempts to live his life by the 110 maxims of the “Rules of Civility” that George Washington copied as a young boy. Our personal favorite is, “Kill no Vermin as Fleas, lice ticks &c in the Sight of Others, if you See any [...]

Who Doesn’t Love a Slide Show?

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:25:47 +0000

For our Teachers’ Institute Alumni, we have recently put together a slideshow to help you with peer presentations and conferences. This gives a broad overview of the education programs that Mount Vernon provides to all teachers. Enjoy! Mount Vernon Education Programs View more presentations from Mount Vernon.

It’s Time To Redecorate Your School!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:07:16 +0000

As bulletin boards get refreshed and schools are squeaky cleaned, why not redecorate your main entrance or library? We can help! Mount Vernon is pleased to be distributing beautiful oil portraits of George Washington by Rembrandt Peale, accompanied by our Celebration Kit featuring a flag flown over Mount Vernon and teaching resources, for FREE to [...]

Let’s C-SPAN It Up!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 19:29:51 +0000

Portions from this year’s Teachers’ Institute, co-hosted by the White House Historical Association, will be broadcast on C-SPAN over the coming weeks. The schedule for this weekend is: Saturday, August 15 12:55pm-2:05pm Mount Vernon: Teachers’ Institute – Richard Norton Smith 2:05pm-3:00pm Mount Vernon: Teachers’ Institute – Scott Berg Sunday, August 16 1:00pm-3:00pm Mount Vernon: Teachers’ [...]

Chez Washington

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 19:33:09 +0000

Renowned chef and trend-setter Alice Waters of Chez Panisse in California visited the estate last month, touring the gardens with Dean Norton, Mount Vernon’s own “plants guru,” and enjoying a luncheon at the Mount Vernon Inn that was at least 75 percent “homegrown.” (Our chef’s own chickens volunteered the eggs for a terrific quiche, with [...]

Love & War at Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 14:59:16 +0000

Many visitors and GWW readers do not know that Mount Vernon is owned by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association. Fifty years after Washington’s death, a group of women banded together to raise money and purchase Mount Vernon in order to preserve it for future generations (as you can see from the picture on the left, [...]

Name Our Children’s Website Contest

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 13:56:03 +0000

Drumroll please… It’s time for the first ever official GWW contest! That’s right- we need a name for our new children’s website and who better to ask than the very teachers that will be using it this fall. The website will feature a 3-D virtual Mount Vernon estate that the player can explore while searching [...]

Happy Bastille Day!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 18:39:37 +0000

Yes, GWW did not have a Happy Independence Day blog post a couple weeks ago (due to the Education staff happily being too busy eating hot dogs that day), so to make up for it we will instead celebrate French independence. There are actually many U.S. cities that celebrate Bastille Day in an official capacity- [...]

Live from Mount Vernon!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:01:23 +0000

This past Saturday and Monday, a group of students in Tammy Parks’ Broadcast Journalism class did a live videoconference into the NECC conference in Washington, D.C. from the front lawn of Mount Vernon. Traveling by van all the way from Howe, Oklahoma, these immensely talented students, their teacher, and their superintendent, had only one day [...]

This little piggy…

Mount Vernon Education Department — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:12:55 +0000

Last weekend, three piglets were born to our proud Ossabaw Island hog parents. These rare breed hogs date back to the Spanish explorers of the 17th century. George Washington’s hogs ran wild in the woods until they were caught, fattened on corn and potatoes, and slaughtered for food each fall. Pork, bacon, sausage, scrapple, chitterlings, [...]

An Honorary Son

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:52:03 +0000

The Marquis de Lafayette (full name: Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roche Gilbert du Motier- whoa!) was born to immense wealth in France, but at 19 years old he bought a ship and sailed to South Carolina to join the American Revolution, arriving on June 13th. He volunteered to serve in the Patriot army without pay, [...]

Top Chef: Mount Vernon Edition

Mount Vernon Education Department — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:45:05 +0000

“He rose before sunrise, always wrote or read until 7 in summer or half past seven in winter. His breakfast was then ready – he ate three small mush cakes (Indian meal) swimming in butter and honey, and drank three cups of tea without cream.” George Washington’s breakfast habits were recorded by his step-granddaughter, Nelly [...]

Meet an Interpreter: Cathy Bonnefil

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:37:49 +0000

It’s that time again! GWW interviews Cathy Bonnefil this month- one of the blue-blazered history geniuses that bring George Washington to life for over a million visitors each year. GWW: Why did you become an interpreter? CB: I had always been interested in history, but during my working career I really never had the time [...]

Chickens Are So Trendy

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:43:20 +0000

So raising chickens is definitely the new cool thing in case you had not heard. The Washington Post, New York Times, and USA Todaywill all attest. Whether it’s in the middle of a Manhattan co-op or on the back stoop of a DC rowhouse, more and more people are finding space for their fluffy friends, [...]

Happy Birthday, Martha!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:38:00 +0000

Martha Washington has had quite the year so far- she was featured in newspapers, television shows, several GWW posts, and even People magazine recently named her the sexiest historical figure! Huzzah! June 2nd (1731) is the birth date of Martha Washington, and if you have the same birthday or your name is “Martha,” you get [...]

George Washington Wordled

Mount Vernon Education Department — Wed, 20 May 2009 19:20:59 +0000

Wordle is a fascinating website that allows you to create word clouds out of text. The word clouds give prominence to the words that are repeated the most. A word cloud of President Obama’s inaugural address highlights the words “nation,” “new,” “people,” “world,” and “today.” As a comparison, President Bush’s 2005 inaugural address word cloud [...]

Cartoons in the Classroom

Mount Vernon Education Department — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:14:50 +0000

On May 9, 1754, the first political cartoon was published by Benjamin Franklin in his Pennsylvania Gazette. Most likely designed by Franklin himself, the snake cut into pieces represents Britain’s American colonies. The cartoon was a reminder that the colonies must unite to defend themselves as they entered the French and Indian War. The snake [...]

What are you doing George Washington?

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 05 May 2009 19:31:36 +0000

You know when your mother and your congressperson are using a new technology, it is probably here to stay. Weeell… until it is replaced by the next big thing, of course. The “new technology” we are talking about is Twitter, and now even Mount Vernon is twitting! You can find us under the name “GeoWashington.” [...]

Could you use $5,000?

Mount Vernon Education Department — Mon, 04 May 2009 19:48:35 +0000

If you are an exceptional history teacher who would like a $5,000 cash award, free field trip to Mount Vernon, and an invitation to stay for a week on the grounds of Mount Vernon for the 2010 Teachers’ Institute, then you are in luck! The application deadline for the Mount Vernon History Teacher of the [...]

Happy Birthday, Washington City!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Fri, 01 May 2009 18:44:28 +0000

In 1790, Congress authorized President George Washington to find a site along the Potomac River for a capitol city, and he picked a spot just up the river from his home at Mount Vernon. This was the first time a country had ever established a permanent capitol by legislative action. An area of one hundred [...]

George Washington: Environmentalist

Mount Vernon Education Department — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:51:41 +0000

As we celebrate Earth Day today, we would just like to take a second to recognize George Washington as America’s First Environmentalist. Unlike another famous Founding Father who wrote a lot about his gardening practices (we’re looking at you, TJ), Washington’s contributions to farming are often overlooked because he was too busy leading an army [...]

The Shot Heard ‘Round The World

Mount Vernon Education Department — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:39:12 +0000

On April 19, 1775, seven hundred British troops marched out from Boston to seize any colonial weapons they found. When they reached Lexington, 75 American minutemen were waiting on the village green. Both sides were ordered not to shoot, but suddenly a shot rang out. No one is sure to this day who fired it. [...]

A “Modern-Day-Colonial” Blacksmith

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:27:04 +0000

The phrase “modern-day blacksmith” is used to describe smiths that operate today, but in the case of Mount Vernon, we seem to have recently hired a “modern-day-colonial” blacksmith. The newest craftsman at Mount Vernon, Eric Zieg, grew up in Fairfax, Virginia and has been smithing for over twelve years in some of the finest shops [...]

Rule #1- No Cell Phones in Restaurants

Mount Vernon Education Department — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 19:20:20 +0000

A new project at the University of Virginia, the Civility Project, is encouraging young people to review George Washington’s “Rules of Civility” and create standards of social behavior for Americans of the 21st century. Students of all ages can read the “Rules” (available through the Papers of George Washington) and submit their own rule of [...]

Is Mount Vernon Burning?

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:30:45 +0000

In January of 1781, British armed forces entered Virginia in strength and ravaged much of the countryside. In April, as part of this invasion, His Majesty’s sloop of war, the Savage, sailed up the Potomac burning and pillaging rebel American properties along its shores and laid at anchor April 12, 13 & 14th, just one [...]

Meet An Interpreter: Diana Dinsick

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:55:24 +0000

We know that visitors often wonder about the blue blazer-ed interpreters here who can describe in detail every piece of furniture in Mount Vernon and know exactly what George Washington was doing on April 7, 1798. Today, we want to introduce you to Diana Dinsick, who has been a Mount Vernon interpreter for over ten [...]

Once Upon A Time At Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:18:59 +0000

Oral storytelling has existed for as long as there has been language, often serving to teach children right from wrong. Only in the past several years has storytelling become popularly recognized as an art form, with festivals, contests, and organizations popping up around the world. We’re sure Aesop would approve. As a young boy, Washington [...]

Lessons from Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:28:47 +0000

You may be wondering why we have posted so many lesson plans lately, though we hope you have enjoyed them. After six months of development, we are SO pleased to announce our new CD-ROM of teaching materials, George Washington: Lessons from Mount Vernon, which includes the lesson plans that have been recently posted. The CD [...]

A Humble Hero

Mount Vernon Education Department — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 18:22:30 +0000

On March 15th, 1783, George Washington faced a group of angry officers, upset that they had not been paid yet for their years of fighting in the Revolutionary War. Congress had no funds and the new states were refusing to pay the pensions that had been promised to the soldiers. As the soldiers sat around [...]

You’re such a lobster…

Mount Vernon Education Department — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:24:32 +0000

On the night of March 5, 1770, a crowd of “unruly” Americans taunted British soldiers by brandishing clubs and calling them “lobsters” (red coat, get it?). As the crowd closed in on them, the frightened soldiers opened fire and after the smoke cleared, five colonists lay dead or wounded. As news of the “Boston Massacre” [...]

What Makes a General?

Mount Vernon Education Department — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 22:26:06 +0000

The Donald W. Reynolds Museum has just opened a new exhibition, “George Washington & His Generals,” and it is AMAZING (though we admit we are a biased source). Washington’s ability to place the greatest responsibility in the hands of those with the most talent was one of his most important leadership skills. The exhibition focuses [...]

If Only George Was Here to Eat Them…

Mount Vernon Education Department — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 19:52:09 +0000

Last Friday, our George Washington Teaching Ambassador, Jan McClaren, threw a birthday party for George Washington and all of her guests brought cake! Forty schools participated in the George Washington Birthday Cake Contest at the Oklahoma History Center, and our esteemed judges were experts of both history and pastry (even though the cakes were faux). [...]

Washington’s Farewell

Mount Vernon Education Department — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:07:57 +0000

Since 1862, the United States Senate observes Washington’s birthday by reading his 1796 Farewell Address aloud, and today is that day once again. The Address is usually read by a freshman senator, alternates between political parties, and takes about 45 minutes to read. The senators then sign their name into the black leather book pictured [...]

George Washington: Whiskey Maker Extraordinaire

Mount Vernon Education Department — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:31:05 +0000

Did you know that George Washington was likely the largest whiskey distributor in the nation at the time of his death in 1799? It isn’t really a fact found in textbooks, but Washington was an incredible entrepreneur and his farms, gristmill, and distillery were extremely productive and innovative. At a time when most Virginia planters [...]

Happy Birthday, Mr. President!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:00:02 +0000

The birthday of ‘The Father of His Country’ always brings a sense of giddy excitement to Mount Vernon. Admission is free, thousands of families travel hours to honor Washington’s memory, and we know that every elementary student in the nation will be cutting Washington’s silhouette out of black construction paper this week. Here’s some Washington’s [...]

Get Colonial!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:38:50 +0000

It’s that time again… Colonial Days at Mount Vernon! Starting next Wed, February 17th through March 13th, our colonial crafters take up residence on the Pioneer Farm, and students have the chance to observe crafts such as paper making, candle making, woodworking, spinning and even hoe-cake cooking over an open fire. In addition, our animals [...]

A Packed (Green)House!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 22:10:45 +0000

In a recent study of 5000 outdoor history museum visitors, 82% said that they visited these sites to “hear stories of everyday people.” The second and third runner-ups were, “because they were places for children to learn history” (79%) and, “to immerse themselves in the past” (62%).* At Mount Vernon, one of the most popular [...]

Yes, Martha was a hottie.

Mount Vernon Education Department — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:01:11 +0000

Finally, the world is starting to acknowledge what we at Mount Vernon have realized all along- Martha rocked! She was intelligent (she ran her first husband’s very large estate after his death), generous (she graciously hosted hundreds of visitors to Mount Vernon every year), compassionate (she raised money for wounded Revolutionary War veterans’ hospitals), and [...]

George Washington in the News

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 20:39:26 +0000

That is the title of February’s issue of Scholastic News, featuring Mount Vernon’s bronze statue of George Washington on the cover. The “news” about George Washington includes the discovery of his childhood home by archaeologists recently, as well as the analysis of a set of George Washington’s fake teeth that showed the materials included elephant [...]

Let History Guide Us

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:04:39 +0000

As Barack Obama was sworn in on Tuesday as 44th president here in our nation’s capitol, history was being made. President Obama, however, used the opportunity to reflect back on our nation’s past and quote the “Father of His Country.” Two million people shivered in the Washington, D.C. wind as President Obama remembered another freezing [...]

Happy 250th Anniversary, George & Martha!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 16:32:11 +0000

Today marks the 250th wedding anniversary of George and Martha Washington! The Washingtons had a whirlwind courtship- George had only met Martha twice and known her for three weeks before he proposed! The 27 year old widowed Martha had a three year old daughter, Patsy, and a five year old son, Jacky, when she married [...]

The Very First Inauguration

Mount Vernon Education Department — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:57:37 +0000

In these weeks before the upcoming Inauguration, police predict Inauguration crowds in nearby Washington D.C. to top three million, visitors scramble for last minute hotel rooms, and journalists are working themselves into a frenzy. At the very first inauguration, 221 years ago, this excitement would have seemed familiar. George Washington left Mount Vernon on April [...]

There is no “I” in Team

Mount Vernon Education Department — Sun, 04 Jan 2009 15:06:43 +0000

If you ever had a coach say, “there is no “I” in team,” you know they were telling players that a team has to work well together to play well. One of the best teams at Mount Vernon’s Pioneer Farm is Harriet and Henrietta. Both these big girls are Shires, which are the tallest of [...]

Get Excited for the George Washington Teachers’ Institute!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:01:26 +0000

Applications for the George Washington Teachers’ Institute have just been posted on our website! The Teachers’ Institute gives teachers of all grades the opportunity to reside on the grounds of Mount Vernon and attend sessions by some of the best scholars in the nation. Participants are immersed in a full schedule of workshops and lectures [...]

Happy Holidays!!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:04:25 +0000

We would just like to wish our loyal readers a happy holiday! Photo by L. Toshio Kishiyama

Blueskin and Aladdin Ride Again

Mount Vernon Education Department — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:01:11 +0000

In case our GWW readers did not see Sunday’s Washington Post article about George Washington’s horse, Blueskin, you can read the full article here. A Post reader wrote the Answer Man to ask: “There’s a stuffed horse at Mount Vernon, a really good-looking white horse that made me wonder: Where did they get the horse [...]

Our Top Picks for Student Reading

Mount Vernon Education Department — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:32:00 +0000

We often get requests from teachers about what books we recommend their students read to learn about George Washington and 18th century American history. The Phoebe Apperson Hearst Learning Center for Teachers has now provided a Suggested Reading List for teachers in response to your requests. The list is divided by Elementary/Middle School and High [...]

Workin’ on the Farm…

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:11:39 +0000

Mount Vernon annually accepts a select number of applicants for summer internships at our Pioneer Farm site and our Distillery & Gristmill site. These internships are excellent opportunities for undergraduate students interested in American and agricultural history as well as the museum education field. Interns will become immersed in 18th century history, agriculture, and industry [...]

Bring Mount Vernon to YOUR Classroom!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:23:29 +0000

Would your students like to sing a slave song with Caroline, Martha Washington’s maidservant, or hear Billy Lee’s stories of riding alongside George Washington in the Revolutionary War? This is a privilege usually reserved for students who visit Mount Vernon on a field trip, but we are now bringing our popular Washington’s World first person [...]

George Washington Proclaims Thanksgiving!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:10:19 +0000

The very first presidential proclamation issued in the United States was actually a Proclamation of Thanksgiving by George Washington in 1789. The original manuscript was lost for 130 years, reappearing in 1921 at a New York art auction. Dr. J.C. Fitzgerald recognized the document and purchased it for $300 to be placed in the Library [...]

Mark your Calendars for ‘Primarily George’!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:59:47 +0000

The Mount Vernon Education Dept. knows how important teaching with primary documents is to teachers- after all, what better source is there than the original. For this reason, we provide a link on our website to the digital edition of the Papers of George Washington, as well as a number of lesson plans that use [...]

Extreme Makeover: George Washington Edition

Mount Vernon Education Department — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:56:37 +0000

Created by a forensic anthropologist and a team of interdisciplinary experts, the forensic figures of George Washington in Mount Vernon’s new Donald W. Reynolds Education Center, strive to show the real George Washington. There are three figures of George Washington, ages 19, 45, and 57: Washington as a young surveyor, as a General in the [...]

A Little Girl at Old Mt. Vernon

Mount Vernon Education Department — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:19:34 +0000

That is the title of a Washington Post front page article on Sunday, November 2, 1930 of an interview they conducted with Eleanor Washington Howard. Eleanor was the last person to be born at Mount Vernon, in George Washington’s former bedroom nonetheless, and grew up running around the gardens of Martha Washington. My favorite line [...]

Our Teacher Learning Center Goes Online!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:31:24 +0000

The Phoebe Apperson Hearst Learning Center is a place for teachers to research 18th century American History, review curriculum kits, use the scholarly edition of the Papers of George Washington, and get custom packets of teaching resources to take back to their own classrooms. Teachers love to drop by the Learning Center while here on [...]

You are Invited to Educator’s Evening!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:23:35 +0000

One of our most popular programs for teachers is the annual Educator’s Evening at Mount Vernon, where teachers are invited to a Cocktail Reception and Candlelight Tour of George Washington’s home. This year, we are extending the invitation to our George Washington Wired readers! The tour and reception will be followed by remarks from William [...]

George Washington Prize for Teaching America’s Founding

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 15:03:53 +0000

For the past ten years, the Bill of Rights Institute has partnered with the Mount Vernon Education Dept. on a range of wonderful programs from Teachers’ Institutes to Teaching American History grants. Recently, the Bill of Rights Institute awarded their George Washington Prize for Teaching America’s Founding and a $2,500 cash award to Christopher Belch [...]

Autumn Settles on Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:27:38 +0000

Across the country, leaves are turning the brightest reds and yellows, pumpkins and mums are decorating front porches, and grocery stores are finally selling those acorn squash that sat untouched all summer. Mount Vernon is preparing for autumn as well- the summer slipcovers have been replaced by heavy damask, the summer vegetables have come off [...]

Scouting Days are Coming!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:27:20 +0000

Mount Vernon is proud to welcome Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to participate in the 18th annual Scouting Days at Mount Vernon program, which will be held November 1, 2008 through Presidents’ Day. During that time, scouts in uniform or with official identification will receive free admission to Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon will kick off [...]

The Most Historic Presidency of All…

Mount Vernon Education Department — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 19:22:09 +0000

On October 14, 2008, the Mount Vernon Education Department and the Fairfax Network will tape a distance learning broadcast called Shaping the Presidency, which will look back at the profound impact George Washington had on defining the office of the president. The panelists will also discuss how campaigning, the election process and the role of [...]

We’re Having a Revolution!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:55:54 +0000

We’re starting a Revolution in the Teachers Learning Center! Who’s creating this excitement? There’s Patrick Henry, John Hancock, Ben Franklin, John Adams, and, of course, George Washington! James and Dolley Madison, Betsy Ross, Pocahontas, Abigail Adams, and Martha Washington are in attendance as well. This names only a few of the 18th century famous beings [...]

18th Century Chocolate- Yum!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:57:44 +0000

The 18th century Foodways program at Mount Vernon is loved by visitors of all ages for the delicious hoe-cakes they cook at special events. The hoe-cakes use a recipe recorded in a letter by Nelly Custis (George Washington’s granddaughter), made from cornmeal ground at our own Gristmill, and are cooked on a griddle over an [...]

Oklahoma Loves George Washington!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:40:43 +0000

This summer, the new George Washington Teaching Ambassador for the state of Oklahoma, Jan McClaren, came to Mount Vernon to attend two of our Teacher Institutes, and returned home full of ideas and George Washington-love. This two-year Teaching Ambassador program, funded by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, makes it possible for Jan to travel the [...]

Mount Vernon Archaeology in Action!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 20:51:11 +0000

As the Mount Vernon Restoration Department concludes the third and final year of excavation in the Upper Garden, they have made a number of interesting discoveries. The archaeologists are looking for the original planting beds and pathways from 1799, the final year of George Washington’s life. The historical record has descriptions and an overview of [...]

Meet an Interpreter: Charlene Williamson

Mount Vernon Education Department — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:16:45 +0000

Have you ever wondered about the historic interpreters that you meet at Mount Vernon? How were they so lucky to get a job where they look out at one of the best views in the country all day long? Are they all history majors? How can they stand in that heat all day while still [...]

Huzzah! Dean Howarth of Project Enlightenment

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:04:18 +0000

Dean Howarth, a Physics teacher at Mclean High School, has been bringing students to Mount Vernon for 15 years as part of a program he founded called Project Enlightenment. Students develop an 18th century character and then become a first person interpreter for a day at Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon recently honored Dean for his [...]

Resource of the Month: “Primary Source Readers”

Mount Vernon Education Department — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:45:56 +0000

The Phoebe Apperson Hearst Learning Center for Teachers opened in the spring of 2007, and since then our Education Center Manager, Diana Cordray, has worked hard to acquire every resource available for teaching about George Washington and the Revolutionary Era. The Learning Center for Teachers is open daily and is a place for teachers to [...]

George Washington Teachers’ Institutes a Resounding Success!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 19:22:00 +0000

The tenth year of George Washington Teachers’ Institutes has come to a close, and we are so sorry to see our teachers go! From a one week Institute for Mississippi teachers ten years ago, the George Washington Teachers’ Institutes have grown to four separate Institutes with teachers sponsored from 14 different states. This year, 84 [...]

Cokie Roberts speaks at George Washington Teachers’ Institute

Mount Vernon Education Department — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:57:33 +0000

Excitement at George Washington’s Gristmill & Distillery!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:39:18 +0000

This past weekend, as part of the Now Debate This program, high school students visited Mount Vernon to learn about George Washington and paid a special visit to George Washington’s Gristmill and Distillery.The Day 2 video on their website includes Mount Vernon’s Director of Preservation, Dennis Pogue, and the Manager of the Pioneer Farm, Gristmill, [...]

Washington’s Valet, Billy Lee, Rides Again!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 17:03:04 +0000

(A dispatch from Mount Vernon’s First Person Interpretation Unit) … well, not literally. However, the First Person Unit has indeed added a new character to engage Mount Vernon’s guests: William “Billy” Lee, General Washington’s trusted and longtime enslaved Valet – and the first slave freed by Washington’s will. The new character is played by former [...]

Reserve Now for the George Washington Teachers’ Institute!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:57:21 +0000

The Seventh Annual George Washington Teachers’ Institute “Establishing a Nation: The Constitution” July 21-22, 2008 Mount Vernon “We exhibit at present the Novel and astonishing Spectacle of a whole People deliberating calmly on what form of government will be the most conducive to their happiness; and deciding with an unexpected degree of unanimity in favour [...]

Two Thousand Portraits of George on the Wall…

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 08 May 2008 21:50:26 +0000

As you may have heard, Mount Vernon’s recent initiative to “bring George Washington back to school” has proven a resounding success! To date, about 2,000 schools have received (and about 4,000 schools have requested) our free, framed reproductions of Rembrandt Peale’s Porthole Portrait of George Washington. All portraits are accompanied by a “George Washington Celebration [...]

DC-Area Teachers: Two Weeks Left to Apply for $5,000 Award!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:47:42 +0000

Magnificent and Motivating Teachers: This is just a friendly reminder that Mount Vernon is about to conclude the search for our 2008 History Teacher of the Year. We welcome applications from the best teachers in our “neighborhood” of the greater Washington, DC, metropolitan area. Only two weeks remain until the application deadline of May 21, [...]

Washington, Adams, Hollywood, and Free DVDs!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:44:11 +0000

Members of Mount Vernon’s Education Department have fielded repeated questions about our opinion of the portrayal of Washington in HBO’s popular John Adams miniseries. We’d like to use this opportunity to raise what we think is a more compelling question: How can and should historic sites and classroom teachers capitalize on the interest Hollywood increasingly [...]

Readings About Washington for the Political Campaign Season

Mount Vernon Education Department — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:40:27 +0000

Yale University Professor Dr. Joanne Freeman, Mount Vernon’s 2007 Gay Hart Gaines Visiting Fellow of American History, recently delivered a three-lecture series at Mount Vernon aimed at providing a better understanding of Washington as a political leader – timely reading for this political campaign season! Learning to Think Nationally: Realities and Challenges of Washington’s World [...]

Teaching American History Grants? We Can Help!

Mount Vernon Education Department — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 20:08:45 +0000

George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens is pleased to participate in the Teaching American History Grant program! We have designed a range of full and half day program options presented by curators, archaeologists, historians, and other subject matter experts from Mount Vernon’s staff and partnering institutions, including George Mason University, The George Washington University, [...]

How Many Martha Washingtons Does It Take to Teach Your Students?

Mount Vernon Education Department — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 16:25:24 +0000

…For our latest distance learning broadcast, we decided it took two of them! In order to get to know “The Real Martha Washington,” elementary students in our live studio audience had the opportunity to ask questions of not one, but two expert historical interpreters who portray the “first First Lady!” Mary Wiseman, Mount Vernon’s “resident [...]

Are You the Greatest History Teacher in the First President’s Neighborhood?

Mount Vernon Education Department — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 15:29:55 +0000

“Knowledge is in every country the surest basis of public happiness.” ~George Washington’s First Annual Address to Congress, 1790 George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens is pleased to announce the Mount Vernon History Teacher of the Year Award for Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area teachers of grades 3-12! The home of George Washington is seeking [...]