Tales from Tennessee and Beyond: Mount Vernon

George Washington's Mount Vernon estate was constructed in 1758 on the banks of the Potomac River in Fairfax County, Virginia. The land that Mount Vernon sits on had been in the Washington family since 1674. The plantation was first known as Little Hunting Creek Plantation. When George Washington's older half brother inherited the property, he renamed the land Mount Vernon, in honor of Vice Admiral Edward Vernon. The original dwelling was constructed where the current home sits, by Washington's father Augustine. When George inherited the plantation, he set to work constructing the current dwelling. Construction began in 1758 and was completed in 1778. The home was constructed in seven phases. The main facade faces the Potomac River and features a full height, full facade entry porch. The home also features a cupola on the roof, as well as dormers. The rear of the home does not feature the fancy ornamentation that the main facade does. What is unique about the rear elevation is that there are wings on either side, but these wings do not run parallel to the main house like most do. Instead they wrap around a driveway, known as "mansion circle." The two wings house the servants quarters and kitchen. The entire home is constructed in the Palladian architectural style, and the unique "wing" layout is known as a cour d'honneur. It is unknown who designed Mount Vernon. Most of the trees surrounding the home were planted by George Washington. Before and after the Revolutionary War, Washington grew tobacco at Mount Vernon. He also experimented with crops such as cotton and silk. Washington and his family used Mount Vernon as the executive mansion during his time as president, as the White House had not been constructed yet. December 12, 1799 was the last time Washington would see Mount Vernon. He rode his horse around the plantation viewing the different crops. When he returned home, he ate his supper and went to bed. The next morning he woke with a sore throat. All the medications that he took failed to cure his sore throat, and on December 14, 1799 he passed away at his home. His funeral was held at Mount Vernon and he was buried in his family's tomb, which was located on the grounds. As stipulated in Washington's will, Mount Vernon was passed through multiple generations of the Washington family. By the mid 19th century, the cost of maintaining the estate had grown expensive. George Washington's great-grandnephew John Augustine Washington III petitioned to the State of Virginia to purchase Mount Vernon. The appeal was unsuccessful. Finally in 1858 a group of ladies known as the Mount Vernon Ladies Association purchased a portion of Mount Vernon. Included in the portion of the estate purchased was the Mount Vernon home. The home had fallen into a dilapidated state. The Ladies Association, led by Ann Pamela Cunningham were able to raise enough funds to restore the historic home. During the Civil War Mount Vernon served as neutral ground. Soldiers were invited to tour the mansion, as long as they covered their respective uniform. In 1885 Harrison Howell Dodge became superintendent of Mount Vernon. In his tenure he was able to double the estate's acreage, improve the grounds, and reclaim many of the historic artifacts that had been "lost." In the early 20th century Charles Wall became superintendent. In his tenure he further restored the mansion and grounds. On November 7, 2007 President George W. Bush hosted French President Nicolas Sarkozy at Mount Vernon. As of 2012 Mount Vernon has seen over 80 million visitors. The Mount Vernon Ladies Association continues to oversee the daily operations of the estate, and receive no Federal or State funding. In 1960 Mount Vernon was added to the National Register of Historic Places. That same year it was given the distinction of being listed as a National Historic Landmark, due to it being the residence of George Washington. Mount Vernon is one of the first examples of historic preservation, and is truly an historic preservation success story. At Moore Historical Consulting my #1 priority is historic preservation. Do you own an historic home, commercial building, or farm? If so contact me today to learn more about the historic preservation strategies I offer. These include nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, nominations for a Permanent Conservation Easement, and nominations to the Century Farms program. At Moore Historical Consulting I make exploring and preserving your past fun and easy.