Where our Forefathers have trod - Part 1

Last night, after taking three hours to get from Gettysburg, PA to Alexandria, VA (which is just on the other side of the Potomac River from Washington D.C.), we settled into our Air B&B which is located a few blocks from the wharf. This morning we took a river taxi down to Mount Vernon. For those of you not up on your American History, this was the home of George Washington and his family. The estate at one point in time was a total of 8000 acres all housing livestock, crops and gardens, and lots of wooded areas. Though, it was said that most of the money that was made was from fishing the river. I found a couple of interesting stories that I found interesting:

• The British once threatened to burn down the estate if they weren't given rations. The estate manager who was George Washingtons cousin gave in and gave them what they asked for to save the estate. George Washington wrote him a letter and said that he would have been less disappointed had the manager refused and the estate was burned to the ground.
• A two masted ship sailed up the Potomac to Mount Vernon in the 1800's, if I remember correctly, to commemorate the achievements that George Washington had accomplished during his life. While it was docked a hurricane came through this area and ripped the ship from its moorings. It was never seen again, nor has it ever been found.

We headed out on the boat and the guide showed us sights along the way. Unfortunately, the weather was less than stellar this morning, but some of us braved the Nor'easter and went up to the top deck to take pictures.

The Potomac

 They say the Potomac River used to be crystal clear because there used to be clams that were so numerous that they filtered out all the silt and sand in the water. It was said that it was so clear you could have seen to the e bottom and the clams looked like a cobblestone road on the bottom of the river. Unfortunately, in the late 1800's the clams were hunted out of the river to the point that they were no longer able to filter the water. Though it looks polluted, it is not. It is just all the stirred up silt and sand. If they tried to put clams back in the river they would die, because there is just too much to filter now.

The President showed up.

As I mentioned, there were points of interest along the way. One was a replica of Air Force One, nowhere near an air strip. It is a tourist attraction at one of the more expensive ports on the river. No, the President was not there. Other points included Fort Washington, and the only river lighthouse still standing today. Towards the end of our boat ride it became foggy enough that we could not see shore very well.

Once we arrived at the dock at Mount Vernon, we disembarked and started our self tour.

An example of how George Washington set up his plantings.

Washington would often experiment with different fertilizers to see which was best and the fastest growth.

A replica of a grain barn which he built to ease the processing  grain

He put gaps in the floor to allow wheat to separate from the stalks.

George Washington, and many others at the time were smarter than we give them credit for. Many of the farming tactics that Washington used in the 1700's are still in use today, and they still work today. Now who still believes that they didn't know what they were doing when they wrote the Constitution and Declaration of Independence?

This is a replica example of what Washingtons field slaves would have lived in. Just a simple log cabin.

George and Martha Washingtons grave site.

As far back as the early 1800's people would carve their names into the brick here. Not to desecrate the grave but as a way to pay their respects.

Mansion as seen from the Bowling Green. They didn't have mowers, so they  used rollers to keep the grass "neat"

Inside the mansion this is where any visitors "help" would stay.

The "new room," used for entertaining and dining with visitors. 

I thought the fireplace work was cool, as well as the ceiling in the above picture.

Main stair case in the main house where the guest rooms were - all original.

The view from the breezeway. 

The kitchen, separate from the house.

There were plenty of other rooms in the house. You probably wouldn't want to see them all. I guess you will have to come out here and see the place for your self! A couple of interesting facts.

• Guests would be put in a room depending on how familiar the Washingtons were with you. If they didn't know someone well or came unannounced, they would be put into the least nicest quarters. If you were someone close to the family or another important figure doing business with the Washingtons there was a nice room just for you! 
• As far as the Few family was concerned during this time, William Few as well as his wife were noted as being a guest to dine with the Washingtons as noted in George Washingtons personal journal. I would like to think at some point that William Few walked these same floors.

Front view from the carriage round about.

George Washington would often ride these chair carts as they were more maneuverable than the four wheeled carriages.

Washingtons stables.

There were no supermarkets. For produce estates had a kitchen garden.

Want to see where George Washington went #2?

Here you go, apparently it was communal. ;)

The bunk house where the house slaves would have been housed.

Mount Vernon Pier

Today was a good day, we got to see a glimpse into life in the 1700's. As I mentioned earlier, the dude  had a brain. The weather is looking up for the next couple of days as we move on to viewing the museums and monuments.