The place is huge. There's a lot of complaining these days about presidential candidates having to be super-rich to even consider running, but GW himself was worth a cool $525 million back in the day - only Kennedy, worth around $1b, is more flush in the presidential stakes. His house reflected this, with six farms, 58,000(!!) acres, a deer park, forests, rivers, and the small matter of 300+ slaves to run it. But he set them free when he died.
Little did I know before the trip, but George Washington worked for the British Army long before all that unfortunate Revolutionary War stuff. He helped marshal troops when our own General Braddock was shot in a sneaky French ambush, but we weren't grateful enough to give him a commission. So he and his upstart colonist friends decided to kick the Brits out.
A few years later he became president, remaining the only non-party-affiliated one in history (Donald Trump will be the second), and the only one to be elected unanimously. He sorted out a lot of things - closely following the British model, for irony's sake - and after two terms declined the chance to keep going, thus curtailing the ambitions of any lifelong dictators in these parts. You have to get your kids, brother, or wife elected to pull that particular trick.
Washington returned to the Mt Vernon estate, which isn't too shabby a retirement home with its 22-bed mansion and views down to the Potomac. He farmed and received visitors there until he died in 1799. In 1858 the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association saved the place from ruin and have been running it ever since. Today you can wander around Washington's restored study, visit either of the two outdoor privies, and listen to costumed volunteers tell you about 18th Century life, which sounds nice, if you weren't a slave.
I'm sure there are some historical liberties taken - we were guests in his house, after all - but Washington does seem like a thoroughly decent chap. He voluntarily gave up all his military might as Commander in Chief after surprisingly beating the Brits, despite many calling for him to be crowned first king of America. He seems to have been an excellent farmer, and even built a distillery that's still producing whisky today. Can't be much wrong with the man. I wonder what he'd make of the 43 that followed him...
Washington didn't get to sign the so-called Declaration of Independence, but it was delivered to him up the coast where he was garrisoned and it was read to his cheering troops.
I could retire here.
The houses are made of wood carved to look like stone! Clever, and cheaper.
Gardening can be quite a pleasure if you have slaves to do it for you.
Of course. A later Treaty of Paris didn't work out quite so well for us.
So you're not allowed to let the US flag touch the floor, but you can smash the British flag into pieces in a museum. I'm writing to the Queen about this.
"The most famous dentures in history".
On the muddy banks of the Potomac.
Politicians like sheep.
Child of the corn.
A 16-sided barn that Washington invented.
Genuine 18th Century cow. Well, maybe not, but they did have some authentic hogs.
Once and future president.
Little did I know before the trip, but George Washington worked for the British Army long before all that unfortunate Revolutionary War stuff. He helped marshal troops when our own General Braddock was shot in a sneaky French ambush, but we weren't grateful enough to give him a commission. So he and his upstart colonist friends decided to kick the Brits out.
A few years later he became president, remaining the only non-party-affiliated one in history (Donald Trump will be the second), and the only one to be elected unanimously. He sorted out a lot of things - closely following the British model, for irony's sake - and after two terms declined the chance to keep going, thus curtailing the ambitions of any lifelong dictators in these parts. You have to get your kids, brother, or wife elected to pull that particular trick.
Washington returned to the Mt Vernon estate, which isn't too shabby a retirement home with its 22-bed mansion and views down to the Potomac. He farmed and received visitors there until he died in 1799. In 1858 the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association saved the place from ruin and have been running it ever since. Today you can wander around Washington's restored study, visit either of the two outdoor privies, and listen to costumed volunteers tell you about 18th Century life, which sounds nice, if you weren't a slave.
I'm sure there are some historical liberties taken - we were guests in his house, after all - but Washington does seem like a thoroughly decent chap. He voluntarily gave up all his military might as Commander in Chief after surprisingly beating the Brits, despite many calling for him to be crowned first king of America. He seems to have been an excellent farmer, and even built a distillery that's still producing whisky today. Can't be much wrong with the man. I wonder what he'd make of the 43 that followed him...
Just a modest home.
Washington didn't get to sign the so-called Declaration of Independence, but it was delivered to him up the coast where he was garrisoned and it was read to his cheering troops.
I could retire here.
The houses are made of wood carved to look like stone! Clever, and cheaper.
Gardening can be quite a pleasure if you have slaves to do it for you.
Of course. A later Treaty of Paris didn't work out quite so well for us.
So you're not allowed to let the US flag touch the floor, but you can smash the British flag into pieces in a museum. I'm writing to the Queen about this.
"The most famous dentures in history".
On the muddy banks of the Potomac.
Politicians like sheep.
Child of the corn.
A 16-sided barn that Washington invented.
Genuine 18th Century cow. Well, maybe not, but they did have some authentic hogs.
Once and future president.
