Mr. Washington's Residence

The entrance to Mount Vernon...

One of my favorite parts of a recent vacation to Washington D.C., was our visit to Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. The house is located in a lovely, peaceful spot, surrounded by fields. It was a treat to see the simple, classic design of the house. It was built by a man who didn't like to live beyond his means. And, also by a man who cared about his surroundings, and about style. One of my favorite features of the home, was a small glass box on the wall by the staircase. It contained the key to the Bastille, given to Washington by his friend, the Marquis de Lafayette. Ironically, Lafayette himself spent time jailed by the mobs during the French Revolution.

The museum adjacent to Mount Vernon had a small display case holding Mr. Washington's famous false teeth. It hurt just to look at them! There was also a lovely bust of Washington made by Jean-Antoine Houdon. They say that it is a great likeness of Washington. His face is stern, and looks like the face of a person governed by a strong sense of morality. I remember reading about him, in a book for children, that when he resigned the presidency, people wept. But, how could they have kept him from his beloved home?

A weather vane in the shape of a dove bearing an olive branch...

The view from the doors of the Sitting Room...

Good design at every view...

Rounded red shingles...

Washington's secretary lived in a small outbuilding...

The view from the doors of Washington's Study...

Washington couldn't afford brick, so he faced the front with wood...

The wood was plastered with sand, to simulate brick...

One of the outbuildings, where wagons were stored...