Mount Vernon

The last of the estates of our founding fathers that we visited on this trip was George Washington's Mount Vernon.

We tried to have fun with George and Martha.

George was much taller in real life. He came out for a special Father's Day talk as the "father" of our nation.

Martha came out too!

Washington made the grounds very lovely because so many people came to visit him.

He wanted a place where people could enjoy the landscaping while strolling around. We sure did.

He also cleared a large area for grass which had to be done by hand. Back then obviously, there were no backhoes or bulldozers. So trees were cleared and then ground was flattened by hand. What a job.

The back of the house faced the Potomac River. Washington designed it so that guests who boated in would see a grand looking estate from that side as well.

George and Martha are buried here along with something like 30 members of their family behind that little black door.

George Washington was such a respected man that soldiers from both the North and South would come visit his grave during the Civil War. They would put down their weapons and see the tomb. Some of them even inscribed their presence as above. It's 19th century graffiti.