FIELD TRIP COMPANION

Welcome to George Washington’s Mount Vernon. This text was designed to help youmake the most of your students’ visit and maximize their appreciation for our nation’sFounding Father. We encourage you to use this as a resource on the Estate and in your

classroom to create an effective and engaging learning experience.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Touring the Mansion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

II. Exploring the Historic Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

III. Exploring the Donald W. Reynolds Education Center . . . . . 15

IV. Exploring the Donald W. Reynolds Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

V. A Timeline of George Washington and Mount Vernon . . . . . 25

VI. Interesting Facts about George Washington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

VII. Resources for Teachers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

VIII. Map: Historic Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

IX. Map: Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center . . 32

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BEFORE 1759 1759-1774

AFTER 1787

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I. TOURING THE MANSION

Built in 1735 by George Washington’s father Augustine Washington, the Mansion started as a smallVirginia farmhouse known as Little Hunting Creek. Its second owner, George Washington’s older halfbrother Lawrence Washington, gave the property its lasting name, Mount Vernon, in honor of Britishnaval officer Admiral Edward Vernon.

After Lawrence Washington’s death, George Washington began enlarging the estate in the 1750s bypurchasing surrounding lands. In 1754, he took ownership of Mount Vernon, which he called home for45 years. Starting with an inheritance of 2,100 acres, Mount Vernon grew to 8,000 acres by 1786.

Pleasantly situated high on a bluff above the Potomac River, Washington was quick to make MountVernon his home. He spent over four decades transforming the estate into the beautiful and impressiveplace it is today. By 1759 when Washington married Martha Dandridge Custis, he had expanded thefarmhouse to create a two and a half story structure. In 1774, he added the south wing, which wouldcontain his study and the master bedroom. Delayed by the Revolutionary War, his next addition whichexpanded the north end of the Mansion to include his large dining room, or “new room” as he called it,took many years to complete. The iconic Piazza (or large porch on the river side) was completed in1777. The cupola was completed in 1784 and was later topped off with the Dove of Peace weathervanein 1787.

Today, the Mansion is meticulously restored to the way it appeared in 1799, the last year ofWashington’s life. When you tour Washington’s Mansion, History Interpreters posted in various roomswill share interesting facts about each space and the objects within. To allow all of our guests theopportunity to see the interior of Washington’s home and to keep lines as short as possible, tours areoften abbreviated. We encourage you and your students to spend your time inside the Mansionviewing the historic spaces. When you exit, a History Interpreter will be available to answer yourquestions and continue the conversation.

Q. What body of water do you see from the Piazza?

A. The Potomac River, which is nearly one mile wide at the estate, is visible from the Piazza.

Q. How was the river used?

A. Washington used the river for fishing and transportation. As the highway of the 18th century,the river was the primary way Washington received and shipped goods.

Q. What do the Mansion’s exterior walls look like?

A. Washington used paint and sand to make his house look like it was made from stone – a processcalled rustication. However, the house is constructed of wood.

II. EXPLORING THE HISTORIC AREA

Over the 45 years Washington owned Mount Vernon, he gave personal attention to every part of theestate. In addition to expanding and improving his home, he built and rebuilt the Mansion’soutbuildings and developed the grounds they were built upon. Washington altered his gardens, movedlanes, and applied his vision to all aspects of the landscape surrounding the Mansion.

NOTE: Please allow 60 to 90 minutes in your group’s itinerary to explorethe Mansion, outbuildings, and grounds.

1. BOWLING GREEN

The large lawn on the west side of the Mansion is called the bowling green and was enjoyed byadults and children. George Washington completely redesigned the landscape at Mount Vernonin the mid-1780s, and the bowling green, with its symmetrical plan, provided an area for theWashingtons and their guests to stroll. The sunken brick walls at the bowling green gate arecalled ha-ha walls. They kept farm animals away from the Mansion, yet were not noticeable.Looking west, beyond the bowling green, there are two white gate houses approximately onemile away. They mark the original carriage entrance to Mount Vernon.

Q. Why do you think the sunken brick walls were called ha-ha walls?

A. Actually, we do not know precisely how these walls got their name. The wall could not beseen until you were right on top of it. Sometimes people would be surprised – Ha Ha! –when they came to the edge of the wall. This is one traditional explanation.

Q. How would you travel to Mount Vernon during George Washington’s time?

A. Travelers would arrive by carriage, riding chair, horseback, boat, or on foot.

2. UPPER GARDEN

The upper garden consists of three large, roughly-square, planting beds. Their interior spacesare filled with produce – the vegetables needed to feed the Washington family, their manyguests, and some of the servants who lived on the Mansion House Farm. Mount Vernonarchaeologists relied on 18th-century documents like gardener reports, visitor accounts andWashington’s own writing to learn what vegetables grew in this garden. The vegetable beds areframed with flower beds which include flowering fruit trees, rich perennials, and sweet-smelling annuals. The borders are edged with boxwood. The upper garden is an example ofGeorge Washington’s design scheme and the perfect combination of the practical and theornamental.

Writing of Mount Vernon, George Washington said, “No estate in United America is more pleasantlysituated than this. It lies in a high dry and healthy Country…on one of the finest Rivers in the world…inlatitude between the extremes of heat and cold.”

Q. What plants did George Washington grow in the upper garden?

A. Vegetables: peas, corn, onions, celery, leeks, broccoli, and beets. Fruits: peaches, pears,cherries, oranges, lemons, raspberries, gooseberries, and strawberries.

Q. What is the difference between perennials and annuals?

A. Perennials last several years without replanting. Annuals must be planted every year.

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3. GREENHOUSE

The greenhouse complex was first built between 1785 and 1792. During the winter months, a firewas kept burning to keep delicate plants, such as orange and lemon trees, oleander from theCarolinas, and palm trees from the West Indies, from freezing. On a cold night in 1835, thegreenhouse burned after the fire got out of control. The building you see today was built in1950, on the foundation of the original greenhouse. Some of the bricks used in the reconstructioncame from the White House. Just as in George Washington’s time, the building now includes ahuge room for plants, a stove room, the shoemaking shop used by William Lee, and the quartersthat housed slave families.

A visitor during Washington’s time described it as, “a complete Greenhouse which at this season is avast great source of pleasure. Plants from every part of the world seem to flourish in the neatly furnishedapartment.”

Q. What types of fruit trees were stored in the greenhouse for protection from the freezing cold?

A. Delicate plants, such as orange and lemon trees, were stored in the greenhouse during thewinter months.

4. SLAVE QUARTERS

The slave quarters housed Mansion slaves and replaced an earlier structure, known as the housefor families, in 1792. Here as many as 15–20 slaves lived in each of the barrack-style sleepingrooms. Other slaves who lived at the Mansion House Farm lived above the buildings wherethey worked, such as the kitchen or carpenters shop, or lived in small cabins. Female slaves wholived in the slave quarters were house servants or worked in the nearby outbuildingscompleting important tasks like sewing or laundering. Enslaved men who lived here alsoworked in and around the Mansion as valets, cooks, and other skilled laborers.

Although there are large fireplaces, these rooms would have been cold in the winter and thepeople who lived here probably slept two or three to a bunk to keep warm. Each personreceived a blanket in the fall as part of their yearly rations. Food rations were issued once aweek by the overseer. Many slaves also kept garden plots where they grew fresh vegetables toeat and to sell at market. They prepared their meals in this communal living area. The workweek was typically six days, with Sundays off. When not at work, the Mount Vernon slaves hada number of ways to spend their time. They were free to work in their gardens or hunt and fish.They also spent time visiting with their friends, playing music, smoking tobacco, and takingpart in games and sports.

Q. Look at the bunks in the men’s and women’s sleeping rooms. How do you think they weremade?

A. The bunks were piled with straw, which would have been very uncomfortable and itchy.

Q. What objects can you find that tell you how the slaves might have spent their free time?

A. Notice the bag and marbles in the center of the floor – the children would have enjoyed thisactivity. There’s also a jaw harp because music was an important activity during free time.

Q. As you look into the shoemaker’s (or cobbler’s) room, notice the boots and/or shoes. How dothe shapes of the shoes differ from those you wear today?

A. There is no left or right foot.

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Q. How many pairs of shoes would a field hand receive each year?

A. A field hand would receive one pair of shoes each year.

Q. Did the cobbler make shoes for the Washington family?

A. No, the Washingtons ordered finer footwear from local merchants or London manufacturers.

5. BLACKSMITH SHOP

The blacksmith shop was essential to the operation of the plantation and an important part ofGeorge Washington’s entrepreneurial efforts. Records indicate that as early as 1755 a blacksmithshop was located along the North Lane approximately 200 feet from the Mansion. Most of thesmiths who worked for Washington were slaves, with the exception of the Dutch or Germanimmigrant Dominicus Gruber. Later, two slaves, Nat and George, worked as the blacksmiths.Today, a reconstruction of the blacksmith shop is located on the site of the original shop.

An excavation by Mount Vernon’s archaeologists along with paintings and other primarysources provided valuable clues about the design of the shop. Letters, account ledgers, andother writings detail the tools purchased by Washington to outfit the shop and also indicate thetypes of repair work conducted at the shop.

Q. What material is used to heat the iron for the blacksmith?

A. Coal was burned to provide heat.

Q. What two tools does the blacksmith use to shape the heated iron?

A. Most commonly the blacksmith used a hammer and an anvil.

Q. What tool does the blacksmith use to get his fire hot?

A. The bellows are used to pump air into the blacksmith’s forge – making it burn hotter.

6. OVERSEER’S QUARTERS

The overseer’s quarters is connected to the spinning room. The overseer was responsible for thedaily operations of the farm. Because of George Washington’s extended absences from MountVernon, he relied on his overseers to help keep his farms running smoothly day-to-day. Each ofWashington’s five farms had its own overseer who managed free and enslaved laborers, workedwith livestock and crops, and submitted weekly work reports.

Q. Who was Roger Farrell?

A. In 1799, Roger Farrell was the overseer for the Mansion House Farm. Records show thatamong his regular tasks as overseer, Mr. Farrell also agreed to supervise the annual harvestof fish, keep Washington supplied with mutton, lamb, veal, and firewood, and repair fencesaround the estate. In return, Farrell received an annual wage of $133.33 plus “board, bed,bed lodging, and washing.”

Q. Were the overseers free or enslaved?A. Washington’s overseers were both free men and slaves. Davy was an enslaved overseer on

the Muddy Hole Farm.

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7. SPINNING HOUSE

During the 18th century, many fabrics were imported from England. Mount Vernon, however,was a large and fairly self-sufficient estate. Much of the fabric that was used to make clothingfor more than 300 slaves and indentured servants who lived and worked on the estate wasproduced here. At any time, there were between 200 and 1,000 sheep on the Mount Vernonplantation. Their wool was used to make clothing. Washington also grew flax, which producedlinen. Spinners Alice, Kitty and Anna, and knitter Lame Peter were among the ten or moreslaves who were kept busy spinning, knitting, and weaving. The room you see here is too smallfor so many people and historians believe this room was used to store equipment, fiber andyarn instead. Some of the spinning was probably done outdoors during good weather.

Textile production was vital to achieving self-sufficiency at Mount Vernon. George Washingtonpracticed selective breeding of sheep to produce better quality wool, grew flax and hemp formaking linen cloth and rope, and experimented with cultivating cotton and silk. While slavesand hired weavers were able to produce basic textiles for plantation use, it was still necessary toimport finer materials from England for the Washingtons’ table and clothing.

Q. Who might be assigned to this work?

A. In addition to able-bodied workers, those who were disabled and physically unable to domore strenuous work assisted with these tasks. Spinning and weaving were consideredskilled trades on the plantation.

8. SALT HOUSE

George Washington “farmed” the Potomac River every spring. For about seven weeks the fishwould swim up the Potomac and boats carrying large nets were used to draw the fish intoshore. The fish were preserved by salting or “curing” and then stored in large barrels. At MountVernon, large quantities of meat and fish were salt-cured for shipping and were sold. Also, thepreserved meat and fish were used to feed family, guests, servants, and slaves throughout theyear. The salt house, located near the Mansion, was kept locked to prevent theft. Washington,who never wasted space, probably used this area for storage of other items like bar iron for thenearby blacksmith shop.

Q. How many fish could Washington catch in one season?A. In just one season, more than one million fish were pulled from the river by Washington’sslaves.

9. GARDENER’S HOUSE

In 1797, George Washington hired a young Scotsman, William Spence, to serve as his headgardener. Spence was responsible for overseeing work in both the upper and lower gardens.Records indicate that at any given time, three enslaved workers tended the gardens underSpence’s direction. Spence reported directly to General Washington who was quite specific inhis expectations for his gardener. He detailed the responsibilities of the gardener in a letter to afriend, “The man ought to be a good Kitchen Gardener; to have some knowledge of a Green house and hothouse, and to raise things in hot beds.” In payment for the job, Washington specified that thegardener would be “furnished with a good apartment, convenient to his work, to reside in.”

Q. There are glass bell jars on the floor. What do you think they were used for? A. The bell jars were placed over small seedlings, creating a mini-greenhouse effect, which

helped the small plants grow in cooler months.

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Q. How did the gardener stay in contact with his family back in Scotland?

A. William Spence used a feather quill, ink, and paper to write letters, which he mailed inbundles. You can see these items on the desk in the gardener’s house.

10. SERVANTS’ HALL

Strangers to the Estate, as well as servants accompanying guests, were sometimes housed in thisbuilding. At the time of his death, Washington was sorting his military and presidential papershere. The servants’ hall is attached to the Mansion by a covered walkway called a colonnade.

Q. Other than strangers to the Washington family, what type of visiting servants would havebeen given lodging in the servants’ hall?

A. Coachmen, children’s tutors, ladies maids, and valets are examples of servants staying in theservants’ hall.

11. KITCHEN

The kitchen was one of the busiest places on the plantation. Here, slaves such as Lucy, Nathan,and Hercules, prepared meals for Washington family members and guests. The large fireplace orhearth was used for cooking. The beehive wall oven was used for baking breads and cakes. Thetwo rooms to the west end of the kitchen are the scullery, where dishes were washed, and thelarder, where food was kept cool to delay spoiling.

There are two rooms upstairs. In the early years, Lucy and her family lived there. In later years,the Washingtons employed a paid housekeeper, Mrs. Forbes, who lived above the Kitchen.

Q. Different woods were used as firewood during cooking. Why?

A. Different woods add flavor to foods. Also, some woods burn hotter than others. It wouldhave been quite an art to cook.

Q. Where did the cooks get their supplies for cooking?

A. Most raw materials were grown or raised on the farm.

12. LOWER GARDEN

Also known as the kitchen garden - the fruits, vegetables, and herbs now grown are noted inGeorge Washington’s writings and in weekly reports from the head gardener. The fruit treestrained against the wall (espaliers) and those grown around the beds (cordons) are documentedin records. The two dipping cisterns show the custom of “softening” water by exposing it tosunlight and air before using it to water plants. Mrs. Washington oversaw the lower garden.Herbs were planted around the vegetables and helped repel insects.

Q. Why was the kitchen garden completely surrounded by a brick wall?

A. The high brick enclosure promoted a warm environment that extended the planting season,while serving as an effective barrier to wild animals. Due to the slope of the land, the gardenis terraced to create two flat planting areas, which benefit from the southern exposure.

Q. Name some of the plants that might have been grown in George Washington’s lower garden.

A. Vegetables: beets, cabbage, green beans, lettuce, peas, and turnips. Fruits: apples, apricots,cherries, nectarines, peaches, and pears. Herbs: rosemary, thyme, lavender, mint, lemonbalm, sage, and parsley.

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13. STOREHOUSE

Within sight of the Mansion, the storehouse was under the watchful eye of George Washingtonand his farm manager. From here, valuable supplies were dispersed: blankets, clothes, and toolsto the slaves; nails and copper to the carpenters; leather and thread to the shoemaker; powderand shot to the huntsmen. The items stored here – more than 500 were listed in the inventorytaken at Washington’s death – were kept under lock and key. They were registered in a ledger,as was each distribution to the workers, so Washington could track the use of his goods.

Q. What are some of the items in the storehouse that you recognize?

A. Items in the storehouse include farm tools, nails, gunpowder horns, candle molds, beehives,and a gun.

14. CLERK’S QUARTERS/PAINT CELLAR

General Washington employed secretaries and clerks to help with his plantation businesses. In1799, Albin Rawlins, a clerk at the Mansion House Farm, lived in these quarters. In 1798, GeorgeWashington described the clerk as someone “to copy and record letters and other Papers, to keepBooks…and an account of articles received from and delivered to the Farms…”

The clerk’s quarters were convenient to the Mansion’s study, from which Washington couldquickly summon his clerk.

The paint cellar was beneath the clerk’s quarters. Maintaining the Mansion outbuildings withfresh coats of paint was a continual, labor-intensive process. Tom Davis was one slave calledupon by George Washington to maintain the red roofs and white siding of Mount Vernon’smany buildings. Paint was an expensive commodity in 18th-century America and was importedin powder form, which was then hand-mixed with linseed oil just before use. When not in use,the oils and leftover mixed paints were stored here for safekeeping.

Q. What fluids were mixed with the pigments to make paint?

A. Linseed oil and occasionally water. Whitewash was made by mixing lime and water.Sometimes a small amount of salt, sugar, or “Spanish whiting” was added.

Q. What sort of items did Washington purchase abroad?

A. Fine goods such as elegant clothing, clear glass, fine china, furniture, and art are just a few ofthe items purchased since they could not be made at Mount Vernon.

15. SMOKEHOUSE

A large supply of meat was necessary to feed the Washington family, their many guests, and thelarge number of slaves and servants at Mount Vernon. Small animals such as fowl and fishcould be eaten before they spoiled, but larger animals, including hogs and cattle, had to bepreserved to last through the winter months. After slaves salted or pickled the meat, they hungit on the rails inside the smokehouse above a smoldering fire set into the pit in the center of thebuilding. After smoking, the meats remained hanging or were packed in barrels filled withashes for long-term storage. Mrs. Washington was proud of the hams produced at MountVernon and often sent them as gifts to special friends. The smokehouse was another outbuildingkept locked for security.

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Q. What types of meat were preserved by smoking over the pit?

A. Pork and beef were smoked for preservation.

16. WASH HOUSE

The clothing of Washington family members, guests, and indentured servants was laundered in the wash house. This was a difficult job for the slaves who worked there: They hauled 25 to30 buckets of water each day, made soap of lye and animal fat, and cleaned the laundry incauldrons of boiling water, which they stirred with heavy wooden poles. After the clothingdried, the washerwomen would starch and iron the clothes; the irons were heated in the fire orthey used a large wooden mangle board to press the clothing.

The laundry yard is behind the wash house. Whites and linens were laid out on the grass to dryand/or get bleached by the sun.

Q. How did Vinny, Caroline, and other slaves who worked in the wash house identify theclothing? How did they know which clothes belonged to whom?

A. Each item of clothing was identified with hand-sewn initials – this was called a “laundrymark.”

Q. How was a mangle board used?

A. A mangle board was a machine used for pressing and smoothing fabric between two rollers.

17. STABLE AND COACH HOUSE

In 1781, George Washington’s wooden stable burned down. He designed a new stable and itwas built the following year in brick. Today in the center section of the stable there is a coachsimilar to one owned by George Washington. This coach was owned by the Powels ofPhiladelphia who were friends of the Washingtons.

Many horses were kept in George Washington’s stable including Magnolia, an Arabian racehorse,and Nelson and Blueskin, the horses George Washington rode during the Revolutionary War. Ofthe two horses, Nelson was Washington’s favorite because he remained calmer in battles. PeterHardiman, a slave, oversaw the stable and the care of General Washington’s horses.

Q. How many horses did it take to pull a coach the size of the one in Washington’s stable?

A. This coach would use four to six horses.

Across from the stable is a light-weight riding chair which was a popular vehicle inWashington’s time. As a young man, George Washington acquired a riding chair similar to theone on display today. Popular in America and England, the riding chair was pulled by only onehorse and could travel country lanes and back roads more easily than bulkier four-wheeledcoaches. Riding chairs were relatively inexpensive in comparison with other wheeled vehiclesand were used by members of all social classes as an easy way to travel the rough Virginiaterrain. Also, in the 18th century, taxes were based on the number of wheels a vehicle had,adding to the popularity of this two-wheeled vehicle.

18. DUNG REPOSITORY

The “repository for dung” was designed to compost animal manure and a variety of organicmaterials to cure into fertilizer for use in the nearby gardens and orchards. This building

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illustrates George Washington’s dedication to finding ways to improve the fertility of his soilsand to converting Mount Vernon into a model of progressive farming. The original 31-by-12-footopen-walled structure was built in 1787 and was reconstructed in 2001. Archaeologists revealedremnants of the brick foundation walls along with the virtually intact cobblestone floor and theyhave been incorporated into the reconstructed building. Washington’s dung repository is thefirst known structure in the United States devoted to composting.

Q. Why did George Washington spend so much time and energy to produce compost for thegardens?

A. As a scientific farmer, Washington tested several methods of improving and maintaining theproductivity of his farm land. Compost proved to be an effective tool.

19. PADDOCK

George Washington was a respected livestock breeder and in 1786 started a special breedingproject that he hoped would change farming in America - he began breeding mules. Washingtonnoted that mules, which are the offspring of male donkeys and female horses, worked harderand longer than most draft animals. From the King of Spain, he received a male donkey namedRoyal Gift, which he bred with his mares. The project was successful, and by 1799 there wereover 50 mules working at Mount Vernon. Word of Washington’s success spread to farmersacross the country, and by the late 1800s, more than 2,000,000 mules and donkeys hadrevolutionized American agriculture.

“I hope to secure a race of extraordinary goodness which will stock the Country.” – George Washingtonon his mule-breeding program, 1788.

Q. What animal did George Washington sell to other farmers?

A. Washington sold mules to other farmers; he said that mules worked harder and longer thanmost draft animals.

20. FRUIT GARDEN AND NURSERY

George Washington spent much of his life experimenting with plants and crops. In 1771, he firstused this four-acre garden to experiment with grapes. Washington planted more than 2,000grape cuttings, but they were neglected and became overgrown in his absence during theRevolutionary War. After the war, he used the garden as a nursery and planted a variety ofgrasses, wheat, grains, and vegetables to produce seeds for his farming operation. In 1786, hedesigned an orchard, which covered two-thirds of the garden’s area, and included dozens ofsaplings that had been sent to him by family and friends. He also transplanted mature treesfrom his own gardens.

The orchard supplied the Washingtons with fresh fruit for nearly six months of the year.Washington kept detailed information on the trees planted, and records include 11 varieties ofpears, four of apples, three of peaches, two of cherries, and a number of plums. He alsoexperimented with honey locust, a thorny plant, as a living hedge to fence his gardens andnursery.

Q. Why did George Washington develop a nursery area to produce seeds?

A. George Washington wanted his farming operation to be self-sufficient. He believed it was“disreputable” for a farmer to continue to buy seeds year after year.

Q. What were the benefits of using a living hedge as fencing?

A. Using a living hedge, or dense thorny shrubs, was a way to conserve timber and to keepanimals from destroying plants.

NOTE: Please allow 15 minutes in your group’s itinerary to visit Washington’s Tomb and the slave memorial.

21. WASHINGTON’S TOMB

George Washington died at Mount Vernon on December 14, 1799. His funeral and burial in thefamily vault took place on December 18, 1799. Although Congress immediately resolved tobuild a monument in his honor in the new Capitol with a tomb for Washington, his willstipulated that a new tomb be built at Mount Vernon. According to General Washington’s wish,his heirs built this tomb and General and Mrs. Washington, who died in 1802, were interred herein 1831.

Q. How many family members are buried in the Washington Tomb?

A. George and Martha Washington are buried in the two sarcophagi located at the tombentrance. Twenty-five family members are interred behind the black vault door. Two familymembers are buried in the site next to the tomb.

22. SLAVE BURIAL GROUND AND MEMORIAL

Although Washington was a slaveholder, he came to believe that slavery was wrong. In his will,Washington freed his slaves and provided for their care and education. Many of the slaves areburied at Mount Vernon but their grave markers have long since disappeared, so individualsites are unknown.

Mount Vernon records indicate that this burial ground was a cemetery used by slaves and freeblacks in the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1799 there were 316 slaves living and working at MountVernon. While no markers exist on this hillside, ground-penetrating radar indicates that asmany as 75 graves exist here. In 1929, the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association placed a stonemarker to commemorate the site. In 1983, a slave memorial, which was designed by studentsfrom Howard University honoring the men, women, and children who toiled in slavery atMount Vernon, was constructed at the burial ground.

Records show that William “Billy” Lee, General Washington’s personal servant during theRevolutionary War and the only slave granted freedom immediately upon the death ofWashington, is buried here.

Q. What three words are written on the steps of the slave memorial erected in 1983?

A. Love, Hope, and Faith were specifically selected by the monument’s designers.

NOTE: Please allow 15 to 30 minutes in your group’s itinerary to explore the Pioneer Farm, the 16-sided treading barn, and the slave cabin.

23. GEORGE WASHINGTON: PIONEER FARMER SITE

George Washington was an innovative farmer. Over a period of some 40 years he expandedMount Vernon from a 2,000-acre plantation to an estate of 8,000 acres. Washington divided theestate into five working farms by the time of his death in 1799. He was a leader in the practice of“new husbandry,” an agricultural reform movement of the 18th century. New husbandry

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methods sought to renew the soil and improve its fertility and productivity. In the mid-1760s, heswitched from tobacco to wheat as his main cash crop largely because of the depleting effecttobacco has on soil. He also began a seven-year crop rotation system to assist in theimprovement of the soil. He instituted deep plowing to conserve soil and experimented withvarious fertilizers such as creek mud, marl, manure, and plaster of Paris to help improve thesoils on his farms. Washington experimented with planting his crops in straight rows ratherthan scattering seeds; he planted grasses, clover, and buckwheat to restore nutrients to the soil.

Over the years, Washington grew more than 60 different crops at Mount Vernon. Many were usedto feed his family, slaves, and livestock. However, Washington also sold his crops for profit.

In the early 1790s Washington designed and constructed a unique 16-sided treading barn toprocess wheat, his main cash crop. The floor on the upper level of the barn had gaps betweenthe floor boards. Wheat from his fields was laid on the floor and then horses would gallop onit – causing the grain to fall below. George Washington firmly believed that through carefulexperimentation and innovation, American farming could be improved and the United Stateswould one day become a “granary for the world.”

Q. In 1799, there were five working farms on the 8,000-acre Mount Vernon plantation. What aretheir names?

A. (1) Mansion Farm; (2) River Farm; (3) Dogue Run Farm; (4) Muddy Hole Farm; (5) Union Farm.

Q. Why did George Washington design a 16-sided treading barn?

A. Washington believed that treading wheat and other grains inside would reduce the loss ofgrains and keep the crop clean and safe from weather. Also, using horses instead of manuallabor was much more efficient.

Q. What was George Washington’s cash crop before he switched to wheat?

A. Tobacco was the cash crop before Washington switched to wheat. Although tobacco remainedthe primary cash crop of many farmers in the 18th century, it was very hard on the soil,therefore it was not unusual for a farmer to farm land until the soil was depleted and thenmove west. Washington believed this practice was wasteful. In addition, Britain controlledthe tobacco markets and this created difficulty for planters in Virginia and other colonies. Alltobacco had to be shipped to England first for inspection and sale. Often times this reducedthe profit for the colonial planter. George Washington wanted a cash crop that he could sellboth locally and in Europe. He believed that planting wheat was the answer.

Q. Why did George Washington use different types of fencing at Mount Vernon? Can you finddifferent kinds of fences and how they were used?

A. George Washington was advanced in his use of enclosed areas; fences were used to keepanimals both on and off pasture lands. There were also fences to keep wild animals offcropland. Examples of fencing at Mount Vernon are hurdle fencing, post and rail fencing,wattle fencing, and split rail fencing.

24. SLAVE CABIN

In 1799, Mount Vernon was home to 316 enslaved workers. Approximately 226 enslaved men,women, and children lived in clusters of cabins. As fieldworkers, they worked from sun-up tosun-down, planting, cultivating, and harvesting Washington’s cash crop, wheat, as well as theother crops grown at Mount Vernon. Almost two-thirds of the fieldworkers were women.

Children joined the workforce around the age of 12; until then, they were responsible for choresaround their home.

This reconstructed slave cabin is typical of structures that would have been found on one ofWashington’s farms. It has an earthen floor, a chinked wooden chimney covered with clay, and awooden shutter rather than glass in the window. In the 18th century, a slave cabin of this sizewould have been home to one family. Mount Vernon interprets the area as home to Silla, wholived on Dogue Run farm with her six children. Her husband, Slammin’ Joe, lived and workedat the Mansion House farm and most likely would have spent Saturday evenings and Sundayswith his family.

Q. Where do you think the family members slept at night?

A. The bed in the corner most likely would have been used by adult members of the family. The children would have slept on blankets on the floor.

Q. Where would the slaves store their food?

A. In the root cellar in the floor.

Q. What is the source of light and heat for the slaves?

A. In addition to being used for preparing meals, the fireplace provided light and heat while thesmall window and doorway also allowed natural light into the cabin.

NOTE: The forest trail includes several steep hills. Please allow 15 minutes in your group’s itinerary to walk the trail.

25. FOREST TRAIL

Of the 8,000 total acres Washington owned at Mount Vernon, about 3,200 acres were cultivatedfarm land. Much of the remaining land, more than 4,000 acres, remained uncultivated. Theforest supplied firewood for the Estate’s entire population, lumber for construction, and woodand timber for fencing. The animals in the forest provided food for the family and the slaves.

Washington believed it was important to conserve land and protect wildlife – he prohibitedover-hunting deer on his land. Today, the forest trail provides the opportunity to explore thenatural landscape of Mount Vernon. There are signs along the trail that tell how vegetation andwildlife have changed since George Washington’s time.

Q. Who were the first inhabitants of this area?

A. For thousands of years before the Washington family acquired the land in 1674, NativeAmericans resided in the area. Three separate tribes lived along this stretch of the PotomacRiver – the Dogue, Patawomeke, and Piscataway Indians. George Washington named one ofhis farms Dogue Run farm.

Q. What animals that we rarely see today lived in the forests of Mount Vernon duringGeorge Washington’s lifetime?

A. The American bison, the timber wolf, the black bear, and the passenger pigeon would haveinhibited the forests of Mount Vernon. Although black bears and timber wolves still live inAmerican forests, they are generally found in more isolated locations.

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III.. EXPLORING THE DONALD W. REYNOLDS EDUCATION CENTER

The Education Center offers a memorable experience that spans George Washington’s lifetime.Specifically designed for students, the Education Center features 23 interactive galleries and theatersincluding a 4-D immersion movie, dynamic graphic displays, surround-sound audio programs, andthe most lifelike models of Washington ever created.

NOTE: Please allow a minimum of 60 minutes in your groups’ itinerary to explore the Education Center.

26. DISCOVER THE REAL GEORGE WASHINGTON

Among the top attractions in the Education Center are three lifelike figures of GeorgeWashington at ages 19, 45, and 57. In this recreated laboratory setting, students will learn howforensic scientists, artists, technology specialists, historians, and art historians worked togetherto create the three nearly flesh-and-blood George Washingtons.

Q. What types of evidence did the scientific team draw on to create the three lifelike GeorgeWashington figures?

A. Scientific evidence was used by scanning the Houdon bust, measuring artifacts such asGeorge Washington’s clothing, and using documentation which provided the eye color, skintone, and hair type. These items served as the primary evidence for constructing the threelifelike figures.

27. THE YOUNG VIRGINIAN

Washington was born in 1732 on a small Virginia plantation. When young George was 11, hisfather died, leaving the family with little money. Washington’s formal education ended andsoon thereafter he entered his first profession - land surveyor.

Exhibited here in a rustic woodland setting is the first lifelike figure of George Washington atage 19 with red hair and blue eyes. An exhibit case contains Washington’s very own surveyinginstruments and one of his surveys.

Q. Why did the Washington family move so often?

A. Augustine Washington, George Washington’s father, was very ambitious and bought severalplantations. He moved his family to establish new farms. The family experienced a setback in1740 when their home burned, forcing them to temporarily move back to another plantation.

Q. Which family member was an important mentor to George Washington?

A. George Washington’s half brother Lawrence Washington was a mentor after their fatherdied.

Q. What were the “Rules of Civility,” and how did they help to build George Washington’scharacter?

A. “The Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour In Company and Conversation” is the name of a listbest-known as a school writing exercise for George Washington. Most of the rules have beentraced to a French etiquette manual, dating from the late 16th century. Although it isimpossible to know how deeply Washington took these to heart, there are many occasionswhen he put them into action.

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Q. What was Rule 82 and how would George Washington have used this rule in his life?

A. Rule 82 states:“Undertake not what you cannot Perform but be Careful to keep your Promise.”After successfully winning America’s quest for independence in 1783, General Washingtonkept his promise to serve only for the length of the war. That December, with the war over,he submitted his resignation to Congress.

28. UPSTART COLONIAL OFFICER

In the 1750s, all of the settlers living in the original 13 American colonies, including GeorgeWashington’s native Virginia, were ruled by Great Britain. By the mid-1700s, some of the Britishsettlers had begun to move west to settle in an area called the Ohio Territory, which was claimedby both France and Britain. The French built forts in the Ohio Territory and made friends withmany of the Indian tribes, who resented the encroachment by British settlers on their land. In1753, the King of England ordered Governor Robert Dinwiddie of Virginia to pressure theFrench and any hostile Indians to leave the territory. George Washington was only 21 years oldat this time.

Bursting with ambition and eager to build a career in the British army, Washington approachedGovernor Dinwiddie and volunteered to travel on horseback into the Ohio Country to scope outthe situation. Upon returning from this dangerous mission, Washington was hailed a hero andappointed lieutenant colonel of the Virginia Regiment. This was the beginning of GeorgeWashington’s time as a British colonial officer in the French & Indian War from 1753 until 1758.

Q. Who started the French & Indian War?

A. George Washington and a company of soldiers under his command attacked and killed aFrench adjutant, which led to the first battle of the French & Indian War.

Q. Who won the French & Indian War?

A. The British. The 1763 Treaty of Paris awarded Britain all of France’s North Americanterritories and land claims east of the Mississippi except for New Orleans.

Q. How did Washington’s experiences in the French & Indian War help to build his character?

A. Washington began his military career as a major in the service of Virginia. Young, ambitious,fearless, and thoroughly inexperienced, the young colonial officer soon found himself at thecenter of controversy and world war. Despite several major blunders, he emerged a fewyears later as one of the colony’s first war heroes with a reputation as a natural born leader.

NOTE: Consider viewing “A Very Private Romance” – this 10-minute video reveals the trials and tribulations behind George and Martha Washington’s inspiring 40-year marriage.

29. GENTLEMAN PLANTER

In 1758, Washington decided to leave his military ambitions behind because as a colonial officer,he could not enter the ranks of the regular British Army. He resigned from the VirginiaRegiment and came to live at Mount Vernon, which he had recently inherited from his elder halfbrother Lawrence. That same year he was elected to the Virginia House of Burgesses.

Determined to rise to the top tier of the Virginia planter class, George Washington began to

enlarge his house, and in 1759, he married the widow Martha Dandridge Custis, who alongwith her two children, Jacky and Patsy, took up residence at Mount Vernon. For the next 16years, Washington lived in domestic tranquility while building his landholdings and wealth. Healso continued to sit in the House of Burgesses, joined the Free Masons, and served as avestryman in the Anglican Church.

Q. Why do you think George Washington wanted to rise in Virginia society?

A. Although Washington had accumulated some wealth and land from his days as a surveyorand colonial officer, he was far from being one of the leading planters in Virginia. Thatchanged when he married one of Virginia’s wealthiest widows. Backed by MarthaWashington’s fortune, Washington enlarged his plantation. This combined with his multipleroles as a Burgess, church vestryman, and active Freemason, allowed him to achieve newstanding in Virginia society.

Q. How did Washington win his first election to the Virginia House of Burgesses?

A. Following the practice of the day, George Washington campaigned at local taverns, buyingdrinks for potential voters. In 1758, he picked up the tab on more than 150 gallons of rum,punch, wine, brandy, beer, and hard cider. His largesse won him 3,307 votes and a seat in theHouse of Burgesses.

30. BECOMING A REVOLUTIONARY

As Washington worked to realize his ambitions, he became extremely frustrated with Britishtrade policies. Throughout the colonies during the 1760s and into the mid-1770s, resentmentagainst Great Britain mounted, especially as Parliament levied taxes on goods like sugar,textiles, and tea. Since the colonists had no representation in Parliament, “taxation withoutrepresentation” became a repeated cry throughout the land. Angry colonists took the law intotheir own hands, running tax collectors out of town, burning a British revenue ship, anddumping tea into Boston Harbor, among other acts of defiance. In retaliation, the British militarycracked down with force – and the situation escalated.

When the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in May 1775, fighting between theBritish and the Colonists had already broken out at Lexington and Concord with the “shot heardround the world.” Before adjourning in June, the Continental Congress voted to go to war againstGreat Britain and chose George Washington as commander in chief of the Continental Army.

Q. Why didn’t George Washington sign the Declaration of Independence?

A. George Washington was in New York with the Continental Army preparing troops to face theBritish.

NOTE: Consider viewing “George Washington Commander In Chief” – this 14-minute action-packed theater experience immerses viewers in the strategies behind

George Washington’s campaigns in Boston, Trenton, and Yorktown.

31. FIRST IN WAR

When Washington took over as commander in chief of the Continental Army, all odds wereagainst him. With no navy, a meager budget, and a small untrained force of citizen-soldiers, hischallenge was to defeat the largest and most powerful nation in the entire world. But he and hisgenerals were determined to win – and eventually, after eight long years of hardship and

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struggle, the American forces, with help from Britain’s old enemy France, prevailed. The secondlifelike figure of George Washington, a 45-year old commander in chief, is exhibited here on hishorse, Blueskin, at Valley Forge.

Q. What was the leading cause of death for the American forces in the Revolutionary War?

A. Diseases such as dysentery, typhoid, small pox, and other “camp fevers” plagued theContinental Army.

32. CITIZEN SOLDIER

When the war was finally over, George Washington resigned his commission and came home toMount Vernon to resume the life of a farmer. He did so at the height of his power when, if hehad chosen to do so, he could probably have been crowned king. But because he believed sostrongly in the cause of freedom for which he had fought, he handed the reins of power back tothe American people.

Q. How did George Washington differ from Napoleon, Cromwell, and Julius Caesar?

A. Unlike other leaders of successful revolutions throughout world history, Washington trulyplaced power in the hands of the people; he gave up his power and retired from public life.

33. VISIONARY ENTREPRENEUR

When George Washington came home to Mount Vernon after the war, he returnedenthusiastically to his favorite occupation - farming. Among other innovations, he introducedthe mule to American agriculture, developed a seven-year crop rotation system, experimentedwith a variety of fertilizers, continued his major fishing operation along the Potomac River,added the “high-tech,” labor-saving Oliver Evans milling system to his gristmill, and built thelargest whiskey distillery of its time in the United States. He did all of these things – and more –not only for his own personal gain, but to promote the future of American agriculture andindustry.

Q. What three products are in the barrels on display?

A. Flour, fish, and whiskey are in the barrels, which were all major Washington exports.

Q. Why did George Washington build a gristmill and a distillery?

A. After Mount Vernon grew to 8,000 acres, Washington sought new ways to fund theexpanding operation. In 1770, Washington constructed the gristmill to grind his new cashcrop, wheat, into flour. The mill also ground corn, the second largest crop at Mount Vernon,which was used for rations for paid staff, indentured servants, and the enslaved population.In 1797, he began making whiskey on the advice he received from his farm manager, JamesAnderson, a trained distiller from Scotland. Both flour and whiskey brought in good profitsfor Washington.

34. THE DILEMMA OF SLAVERY

Having grown up in a society where slavery was an accepted practice, George Washington wasa slave owner nearly all of his life. At age 11, he inherited 10 slaves from his father’s estate, andby the time of his own death at age 67 in 1799, he and his wife, Martha, together owned morethan 300 slaves. However, over the years, and especially during and after the RevolutionaryWar, Washington’s attitude towards slavery began to change. He decided not to buy and sellslaves and refused to separate families. By the time of his death, he believed strongly that

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slavery was morally wrong, and in his will, he freed his own slaves, although he had no powerto free Martha’s “dower slaves,” who were part of the estate that she had inherited from her firsthusband, Daniel Parke Custis.

Because George Washington kept such good records, Mount Vernon has more information aboutthe slaves who lived and worked here than most other historic sites. We know their names andthe names of their spouses and children – and we also know their occupations. In addition tofield workers, George Washington had other slaves who were skilled. These were housekeepers,cooks, laundry women, spinners, weavers, bricklayers, blacksmiths, carpenters, shoemakers,ditchers, coopers, millers, and distillers.

Q. What are some of the tasks completed by Mount Vernon slaves?

A. Slave occupations included field hands, carpenters, weavers, blacksmiths, house servants,cooks, bricklayers, and overseers.

Q. Who was Hercules, and why was he in Philadelphia during George Washington’spresidency?

A. Hercules was the master chef for the Washingtons at Mount Vernon. When they moved to thepresidential house in Philadelphia, the Washingtons brought Hercules to cook for them.

35. A LEADER’S SMILE

George Washington suffered from poor teeth nearly all of his adult life. He lost his first twoteeth in his twenties, and by the time of his death, he had none left at all. Throughout his serviceto his country, he suffered the extreme pain and discomfort of abscessed teeth and ill-fittingdentures. Although he owned several sets of dentures during his lifetime, only one complete setremains.

Q. Were George Washington’s dentures made of wood?

A. No, George Washington’s dentures were made of human and animal teeth, ivory, and lead.The dentures had springs to help them open and bolts to hold them together.

36. INDISPENSABLE AMERICAN

After the Revolutionary War, the new country consisted of a loose alliance of 13 independentstates. Without a strong central government to establish unity, each state steered its own course,raised its own money, and paid little attention to Congress. This fragile state of the country left itvulnerable to rising debt, internal strife, and foreign invasion. It soon became clear to GeorgeWashington and others that corrective measures must be taken if the nation were to survive.

In May 1787, with the country in danger of failing, the Constitutional Convention was convenedin Philadelphia with delegates from 12 of the 13 states attending and George Washingtonpresiding. The delegates’ task was to craft a document that would support a new, unified, yetdemocratic form of government. Throughout the convention, Washington stood above conflictsbetween individual states to encourage the compromises necessary to produce one of theworld’s greatest political documents: the United States Constitution.

After structuring the new government, the delegates debated how to divide power between theexecutive, legislative, and judiciary branch. They also argued over how much power thepresident should have, what his term of office should be, and whether he should command thearmed forces. In the end, the founders placed enormous power in the president, in large part

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because they knew that as the nation’s first president, George Washington would not abuse thatpower.

Q. Why did the delegates place so much trust in Washington?

A. The delegates knew he would fill the role of chief executive with great skill and would setprecedents for all future presidents.

Q. What key issues were debated at the Constitutional Convention?

A. The key issues were states’ rights, slavery, representation, executive power, and commerce.

Q. Why was the Constitutional Convention important?

A. It created a new and lasting system of government for the United States.

Q. What made the Constitution so unique?

A. Its system of checks and balances, which are intended to make sure that no one branch ofgovernment becomes too powerful.

37. THE PEOPLE’S PRESIDENT

In 1789, after the new Constitution had been ratified by the states, the country unanimouslyelected George Washington as America’s first president. In April of 1789, Washington journeyedby horse and carriage from Mount Vernon to New York City, the nation’s temporary capital,where he would be sworn in as president. As he passed through each village and town, churchbells rang and crowds cheered him. During the last leg of the trip, he boarded a decorated bargeto cross the Hudson River where the entire city turned out.

On April 30, 1789, Washington took the presidential oath of office from the second floor balconyof New York City’s Federal Hall. Humbled by the responsibilities that lay before him, hedelivered a short inaugural speech that touched the hearts of the thousands of citizensthronging the street below.

As the first president, Washington knew that the success or failure of the new governmentdepended on his actions. He also knew that he would be setting an example for all futurepresidents to follow. He carefully oversaw every aspect of his office from selecting his firstcabinet to deciding on the title people should call him – Mr. President. He sought diverse pointsof view before steering a course that he believed would serve the nation’s best interests.

The third lifelike figure of Washington, at age 57, shows him being sworn in as the firstpresident of the United States.

Q. What are some of the major concerns that George Washington had to deal with during histwo terms as president?

A. George Washington dealt with a large war debt, no banking system, no presidential home,and constant criticism from the press.

Q. Who were the members of George Washington’s original cabinet and what offices did theyhold?

A. The original cabinet members were Thomas Jefferson, secretary of state; Alexander Hamilton,secretary of treasury; Henry Knox, secretary of war; and, Edmund Randolph, attorney general.

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Q. What was an important precedent Washington set as the nation’s first president? A. Washington refused to secure a third term as president allowing for the peaceful transfer of

power to the second president, John Adams.

38. PRIVATE CITIZEN

In 1797, George Washington left the presidency at the end of his second term in office andreturned home to Mount Vernon. He was 65 years old. Two-and-a-half years later, on December14, 1799, he died suddenly of a severe throat infection called quinsy. Although his death washard and painful, he bore his final hours with quiet dignity.

Q. How old was George Washington when he died?

A. George Washington was 67 when he died.

Q. What were his final words?

A. “Tis well.”

Q. What did Martha Washington do after her husband’s death?

A. After 40 years of marriage, Martha Washington followed custom and closed their bedroom,moving to the Mansion’s third floor. There, she quietly mourned. Lady Washington died in1802 shortly before her 71st birthday.

NOTE: Consider viewing “A Leader of Character” – this 5-minute theater-in-the-round experience is a moving celebration of George Washington’s continuing Legacy.

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IV. EXPLORING THE DONALD W. REYNOLDS MUSEUM

The museum tells the story of the personal taste and style of George and Martha Washington. Teachersand students will see more than 500 original objects on display – the very things George and MarthaWashington wore, read, and used.

NOTE: Please allow a minimum of 30 minutes in your group’s itinerary to explore the Museum.

39. HOUDON BUST

The Houdon Bust is a sculpture that was modeled in clay, from life, right here at Mount Vernonin 1785 by French sculptor Jean-Antoine Houdon. Houdon arrived at Mount Vernon to takeGeorge Washington’s likeness in preparation for a statue to be placed in the Virginia StateCapitol. The artist created a clay bust capturing this expression, as well as a life mask ofWashington that Houdon took back to France to make the life-size marble sculpture. Houdonleft the original clay bust with Washington who placed it in his study at Mount Vernon.

The bust is considered to be the most accurate likeness of George Washington and it hasremained at Mount Vernon since its creation. Washington’s family members said it was the bestlikeness of him they had ever seen.

Q. How did the sculptor, Jean-Antoine Houdon, capture George Washington’s likeness inpreparation for a statue to be placed in the Virginia State Capitol?

A. Houdon followed Washington around Mount Vernon for two weeks before he captured theimage he wanted. It was Washington’s indignant reaction to the high price of horses thatgave Houdon the look he desired for the sculpture.

Q. What other pieces did Houdon create in preparation of the statue?

A. Houdon created a life mask and a clay bust of George Washington. The bust you see todayremained at Mount Vernon when Houdon returned to France.

40. THE WORLD OF WASHINGTON

George Washington was not born into Virginia aristocracy, but his taste for refined goodsdeveloped early and like his qualities of character and leadership, remained constantthroughout his life. The world of Washington was shaped by the fine and decorative arts heselected for Mount Vernon and his executive residences. The furniture, glass, silver, anddecorative elements seen here reflect Washington’s concern over properly portraying hisposition as a military leader, Virginia gentleman, and the nation’s first president.

Q. Did George Washington live in the White House?

A. No, the White House had not been built. He served his presidency in New York City andPhiladelphia.

Q. Where is the most recognizable image of George Washington seen today?

A. Gilbert Stuart painted George Washington (ca. 1800). Today it is the most recognizable imagebecause an engraving of the painting appears on the U.S. one dollar bill.

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41. FROM SOLDIER TO STATESMAN

George Washington followed the 18th-century gentleman’s tradition of public service byprotecting British colonists from the French and their Indian allies, as a member of the VirginiaHouse of Burgesses, commander in chief of the Continental Army, and as first President of theUnited States. He demonstrated qualities of leadership and character that became knownworldwide and the objects around him conveyed his role and position as a general and astatesman.

The Society of the Cincinnati, the oldest hereditary military society in America, was founded atthe end of the Revolutionary War. The function of the organization was to provide continuedfellowship between the French and American officers who served together in the ContinentalArmy as well as to raise funds to support the veterans’ families. The society was named for thefifth-century B.C. Roman military leader Cincinnatus, who returned to his farm after servingRome so valiantly.

Q. Why was George Washington compared to the fifth-century B.C. Roman military leaderCincinnatus?

A. Cincinnatus returned to his farm after serving Rome just as George Washington gave up hispower after successfully serving as commander of the American Revolution.

Q. What personal item did George Washington give to a soldier at Valley Forge in 1778?

A. The unforgiving conditions and scarce supplies weakened the American forces at ValleyForge. George Washington removed the spurs from his boots, ordering First LieutenantThomas Lamb to take them and ride to Boston for much needed provisions.

42. AT HOME WITH THE WASHINGTONS

Wherever George Washington made his home, whether at Mount Vernon, a military campduring the Revolutionary War, or the presidential mansion, the routines of daily life remainedthe same. The entire household – family, guests, slaves, hired servants - built their days aroundWashington’s schedule.

George Washington once said of Mount Vernon, “No estate in United America is more pleasantlysituated than this.” The plantation – never far from his thoughts – had come into the family througha land grant to his great-grandfather. Washington read books and consulted experts to learn waysof improving both the house and the grounds, and he expressed his personality through objectscommissioned from European and American artisans to beautify his home. During the 16 years hewas away for the Revolutionary War and the presidency, he relaxed by reading weekly reportsabout the work being done and the welfare of those living at Mount Vernon.

Martha Washington was the mistress of Mount Vernon from 1759, when she married GeorgeWashington, until her death in 1802. She oversaw the housekeeping, cooking, and other servantand house slave activities at the Mansion House farm. Martha Washington was also busyentertaining guests who visited Mount Vernon, providing them with her famous Virginia hamsand great cake.

Q. After the construction of the cupola was completed in 1787, what design did GeorgeWashington request for his weathervane?

A. George Washington determined the design of the weathervane – a dove of peace.

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Q. What item is in the mouth of the dove?

A. George Washington requested “I should like to have a bird (in the place of the Vain) with anolive branch in its Mouth…”

43. THE WASHINGTONS’ PERSONAL STYLE

George Washington understood the role his personal appearance played in conveying his social,economic and political standing. Throughout his life, Washington paid close attention to thearticles he wore and carried, selecting those that he felt best defined his position as a Virginiaplanter, commander in chief, and president. He kept up with fashion, but did not succumb toevery changing style, preferring good quality and well-made items that were stylish yetunderstood.

Martha Washington shared her husband’s preference for fashionable personal articles thatsuggested sophistication without ostentation. Mrs. Washington had the means and connectionsto secure the finest goods available, yet chose those that maintained an elegant and conservativeappearance, in keeping with her roles as plantation mistress, general’s wife, first lady, mother,and grandmother.

The clothing worn by George and Martha Washington is one of the best means by which tounderstand their personal style and physical appearance. The Mount Vernon collection containsexamples of the Washingtons’ garments that range from utilitarian to formal attire. MarthaWashington’s silk gowns or George Washington’s waistcoats provide a concrete example of thestyles and fabrics worn by the nation’s leading couple.

Q. Where did George and Martha Washington purchase their clothing?

A. The Washingtons ordered their clothing from England before the American Revolution. Afterthe war, items of clothing were made and purchased in America.

44. BOOKS AND MANUSCRIPT GALLERY

George Washington was a man of ideas. This part of Washington’s life does not get muchattention - he always considered his education “deficient,” but he read voraciously and hadmore than 800 books when he died. The titles reflect a broad diversity of interest, fromlandscape architecture and agriculture to poetry and drama, history, mathematics, andgeography – to name but a few. He was what we today would call a “life-long learner.”Washington was an entrepreneur, a gentleman architect and a scientific farmer. He wasinnovative, always improving Mount Vernon.

Q. What item did Washington order for his library from London?

A. Due to his inquisitive nature and love of learning he purchased a terrestrial globe – “the mostaccurate and approved kind.”

Q. How many times did Washington travel out of the country?

A. He traveled to Barbados with his half brother, Lawrence. It was Washington’s only journeyout of the country.

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V. TIMELINE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON’S LIFE AND MOUNT VERNON

1657 John Washington, great-grandfather of George Washington, sails from England to settle in Virginia.

1674 John Washington is granted the Mount Vernon home site, originally known as Little Hunting Creek plantation.

1726 Augustine Washington, father of George Washington, acquires Little Hunting Creek Plantation from his sisterMildred.

1732 George Washington, first child of Augustine and Mary Ball Washington, is born (February 22) at Popes CreekPlantation in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He has two elder half brothers from his father’s first marriage.

1735-39 The Washington family lives at Little Hunting Creek. In 1739 the family moves about 40 miles south to Ferry Farm,near Fredericksburg, Virginia.

1743 Augustine Washington dies, leaving George Washington fatherless at age 11. His elder half brother, Lawrence,inherits Little Huntington Creek and renames it Mount Vernon.

1752 George Washington receives a commission as a major in the Virginia Regiment. The following year he travels toFrench outposts on the Ohio River on a diplomatic mission for Virginia Governor Dinwiddie.

1754 After the death of his half brother, Lawrence, George Washington leases Mount Vernon from Lawrence’s widow.He becomes the owner of the estate after her death seven years later.

1755 George Washington becomes a volunteer aide on the staff of General Edward Braddock, British commander in theFrench & Indian War. Later, Washington is promoted to colonel and commands the Virginia Regiment in theShenandoah Valley for three years.

1759 George Washington marries the widowed Martha Dandridge Custis. They settle at Mount Vernon with her twoyoung children, John (Jacky) Parke Custis and Martha (Patsy) Parke Custis.

1759-75 Active in Virginia politics, Washington serves as a member of the House of Burgesses, which meets inWilliamsburg.

1774 George Washington is a delegate to the Virginia Convention where he is named one of the state’s delegates to theFirst Continental Congress, which meets in Philadelphia.

1775-83 George Washington attends the Second Continental Convention where he is appointed General and Commander inChief of the Continental Army, a position he holds throughout the American Revolution.

1787 George Washington is a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, representing Virginia, and ischosen as the presiding officer of the convention.

1789-97 Unanimously elected, George Washington serves as president of the United States. The seat of government is inNew York for the first year and then in Philadelphia for the remainder of his two terms.

1799 General Washington dies from a throat infection called quinsy at Mount Vernon on December 14 at the age of 67.

1802 Martha Washington dies and is entombed beside her husband in the old family vault (old tomb). Mount Vernonpasses to George Washington’s nephew, Bushrod Washington.

1829 Bushrod dies, leaving Mount Vernon to his nephew, John Augustine Washington.

1831 Honoring George Washington’s Last Will and Testament, the new tomb is constructed. Washington, his wifeMartha, and other relatives buried in the old tomb are reinterred in the new tomb.

1858 The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association receives its charter from Virginia and purchases Mount Vernon from JohnA. Washington, Jr., for $200,000.

1860 The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association opens Mount Vernon to the public.

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VI. INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT GEORGE WASHINGTON

• As a boy, George Washington studied reading, arithmetic, geography, astronomy, and surveying.Spelling and handwriting were practiced by writing in a copybook.

• George Washington’s immediate family included a younger sister and three younger brothers. Healso had two older half brothers.

• George Washington did not attend college. When he was 11, his formal education ended with thedeath of his father. He believed strongly in formal education and left money and/or stocks in hiswill to support three educational institutions.

• At the age of 16, George Washington went on a surveying trip across the Blue Ridge Mountains tothe Virginia frontier. He became a life-long surveyor.

• George Washington had reddish-brown hair, blue eyes, and stood approximately 6 feet 2½ inchestall.

• Although they had no children together, George Washington helped raise Martha’s two survivingchildren from her previous marriage, Martha Parke and John Parke Custis, and two of her fourgrandchildren, Nelly (Eleanor Parke Custis) and Washy (George Washington Parke Custis).

• George Washington was a vestryman at two churches – Pohick Church (Truro Parish) and ChristChurch in Alexandria.

• George Washington did not have wooden false teeth. He did have dentures, but they were madeof lead, animal teeth, ivory, and some of his own teeth.

• George Washington did not wear a wig. Wigs were popular in the 18th century and were worn bymany men, but he simply powdered his own hair and tied it in the back - military style.

• George Washington did not chop down a cherry tree as a boy. After the General’s death, ParsonMason Weems wrote this story, which concludes with Washington confessing to his father becausehe “cannot tell a lie.” This story illustrated Washington’s honesty.

• George Washington trained his own horses and was described by Thomas Jefferson as the besthorseman of his time.

• When George Washington was commander in chief of the Continental Army (1775-1783), he spentonly ten days at Mount Vernon – stopping on the way both to and from the final battle of the warin Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781.

• George Washington was the only U.S. president who did not live in the White House, which wasnot completed until after his death.

• George Washington inherited ten slaves from his father when he was just eleven years old, but hisattitude toward slavery gradually changed as he grew older and as he fought for liberty in theAmerican Revolution. In his will, he freed those slaves belonging to him, and his estate paid forthe care of former Mount Vernon slaves for decades after his death.

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• Nelson was George Washington’s favorite horse during the Revolutionary War. Nelson remainedcalm and obedient despite the gunfire and confusion of the worst battles. In recognition ofNelson’s wartime service, he was never ridden or required to work after the war and lived formany years at Mount Vernon.

• By 1799, the year of his death, Washington expanded Mount Vernon to 8,000 acres, with over 3,000acres under cultivation. African-American slaves planted and harvested Washington’s extensivefarmlands.

• George Washington was called the “American Cincinnatus.” Just as Cincinnatus left his farmlandto command the Roman legions against an invading army, Washington also left his plantation toanswer the call of his country. Both men voluntarily returned to private life as farmers after theirmilitary service.

• A number of army officers said America should have a king or emperor at the end of theRevolutionary War and wanted to give the job to George Washington. He opposed the idea, andlater that year Washington and his officers voluntarily resigned their military positions.

• George Washington was described as the “foremost farmer” by an Englishman after visitingMount Vernon. Washington was a pioneer in improving many aspects of farming and believedthat America should become a “granary to the world.” His advanced crop rotations, use offertilizers, experimentation with seedlings, and innovative farm equipment made him one of thepioneers of modern agriculture.

• George Washington changed farming in America when he began breeding mules in 1786. Hebelieved that mules, which are the offspring of male donkeys and female horses, would workharder and longer than most draft or pulling animals. This innovative idea revolutionizedAmerican agriculture.

• George Washington designed a 16-sided barn that allowed horse treading to take place inside,protecting the wheat from dirt and weather. Horses trampled the harvested wheat, trotting on alane inside the nearly circular barn, where the impact of their hooves broke the grain free. Thegrain fell through a slatted floor to the level below where it was cleaned and stored.

• George Washington was the only president in history to have been unanimously elected. At thattime, there was no popular vote for president, only the votes of the electorial college, which wasmade up of representatives from each state.

• George Washington died at age 67 at Mount Vernon on December 14, 1799, of a throat infectioncalled quinsy.

• During the Civil War, Mount Vernon was declared neutral ground by both the Union andConfederacy. Soldiers of both sides could not enter the property while carrying weapons.

• Mount Vernon is not owned by the U.S. government, but is owned by the Mount Vernon Ladies’Association. The Association was formed in 1853 to purchase and preserve George Washington’shome and is the oldest national preservation organization in America.

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VII. RESOURCES FOR TEACHERSFIELD TRIP ENRICHMENT MATIERALS

Go to www.MountVernon.org/Fieldtrips and download activity worksheets, lessons plans,research papers, and our popular biography lesson, George Washington: Lessons in Leadership.

TEACHER RESOURCE CENTER AT MOUNT VERNON

Located in the Phoebe Apperson Hearst Learning Center, the Teacher Resource Center is filledwith books, curriculum kits, lesson plans, and other materials for teaching about GeorgeWashington and his time. Teachers, curriculum specialists, and other educators are welcome tospend as much time as they wish here, exploring the materials available and accessing thecomplete scholarly edition of the Papers of George Washington, which are available online fromthe center.

SPECIAL STUDENT PROGRAMS

Enhance your visit to Mount Vernon by participating in one of our specially-designed studentprograms. Ranging from guided walking tours to immersive learning programs at the GeorgeWashington: Pioneer Farmer site, Mount Vernon offers a variety of special activities which willhelp you meet your state’s Standards of Learning and provide a particularly memorableexperience for your students. Go to www.MountVernon.org/Fieldtrips for more information.

DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMS

Mount Vernon’s “Face to Face” videoconferencing program allows students to engage person-to-person with the people who were a part of George Washington’s daily life at Mount Vernon. Each30-minute program will give students a different view of Washington, from the perspective ofeither Martha Washington, the family housekeeper, Washington’s personal physician, or a colonialstoryteller. For more information, contact our Educational Outreach staff by calling 703-780-2000or emailing education@mountvernon.org.

The Mount Vernon/Fairfax Network Partnership provides schools with engaging and freesatellite-delivered distance learning broadcasts. Go to www.fcps.edu/fairfaxnetwork forbroadcast schedules and to request free DVDs of previously broadcast programs.

GEORGE WASHINGTON PORTRAIT PROGRAM

George Washington set a timeless example of leadership, character, and civic responsibility thatdeserves a place of honor in schools throughout the country. Through Mount Vernon’s GeorgeWashington Portrait Program, portraits of the first president are available to schools free of charge!A beautifully-framed 30” x 36” replica of Rembrandt Peale’s Porthole Portrait of GeorgeWashington comes with a Celebration Kit, which includes a flag flown over Mount Vernon andsuggestions on how to dedicate your portrait upon arrival. Help us put George Washington backin the classroom and in the hearts and minds of young learners everywhere! Go towww.MountVernon.org/GWPortrait for more information.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EDUCATORS

Mount Vernon provides special teacher training opportunities throughout the year, including ourvery popular and competitive week-long Teachers’ Institutes, our annual two-day immersionprogram that’s free and open to all teachers, and An Evening with Educators, our annual holidaycelebration for teachers. Each year, we also honor a creative and passionate educator with theMount Vernon Teacher of the Year Award. The winner receives $5,000 and an all-expenses-paidtrip for his or her students to visit Mount Vernon. For more information, contact our EducationalOutreach staff by calling 703-780-2000 or emailing education@mountvernon.org.

RECOMMENDED WEBSITES

www.mountvernon.org www.georgewashingtonwired.org http://www.washingtonsworld.org/ www.discovergeorgewashington.org http://marthawashington.us/ www.youtube.com/HistoricMountVernon

RECOMMENDED BOOKS

ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SCHOOL

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2008.Come All You Brave Soldiers: Blacks in the Revolutionary War by Clinton Cox. New York: Scholastic, 1999.Farmer George Plants a Nation by Peggy Thomas. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press, 2008.Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2002.Fight for Freedom: The American Revolutionary War by Benson Bobrick. New York: Atheneum Books forYoung Readers, 2004.George Washington by Cheryl Harness. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, 2000.George Washington: A Timeless Hero by Laura Gore and Camelia Sims. Los Angeles: ZANA International,2000.George Washington: Leader of a New Nation by Daniel C. Gedacht. New York: Rosen Publishing Group,2004.George Washington, Spymaster; How the Americans Outspied the British and Won the Revolutionary Warby Thomas B. Allen. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Society, 2004.George vs. George: The American Revolution as Seen from Both Sides by Rosalyn Schanzer. Washington,D.C. National Geographic, 2004.Liberty! How the Revolutionary War Began by Lucille Recht Penner. New York: Random House, 2002.Spy! by Anna Myers. New York: Walker Publishing Company, 2008.The Many Faces of George Washington: Remaking a Presidential Icon by Carla Killough McClafferty.Minneapolis, MN., 2011The Scarlet Stockings Spy by Trinka Hakes Noble. Chelsea, MI: Sleeping Bear Press, 2004.When Washington Crossed the Delaware by Lynne Cheney. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2004.

MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL

Founding Mothers: The Women Who Raised Our Nation by R. Cokie Roberts. New York: Harper Collins,2004.George Washington and the Founding of a Nation by Albert Marrin. New York: Dutton Children’s Books,2001.George Washington’s Rules of Civility and Decent Behaviour in Company and Conversation. New York:Cico Books, 2007. George Washington and Slavery: A Documentary Portrayal by Fritz Hirschfeld. University of MissouriPress, 1997.Martha Washington: An American Life by Patricia Brady. New York: Penguin Group, 2005.Martha Washington: A Brief Biography by Ellen McCallister Clark. Mount Vernon, VA: The Mount VernonLadies’ Association, 2002.Maxims of George Washington: Political, Military, Social, Moral, and Religious by John FrederickSchroeder. Mount Vernon, VA: The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, 1989.My Brother Sam is Dead by Christopher Collier and James Lincoln Collier. New York: Scholastic, 1974.Realistic Visionary: A Portrait of George Washington by Peter R. Henriques. Charlottes, VA: University ofVirginia Press, 2006.The Many Faces of George Washington: Remaking a Presidential Icon by Carla Killough McClafferty.Minneapolis, MN., 2011.We the People: The Story of Our Constitution by Lynne Cheney. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2008.

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MountVernon.org • 703.780.2000

Knowledge is in every country the surest basis of public happiness.

– GEORGE WASHINGTON, JANUARY 8, 1790