Mount Vernon is George Washington's house and burial site in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, overlooking the Potomac River, 15 miles (24 km) south of Washington, D.C. The 18th-century two-story Georgian home is made of wood, but the siding is made of big, thick planks paneled together to look like they were cut and hammered together. There are no nails or screws used in its construction; instead, the panels are joined with adhesive made from tree resin.
The house was built as a residence for Washington, who had moved his family out of their previous home on Capitol Hill when he became president. He decided to build himself a new home near where he could entertain guests and have time to relax. The land was donated to Washington by Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia.
He designed the house himself, choosing an area near the river that was well-suited for farming. The house has six bedrooms and seven baths, as well as a large kitchen and dining room on the first floor. Upstairs are three more bedrooms and a small library.
Washington married his wife, Martha, in 1759, just before he went into the army at the age of 26. They had three children: Susan, Elizabeth, and John Quincy. After serving in the army for eight years, George Washington returned to his farm and started a new life as a farmer. But because he was very successful as a farmer, other people wanted him to be their leader. So, he agreed to run for office.
Mount Vernon, George Washington's home, is located in Fairfax County, Virginia, about 10 miles south of Old Town Alexandria. The population was 8,903 at the 2000 census.
Originally known as "Great Meadows" after its large meadow, the area was settled around 1746 when George Washington purchased 500 acres for $10,000 in order to build his new home. He hired architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe to design the house and Thomas Jefferson served as its principal builder. The mansion that today stands in Great Meadows was completed in 1795 and remains one of the finest examples of Federal architecture in the country. After Washington's death in 1799, the house was left empty for several years until Martha Dandridge Custis Lewis came from her own home near Baltimore to live with her son John Paul Jones Custis. She brought with her the furniture and art that had been in the family home in London, England. This furnishings can be seen in many of the pictures taken during this time period.
In 1857, John H. Ewell bought the estate and began a series of improvements that included the addition of more than 30 rooms, all designed by different architects.
Mount Vernon is located in Mount Vernon, Virginia, about eight miles south of Alexandria, overlooking the Potomac River. Although it is unknown who developed the initial estate mansion on the site, George Washington oversaw its numerous extensions and restorations until it became the famous edifice that it is today. The house has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.
Mount Vernon is one of the most important cultural centers in America. It is a living museum that interprets the life of George Washington through his home and office, which are open to the public. In addition, the surrounding grounds are beautifully maintained by the Mount Vernon Estate Association. They provide visitors with opportunities to see crops being grown for food production and livestock being raised for meat sales.
The annual cherry blossom festival is held in late March or early April. Thousands of people come from all over the world to see the blossoms in bloom at Mount Vernon. The festival includes concerts, workshops, and tours of the estate gardens.
There is also a Christmas tree farm near Mount Vernon that allows visitors to see how trees are harvested for use in wreaths and other decorations during the holiday season.
Mount Vernon is a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. It is estimated that between 5,000 and 6,000 people visit the property each year. However, only about 200 of these visitors are allowed inside the house every day.
Mount Vernon was the property of George Washington, the first President of the United States, and his wife, Martha Washington, according to a map of the United States. The estate is located on the Potomac River's banks in Fairfax County, Virginia, in Alexandria, and across the river from Prince George's County, Maryland.
Mount Vernon is the former plantation residence and last resting place of George Washington, the first President of the United States, his wife Martha, and 20 other Washington family members.
The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union, a private, non-profit organization, owns and maintains Mount Vernon in trust for the people of the United States. We do not accept government support and rely entirely on private donations to help maintain George Washington's house and legacy.
Mount Vernon was the home of the first President of the United States, George Washington, and his wife, Martha Washington. The estate is located on the Potomac River's banks in Fairfax County, Virginia, in Alexandria, and across the river from Prince George's County, Maryland.
The Mansion at George Washington's Mount Vernon is one of America's most recognizable 18th-century residences. It's 10 times the size of the average colonial Virginia house... The Manor.
Built: | 1734 |
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Major Expansions: | 1758, 1774, 1776 |
Square Footage: | 11,028 |
Rooms: | 21 |
Height: | Two and a half stories |
Mount Vernon is the former plantation residence and last resting place of George Washington, the first President of the United States, his wife Martha, and 20 other Washington family members. The estate was purchased by the government for $24,000 in 1790 and was later made available to Washington's grandchildren at cost. Today, it is operated as a national monument by the National Park Service.
George Washington planned to build his new home near Philadelphia but fate had other ideas. In 1754, when Washington was appointed commander of the colonial forces against France, he learned that his father had died and left him ownership of some 500 acres of land on the Potomac River. Grief-stricken and with no time to waste, Washington quickly sold off parts of this land, including 100 acres for $20,000, and with this money bought the present site of Mount Vernon in Fairfax County, Virginia. He began building his house that same year.
Over the next seven years, Washington grew more and more obsessed with building his dream home. Finally, in 1792, he laid out plans for a house that would become famous the world over.