Visiting Mt Vernon - Lots of Pictures

Gentle Friends, I flew into DC on Thursday, settled into my Air B&B suite and just relaxed for the evening.  The next morning I got up and started in on my visit.  The first thing I wanted to do was visit Mount Vernon.  If you remember I grew up in Upper Marlboro MD which is in Prince George's County and is a bedroom community to DC.  This was way back in the 1970's and at that time every year in school we took various School trips into DC and other various historical sights around the area.  One of them was Mt Vernon, so I had been there before - but it was 30+ years ago and my memory ain't what it used to be - or ever was!!

I decided to take a cruise from Washington to the Plantation and arrive via the Potomac as one would have in the 18th century- even though I had everything preplanned and paid for - you just never know what might happen.....  that first morning I had given myself plenty of time to get to Pier 4 and I was still about 4 minutes late.... the boat had left........  what I hadn't planned on were...  the long waits using the Metro while changing trains and then trying to find a cab.  Even after finding a cab it had to be the slowest cab on the planet!!!

I got to the office and the gal there let me know that they had left and all they could was to issue me a 12-month credit for another cruise, or could I come back either Saturday or Sunday.... well I other things planned so it was today or nothing......  what we came up with my taking the Metro to the end station in Virgina then switching to a bus which would get me there before the boat would arrive.

  This worked a dream and I actually had an extra hour on site longer than if I had taken the cruise.....  here are some snaps of my visit....

... the west front looking across the Court of Honor, notice the line to the left this is where you stand waiting for your appointed time to visit inside the house....  you can click HERE to read about the history of the house.

... one of "ye olde costumed" guides or actors walking about to give info about the house and period...

... while waiting in line another actor in period attire welcomed us to the Plantaion especially interacting with children in line, a really interesting touch for info and history...

... looking at the west front and kitchen building...

... while waiting in line I took this looking through the logia on the left towards the Potamac.... you are not allowed to take any pictures inside the house so I lifted the next snap from the internet...  

This is the first room you enter on the tour, it was called by General Washington as the "New Room" it is the largest room in the house and was used for receptions, dining and balls.  It has recently been renovated...  as you see it on tour the table has been removed and the chairs are pushed against the walls...

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After the house tour, I wandered all over the estate...

...  the East or River Front of the house...

... here's looking up from the stables towards the house and all the auxiliary buildings that have been reconstructed and or restored...

... the stables...

... the Sheep pen, which is at the foot of the Fruit Garden and Nursery

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... The fruit Garden and Nursery.... Most of the four-acre enclosure was devoted to an orchard that produced the apples, cherries, peaches and other fruits needed in the kitchen.  Vegetables, grains, and pasturere grasses were grown in beds and allowed to "go to seed," providing the seeds essentail to next years planting.  Hedging plants, boxwood, and trees were also propagated here, and matured until they reached a size to be transplanted to a permanent location....

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The Lower (or Kitchen) Garden grew a variety of vegetables, fruits, and herbs.  The high back brick walls helped create a warm environment that extended the planting season, and also served as an effective barrier to animals.

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I walked back up to the house and passed some restoration.... the outside wall of the kitchen....

... another of the house...  I still had lots of time until the cruise back to DC, I wasn't going to miss that boat!!!  So I decided to head for the Slave Burial area....

...on the way there I got this nice shot of the south loggia and porch...

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... there is this piece of info.... 

... the earliest memorial set near the slave burial ground in 1929...  there is now this memorial...

... on the stone is engraved "In Memory of the Afro-Americans who served as slaves at Mount Vernon This monument Marking their Burial ground Dedicated September 21,1983 

by the Mt Vernon Ladies Association"

There seemed to be quite a bit of activity taking palce all aorund the burial area....  

... with identified graves marked out and others in the process of being identified.....

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As I left on the cruise back to Washington I took this of the house from the ship....

Overall it was an exciting day with lots of adventures - first the slowest cab on earth, then missing the boat, the long Metro ride, finding the right bus to get on and eventually getting there before the actual cruise I was supposed to take!!  I am the "make lemonade" type of person and always when on vacation and travelling I go with things that happen and make them work to my advantage!!!

... Coming back into washing I took this of the Washington Monument, wrapping up a nice "Washington" day!!

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More to come!!  Thanks for stopping by do stop again!!

Take care,

edgar