Alexandria: Mount Vernon (May 2015)

My spouse and I visited Mount Vernon on a Sunday morning in late May 2015. Mount Vernon is open daily every day of the year. The house itself does not take long to tour; in fact, depending on the size of the crowds each day, signs are switched out before patrons enter the house advising them that they will have only 10-15 minutes, 15-20 minutes, or 25-30 minutes inside the house. It seems that the same number of rooms are shown on each tour, regardless of the time permitted, but groups are moved through the rooms more quickly or slowly depending on the crowds. The estate itself is large, and it can take a few hours to walk the entire property, as you stop at various outbuildings and gardens to investigate and read more about them. The museum is quite impressive, and you can spend another few hours here, depending on your interest, and how many displays, placards, and films you want to read and see. After guests exit the museum, a cafeteria, gift shop, and full-service restaurant are available. The full-service restaurant accepts reservations via the Open Table system, although not on weekends. The gift shop has two parts: one side with high-quality (and sometimes very expensive) merchandise, and one side with typical tourist souvenirs like T-shirts and keychains. Parking can be difficult later in the day as the crowds fill the estate. You can begin your estate tour with a 20-minute film, which gives background on George Washington and the estate itself. Various add-on tours and activities are available, in addition to your regular entrance ticket, some of which are free and others that cost an additional fee. (We only participated in the standard tour.) Be sure to take in the view of the Potomac River from the chairs on the back porch of the mansion or as you sit on the grassy hill.

Mount Vernon was the plantation home of George Washington, first President of the United States. The estate is situated on the banks of the Potomac River near Alexandria, and 15 miles south of Washington, DC. The Washington family had owned land in the area since the time of Washington's great-grandfather in 1674. George Washington became its sole owner in 1761. The mansion is built of wood in a loose Palladian style, and was constructed by George Washington in stages between 1758 and 1778. Mount Vernon was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960 and is today listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The rooms at Mount Vernon have been restored to their appearance at the time of George and Martha Washington's occupancy. These rooms include Washington's study, two dining rooms, the West Parlor, the Front Parlor, the kitchen, and some bedrooms. The internal architectural features (such as the doorframes, moldings and plasterwork) range from Palladianism to neoclassicism. In the West Parlor and Small Dining Room, doorframes feature ionic columns and pediments. Many of the rooms are lined with painted paneling and have ceilings ornamented by plasterwork. Today, visitors to Mount Vernon are shown Washington's study, a room to which in the eighteenth century only a privileged few were granted entrance. It is a simply furnished room that Washington used as a combined bathroom, dressing room, and office. Its walls are lined with naturally grained paneling and matching bookcases. The grandest public room is called the New Room or Large Dining Room, and is a two-storied salon with large windows and a marble chimney that occupies the mansion's north side. The interior restoration of the house features original color schemes, furniture, carpets, and decorative objects. George Washington and his family are evident throughout the house in their portraits and former possessions.

We have visited Washington, DC many times, and we had always planned to visit Mount Vernon, but with the abundance of activities and sights in the city itself, we were never able to tear ourselves away. This time, we stayed in Old Town Alexandria so that we could investigate that town and be closer to Mount Vernon. Finally we can check this landmark off our “to see” list!