George Washington’s Mount Vernon

George Washington loved his Virginia estate known as Mount Vernon. Apparently, he is not the only one because Mount Vernon averages 1 million guests per year and is by far the most popular historic estate in the United States of America! Today, the sprawling plantation, though much smaller than its original size, enables visitors to walk in the path of the Washingtons and the men & women who were enslaved there.

History

The land on which the Mount Vernon estate was built was first acquired by the Washington family in the late 1600s. It was first known as “Little Hunting Creek Plantation” and after passing through a few generations, it was purchased by Augustine Washington (George’s father). About 1734, Augustine built the first mansion house on site, made of wood (it was this original structure that would be added onto over the years). In 1740, Augustine passed the estate and land onto his son, Lawrence (half-brother to George). It was Lawrence who named it “Mount Vernon,” after English naval officer Edward Vernon.

George Washington comes into the picture on February 22, 1732 (according to the Gregorian calendar), when he was born as the first child of six to Augustine Washington and his second wife, Mary Ball. Young George grew up on the family lands and as a young man, took up work as a surveyor in 1749. He learned the vast tracts of land in Virginia and to the west- knowledge that served him well in later years. In 1751, George went on another adventure, though one that was less joyful. He sailed to the Caribbean island of Barbados with his half-brother, Lawrence, who hoped the climate would help cure his tuberculosis (this is the only time George Washington ever went abroad). Overall, the trip did not go well- George contracted smallpox and Lawrence did not improve (Lawrence died at Mount Vernon on July 26, 1752).

In 1754, George Washington leased the estate; however, he was occupied by his service in the French & Indian War (that same year he carried out an attack on the French at Jumonville Glen and in July, suffered defeat in the Battle of Fort Necessity). Seven years later around 1761, Washington became the sole owner of Mount Vernon. Beginning in the 1750s, George was driven by a desire to update and perfect his beloved estate to fulfill his role as a country gentleman. Accordingly, he expanded the main house in the late 1750s and added a full second story and a garret. It was around this time (1758) that earliest known records reveal that George met a wealthy widow named Martha Custis. On January 6, 1759, the two were wed at her home in New Kent County, Virginia. By April, the newlyweds and Martha’s two children, John Parke Custis and Martha “Patsy” Parke Custis, moved to Mount Vernon.

From the time they moved to Mount Vernon in 1759 until around 1775, the Washingtons lived at the plantation and George curiously pursued multiple farming practices and techniques. Perhaps one of his biggest changes as a farmer was to change his main “cash” crop from tobacco (which exhausted the soil) to wheat in the 1760s. Other crops at Mount Vernon included barley, corn, oats, rye, potatoes, carrots, turnips, flax, various types of closer, grasses, cabbage, beans, and cotton, just to name a few. Of course, despite his deep interest in experimental farming and crop rotation, it was slave labor that toiled the land. In 1774, tax documents show that the plantation had 15 hired/indentured servants and 119 slaves working there. During his younger years, George never really questioned slavery- it was simply part of their society and their world (that would change in the future, however).

Washington constantly strived to make Mount Vernon the country mansion that he imagined and in the 1770s, more additions and changes were made. These additions included the building of two-story rooms onto the main house and in 1775, two secondary wings, which created the estate’s now iconic cour d’honneur (court of honor). This change gave Mount Vernon a grand look, which undoubtedly impressed visitors as they approached in their carriage. Additionally, he had purchased various tracts of land over the past two decades, which expanded the estate’s size to thousands of acres.

As George Washington continued to plan his fields, gardens, and house projects, his world was upended by an event that would change the trajectory of his life forever: the American Revolutionary War. In early 1775, Washington was chosen as a Virginia delegate to the Second Continental Congress (he had served as a member of Virginia’s House of Burgesses for the past 15 years). On May 9, 1775, Washington arrived in Philadelphia and quickly became part of various committees. Aware of his past and perhaps his future role, Washington wore his blue Virginia Regiment uniform to Congress. On June 19, 1775, he was commissioned as the Commander-in-Chief of the newly-minted Continental Army, which then was really just thousands of militia gathering outside Boston. Washington was chosen for a variety of reasons, to include his past military experience, the fact that he was from Virginia (this was geographically important to connect the colonies), and because he was an upstanding gentleman.

Throughout the American Revolutionary War, George Washington remained away from Mount Vernon; however, Martha visited him often and spent nearly half the war away from their estate, to include many winters in the army’s encampment with her husband. During the war, George’s third cousin, Lund Washington, managed the plantation. Interestingly, even during some of the darkest hours of the war, George found time to write letters home to Lund, instructing him on particular farming or architectural changes he wanted done. He heavily relied on Lund, especially since he essentially never visited Mount Vernon during the war. One exception occurred during the army’s march south from New York to Yorktown in late 1781. Washington finally visited his beloved estate, accompanied by many of his generals and those of the French Army- imagine those fascinating few days at Mount Vernon!

On Christmas Eve 1783, George Washington finally returned to Mount Vernon after eight long years of war. The day before he resigned his commission as Commander-in-Chief at the Maryland State House in Annapolis (an act that supposedly led King George III to remark “if he does that, he will be the greatest man in the world”). Washington was undoubtedly overjoyed to finally be home. In fact, in a letter to the Marquis de Lafayette dated February 1, 1784, Washington wrote:

I am not only retired from all public employments but I am retiring within myself, and shall be able to view the solitary walk and tread the paths of private life with heartfelt satisfaction … I will move gently down the stream of life, until I sleep with my fathers.”

Of course, Washington’s peaceful retirement was not to last. In the months following his return home, multiple visitors stopped by Mount Vernon (many unannounced) to visit with the general. Additionally, Washington left on a 34-day journey to visit the thousands of acres of land he owned in the Ohio Country to the west. Regardless, he found time to complete the changes he wanted to the house and continued to experiment with crops and animals. Perhaps his most famous (or at least, interesting) experiment was to breed male donkeys with female horses, which resulted in a mule. Through these breeding efforts, the mule became an important and hardworking creature at Mount Vernon and well beyond.

By early 1787, Washington had (begrudgingly) decided to accept his position as the leader of the Virginian delegation to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia (he arrived on May 9th- the same day he arrived in congress in 1775). For the next four months, Washington quietly watched over the secret proceedings of the convention, undoubtedly day-dreaming of his farm on occasion.

In early 1789, Charles Thomson (congressional secretary) arrived at Mount Vernon to inform George Washington that he had been elected the first President of the United States. Once again, he was pulled away from Mount Vernon and proceeded to New York City. On April 30, 1789, George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the United States on the balcony of New York’s Federal Hall. Chancellor Robert Livingston administered the oath, while Samuel Otis, Secretary of the Senate, held the bible (interestingly, a bible had not been set aside for this famous ceremony in advance and the one used was grabbed from St. John’s Lodge at the last moment).

During Washington’s two terms as President, he briefly resided in New York City until August 1790 and then in Philadelphia for the remainder of his time in office. Although he played a crucial role in planning the new capitol along the Potomac River (now known as Washington D.C.) and the construction of the presidential mansion, Washington is actually the only US President to have never lived in the White House.

While he served as President and was largely away from his home in Virginia, a few of his enslaved people lived with the family in Philadelphia, while the rest remained at Mount Vernon. It was during these years that Washington’s complicated relationship with the institution of slavery, and his slaves in particular, became apparent. A 1780 Pennsylvania law (known as the Gradual Abolition Act) stated that slaves would be freed if they moved to the state and lived there for a period of time greater than six months. Since he and some of his slaves lived in Philadelphia, Washington found a way to essentially bypass this law. He intentionally planned for the slaves he had with him to travel back to Mount Vernon (or simply out of the state) before they reached the six month mark, thereby “re-setting” the clock so they would not be able to claim freedom.

Perhaps the most remarkable story from this period involved the Washington family’s slave Ona “Oney” Judge, who belonged to the Custis estate. Ona was one of eight slaves who accompanied the Washington family to the executive mansion in New York and then Philadelphia and was also one of those who was intentionally rotated out of the state. During her time with the Washingtons, Ona served as Martha’s personal maid; however, she soon learned that Washington intended to give Ona as a wedding present. In the face of this news, combined with her exposure to the free black and abolitionist communities of Philadelphia, Ona decided to take her fate into her own hands. On May 21, 1796, Ona escaped, just prior to the Washington family’s return to Mount Vernon for the summer. The brave young woman (a mere 22-years-old) eventually made her way to the coastal town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. After a few months of close calls, extreme anxiety and fear, and multiple attempts by Washington to retrieve Ona, she had finally and rightfully become free. Ona’s story is but one amazing example of the dangerous, brave, and life-altering decisions so many slaves made to achieve freedom.

In March 1797, after eight years as our first President, an exhausted and aged Washington finally returned to Mount Vernon for the final time. Perhaps he was infused with energy at the sight of his plantation, because he undertook quite a few projects during his final years. Although his plantation was far from profitable, he still eagerly experimented with various farming techniques, spent countless hours riding and inspecting his property, and even established a commercial distillery in 1797 (his distillery was perhaps the most profitable aspect of his plantation and produced nearly 11,000 gallons of whiskey in 1799!).

By the end of the 18th-century, Mount Vernon was comprised of multiple farms covering approximately 7,600 acres and Washington enjoyed riding his property on a daily basis to inspect his farms, gardens, and property. During these rides, he interacted with the enslaved people of Mount Vernon. These men and women lived in quarters not far from the mansion, though in considerably worse conditions than the Washington family. Near the end of his life, Washington’s Mount Vernon enslaved 317 people, who worked at the main house, in the fields, and other various jobs around the property. This included William “Billy” Lee, who served as Washington’s personal valet throughout the American Revolutionary War and was with him at nearly all times. Lee experienced multiple accidents during the 1780s, which hobbled him physically and greatly limited what he could do. By 1799, Billy worked as a shoemaker at Mount Vernon and also fixed saddles (the shoes he made were for is fellow slaves). Washington gained a deep appreciation for his faithful manservant, Billy, and their relationship may have contributed to Washington’s shift in mindset towards slavery later in his life.

On December 12, 1799, Washington rode about his farms and returned later that day with a sore throat. The next day, he was well enough to ride about again, this time to mark specific trees that he desired to be cut down. On December 14th, he awoke with an extremely sore throat and had difficulty breathing- doctors were summoned. Throughout the day, Doctors James Craik, Gustavus Brown, and Elisha Dick tended to the dying Washington, and conducted bloodletting on multiple occasions. According to his private secretary, Tobias Lear, Washington died between 10-11PM on December 14th, uttering his last words, “Tis’ well.” Modern scholarship largely agrees that Washington died of a severe case of epiglottitis. Washington was initially buried in the old family vault on the property; however, it was in poor condition and even Washington stipulated in his will for a new tomb to be constructed. It wasn’t until 1831 when Washington was moved to the new tomb, finally completed.

In his Last Will & Testament, George Washington stated that the enslaved people of Mount Vernon would be freed upon the death of his wife; however, this only applied to less than half of the estate’s slaves, since most were owned by the Custis estate and would be inherited by Martha’s grandchildren upon her death. Regardless, Washington did something that no other slave-owning founding father did- he made a clear statement against slavery. The only slave Washington did free immediately in his will was Billy Lee. Washington also provided him with a $30 annual allowance and wrote:

This I give him as a testimony of my sense of his attachment to me, and for his faithful services during the Revolutionary War.”

After Martha Washington’s death in 1802, the Mount Vernon estate transferred to George’s nephew, Bushrod Washington. He managed Mount Vernon until 1829 but unfortunately, allowed the estate to fall into disrepair over the years. Upon Bushrod’s death, Mount Vernon passed to his nephew, John Augustine Washington II. Although he only managed the property for about three years, he did accomplish the construction of the new Washington family vault, where George and Martha currently lie at rest. When John died in 1832, his wife, Jane Charlotte Blackburn Washington, managed Mount Vernon for the next 18 years. In 1841, she leased it to her son, John Augustine Washington III, who eventually took full ownership of the estate from 1850 until 1858. Though he attempted to farm the land and rejuvenate the property, it had decreased to only 1,200 acres and was apparently not sustainable or lucrative.

In 1858, everything began to change for Mount Vernon. In that year, the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association took ownership of the property and ensured it would be preserved for generations to come. In 1860, the estate opened to the public, only to be interrupted by the American Civil War. Thankfully, Mount Vernon was considered neutral territory during the war and did not suffer any damage. The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association was adamant about protecting and maintaining the estate’s neutrality, so much so that they required any soldier who visited to lay down their arms and cover or remove their uniform.

Today, the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association continues to operate the estate and the approximately 500 acres of historic property that remain. Incredibly, the continued preservation, restoration, and management of the property is carried out without any government funding.

Our Visit & Recommendations

Mount Vernon has been on my list of places to visit for many years, so I was ecstatic to finally go! We visited on a beautiful spring morning, which later turned into a cloudy/rainy afternoon (something a farmer, such as George, would appreciate). The Mount Vernon website has all the details you need to plan your trip. A few things to note: all visitors must purchase a grounds pass in order to tour the mansion and/or take other specific tours that are offered. The grounds pass includes an optional audio tour and access to the outbuildings, gardens, farm, trails, and tomb only.

As we passed through the 1899 “Texas Gate” (so named because citizens of Texas raised the funds to build the entrance piece, which was dedicated on the 100th anniversary of Washington’s death), we came to the Ford Orientation Center. The center offers guest services, a 20-minute orientation video, maps of the grounds, and some very interesting displays. Particularly, I was struck by two displays: the Washington family sculptures and the stunning stained-glass windows. The life-size bronze sculptures of George, Martha, George Washington “Washy” Parke Custis, & Eleanor “Nelly” Parke Custis, depict the family around 1785. Nearby is a beautiful stained-glass mural, which is titled “Moments of Truth.” This stunning mural highlights five key moments from Washington’s life.

After exploring the Ford Orientation Center for a bit, we headed out onto the property to begin exploring the grounds. Due to the massive amounts of information we learn and photographs we took while visiting Mount Vernon, I decided to break up our visit into four main categories to best cover the estate and assist with your visit: The Grounds, the Mansion, the Outbuildings, and the Museum.

The Grounds

We wanted as much time to explore the grounds prior to our scheduled mansion house tour, so we decided to check out the museum and gift shop later in the day prior to leaving. As we meandered around the property, we admired the blooming trees and flowers- spring was certainly in the air! Our first stop was to the new tomb of George & Martha Washington. In 1837, this tomb was completed (as Washington desired in his will) and he and Martha were each placed in a marble sarcophagus. In front of this brick tomb stands two small marble shafts, which are in memory of Bushrod Washington and John Augustine Washington.

From there, we meandered down towards the wharf and ferry landing, located on the beautiful Potomac River. Other than the great views of the river, the wharf provides a few interpretive signs that provide some unique information about Mount Vernon and the role the river and fishing played in the plantation’s daily life.

While you are down by the river, I recommend walking over to the Pioneer Farmer Site, which is a 4-acre site that explores Washington’s role as a farmer. Here you will find farm fields, a pole shelter, batteau shed, a 16-sided treading barn, and a reproduction slave cabin. Additionally, there is a slave memorial in the woods not far from this area, which marks the approximate burial location for many of the Mount Vernon slaves (definitely refer to the map to find all of these sites with ease).

The time for our mansion tour was approaching, so we made our way back towards the main house in preparation for our tour (we admired the pastoral scenes about us as we walked).

The Mansion

The most iconic symbol of the Mount Vernon plantation is, of course, the mansion itself. This appealing architectural gem began as a simple country house and under the guiding hand of George Washington, became an elegant estate. The group for our tour time lined up just outside the mansion and waited until it was our turn to meander the rooms of Mount Vernon. As we stood there and chatted, we learned a pretty interesting fact about the stone-like estate: it is not made of stone! What appears to be stone is actually wood, all part of an effect known as “rustication.” The house is actually sided with pine wood, intentionally cut and beveled to appear like stone blocks. To make the effect even more realistic, sand was tossed onto the wet paint during the finishing process (this gave it a more stone-like texture). Additionally, the cream/buff color of Mount Vernon is actually how it looked in 1796, which was the color Washington himself selected.

Finally, the line began to move and we filed in towards the northern addition to the mansion, known as servant’s hall. This small building (located on the end of the wing stretching north from the main house) was built in 1775. Although the plantation manager, William Pierce, lived in this space for three years, it was primarily used to house the servants of any visiting guests. Today it is furnished much as it would’ve probably looked in the late 18th-century, with limited furnishings. Interestingly, there are two fireplaces in this space, which are both very different sizes (a building miscommunication that Washington was not too pleased about).

From the servants hall we walked down the iconic northern wing and proceeded into the main house- I was so excited! The first room we explored on this tour was what Washington referred to as the “new room.” This was because it was the last addition built onto the house and arguably, the most opulent. Immediately upon entering, I was struck by the two-story high ceilings, green paint, and stunning details (the pictures do not do it justice).

During Washington’s life, this room was used for a variety of purposes. Primarily, it served as a receiving space for visitors to Mount Vernon, who were undoubtedly struck by the grand beauty of the room. Standing in that space, I could imagine guests meandering the space and admiring the furnishings, waiting for George Washington to enter the room and officially greet them. Perhaps these visitors even looked into one of the two large “looking glass” (mirror) in the corners, which were purchased by Washington around 1789 (these two mirrors also adorned the executive mansion in Philadelphia during Washington’s presidency). Most pieces in this space were owned by the Washingtons, to include the side chairs, the two sideboard pieces, and fireplace mantel among others.

After passing through the little parlor (which was undergoing preservation), we walked proceeded to the central passage. This passage provides visitors with access to numerous spaces, as well as the center staircase to the second floor (our tour unfortunately only included the first floor). Perhaps one of the most famous items on display in the house is on display in the central passage: the Bastille Key. This key was presented to George Washington from the Marquis de Lafayette in March 1790 and remains one of the most iconic pieces at Mount Vernon.

While in the central passage, we peaked into a few other spaces nearby. First, we looked into the front parlor, which is known for its bright blue furniture and curtains. Prior to the addition of the “new room,” the front parlor was considered the most elegant space in the house. It was in this room that Washington and his family relaxed, took coffee and tea, and read or play games in the evenings. Essentially, this was the primary living room for the family (used very similar to how people use their living rooms today- but without a television, of course).

The next space we looked into was the dining room, which really caught our attention. The bright green walls may seem a bit obnoxious to the modern-eye, but it was anything but in the 18th-century. This paint color was actually verdigris (encrustation on copper due to oxidation) combined with a pigment, which was then painted onto the wall. Due to the very expensive cost for this paint type, it served as a symbol of Washington’s wealth and style (not to mention, he had to have the walls constantly re-painted and maintained, because continued oxidation would turn the walls black).

Once I got past the green walls, I noticed the black and white checkered floor pattern beneath the dining room table. This is actually a painted floor cloth (usually made of canvas or sailcloth), which was used in areas that were high-traffic or prone to staining from spills. Though the existing piece is a reproduction, it is in the checkered pattern, which was often used because it gave the appearance of marble.

The last room on our tour was George Washington’s personal study. It was in this space that he bathed, dressed, and kept his clothes; however, this is also where Washington carried out professional business, to include the management of the plantation. Apparently Washington did not allow anyone in his study without permission. In fact, there was even a private back staircase that he took from his bedchamber to the study! I wonder what he would think about so many uninvited guests carelessly passing through his private study every day?

Some pieces in the study were originally owned by Washington. Notably, the chest on the floor was purportedly used by him during his service as commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution. The black chair by the desk is known as the “presidential chair,” because Washington used it for most of his presidency and had it brought to his study at Mount Vernon after he left office. Additionally, the secretary desk/bookcase against the wall was purchased by Washington in 1797 for $145!

Our tour of the mansion concluded in the small building attached to the southern wing, which was Mount Vernon’s kitchen. It was in this space that every meal for the Washington family and their guests were prepared by hired servants and enslaved people (imagine how busy this kitchen must have been). In order to keep the additional heat, noise, and threat of destructive fire away from the main house, the kitchen was placed in this separate structure.

Our tour of the mansion went by way too quickly in my opinion- I could’ve easily spent hours wandering through the house and admiring all of the unique pieces of furniture, artwork, and items that were owned by the Washington family.

The Outbuildings

After touring the mansion, we headed out to explore the many outbuildings on the property, which includes over a dozen historic structures. Some of these buildings were used as housing for the enslaved people of Mount Vernon, while others were used to carry out specific jobs and tasks. Extending to the north and south of the mansion are rows of outbuildings, which make up what is known as the “south lane” and “north lane.” All of these outbuildings mimic the look of the mansion, in that they are a buff/cream color with red roofing.

Along the south lane stands the stables, coach house, dung repository, laundry, smokehouse, and store house. Today, sheep and other farm animals still wander about the fenced-in area near the stables, providing guests with an interactive experience. We peaked into each outbuilding and read the green and white signs, which provide a brief description of each structure and its use.

After exploring the south lane, we crossed back in front of the mansion and proceeded to the north lane. Along this stretch you will find the gardener’s house, a salt house (with the botanical garden behind it), the spinning room, the overseer’s lodging, and the blacksmith shop. These structures provide an in-depth look into some of the daily operations of the plantation, particularly in the spinning room, where flax and wool were spun into thread, which would be used to create cloth.

One building that really caught my interest of the Overseer’s Quarters. Mount Vernon had an overseer assigned to manage each of the five farms. This particular building was the residence for the Mansion House Farm overseer, who closely supervised the servants, enslaved people, crops, and animals on the farm (Washington was often away from Mount Vernon and really relied on the overseers to manage daily operations). While these living quarters were far more humble and plain as compared to the mansion, they were overwhelmingly comfortable and spacious compared to the slave quarters (located just around the corner).

The men’s and women’s slave quarters are located along the side of the greenhouse building. These bunk rooms are exactly how they sound- tightly packed rooms with wooden bunks for the slaves to sleep. Though originally constructed in April 1792, the wooden bunks you see today were reconstructed in 2010. Additionally, the greenhouse and associated slave quarters were reconstructed between 1950 and 1952, since the original structure burned in 1835. While exploring the enslaved women’s bunk room, we noticed a patch of darker brick on the back wall near the fireplace. This section of brick is actually the only surviving section of original bricks from when the building was constructed form 1791-1792.

Both the men’s and women’s bunk rooms provide a lot of information about the lives of the enslaved at Mount Vernon. From what they wore, what they ate, and how they lived their daily lives, a series of interpretive signs and unique historic items provide a better understanding of what it was like to work as a slave at the plantation.

The sign in the women’s bunk room provides a brief explanation of what this space might have been like in 1799: “had you entered this room one evening in 1799, you might have encountered ten to fifteen female slaves and perhaps their children. The women’s lives were defined by work. They lived close to the Mansion, where a few were house slaves, and to the outbuildings, where others sewed clothing, cooked, or did laundry for the Washingtons.” Some of these female slaves included Lucy and Delia (knitters), Betty Davis and Delphy Judge (spinners), Charlotte (seamstress), and Sall (a house maid).

After exploring the slave quarters, we proceeded to the upper garden. This beautiful garden was possibly one of George Washington’s favorite spots on his plantation and started as a garden for fruit and nut plants. In 1776, he had a surrounding stone wall completed and by 1785, the garden had been transformed into a space to display flowers and vegetables. In one corner of the upper garden is a small structure, which is known as the north garden house. This tiny octagonal structure was built in 1785 as one of four; however, Washington had this particular one moved to its present location in 1786. Interestingly, it was used as a small schoolhouse from 1786 to 1789, when Tobias Lear (Washington’s private secretary) instructed the Custis children.

We spent quite some time in the upper garden to admire the beautiful flowers and vegetation. From there, we decided to walk back towards the bowling green to take in some last views of the mansion before heading to the museum. As we wandered amidst the trees, we noticed a small black placard on one of the trees. Lo and behold, it marked the tree (a tulip poplar) as having been planting circa 1785. You never know what you will find as you walk about the grounds of Mount Vernon!

The Museum

We wish we had more time to explore the grounds, but we wanted to ensure we set aside enough time to adequately see the museum. To be honest, there were so many amazing artifacts on display that it would be overwhelming to include all of the photos I took here; therefore, I will highlight a few of the exhibits and unique items within the museum (you will just have to visit yourself to see it all!).

The museum is generally organized in a chronological format, which follows the life and times of George Washington and the Mount Vernon estate. These exhibits include many life-size recreations of major life events from Washington’s life, along with many items personally owned and used by Washington and his family- it is truly an astounding collection! Some of the items on display that really caught my eye include Washington’s drafting tools that he used as a surveyor and a pair of his eyeglasses (possibly used during the Newburgh Address).

To me, the most fascinating item on display is a set of dentures that were worn by George Washington. Most people are aware today that the classic story of Washington’s false teeth being made of wood is simply untrue. Rather, his dentures were made human teeth (some from enslaved people at Mount Vernon), cow teeth, and elephant ivory. As you can see here, the spring-loaded dentures would’ve been extremely uncomfortable and they required constant adjusting. It is no wonder that Washington rarely smiled!

Other than the set of dentures, another incredible piece on display is the original 1785 bust of George Washington by Jean-Antoine Houdon. I probably stared at this bust for a solid five minutes- this is quite possibly the closest we will ever get to seeing George Washington in real life.

Perhaps the most moving exhibit at the museum discusses the lives of those enslaved at Mount Vernon. Even after Washington’s death in 1799, slavery persisted at the plantation since many of the slaves there were part of the Custis estate. Even after Martha died in 1802, three generations of Washington family members enslaved men and women at Mount Vernon. The museum here gives the names and roles of those slaves, while also bringing light to their lives- an important history that we must continue to study and understand.

Legacy

George Washington is often called the “father of our country” and rightfully so. His contributions to the founding of the United States of America are unparalleled. From the battlefield to the executive mansion, Washington led with bravery and grace. Of course, he was also a complicated man, as were all of our founding fathers. He never could have imagined where our nation is today, but his action to free his slaves upon Martha’s death, as written in his Last Will & Testament, was an important decision that can not be understated. Let us hope that we can continue to strive for full equality and freedom for all Americans and to fulfill the promises of our beloved Declaration of Independence.