Mount Vernon

While in Washington, DC, our first stop was George Washington's Mount Vernon. We took a river boat cruise up the Potomac to reach the plantation. 

The Spirit of Mt. Vernon docked in the District of Columbia.

Mt. Vernon as seen from the Potomac River.

The back of the mansion. We're looking at the Potomac River.

Washington acquired Mt. Vernon in 1754 and spent the last 45 years of his life working and expanding his farm. He considered himself a farmer above all else. He found the farming practices of his day to be quite inadequate and is credited with inventing and utilizing many innovative farming techniques.

Washington invented a round threshing barn that had two stories. On the upper level, harvested wheat was piled on the floor. Horses were sent trotting around the circle. Their hooves helped separate the grain where it would fall through the cracks to the level below.

The round barn has 16 sides. This is the top level where the horses would enter. To the left, you can see the lower level where the grain would be gathered.

Washington was also the first person in the United States to build a structure to compost manure, or dung, as it is referred to at Mt. Vernon. I'll let the placard explain it.

Washington was the original composter!

The Dung Repository.

Mt. Vernon has been restored and functions as a living, thriving farm. There are sheep, a blacksmith, gardens, and of course horses. There are approximately 15 horses that work at Mt. Vernon throughout the year. They help till the fields and pull visitors in a large wagon through Pioneer Farm. Hubby was quite accommodating when I insisted we take a turn.

If you live here in California, imagine La Purisima or any of our other larger missions. That's what Mt. Vernon felt like. The mansion was very pretty, but humble. The outbuildings are numerous, but also small. And while the place hums with activity and noise, it was hard not to be moved by the fact that this was the home of a great Revolutionary and our first president. 

The front of the mansion.

Washington's tomb.