Home is where the heart resides. To truly understand a man, one must search and visit his home as one’s home often provides greater insight into the man heart of the . As a Founding Father and the first president of the United States, George Washington and his legacy continue to persist through the age of time. His valiant fights and strong leadership remain remembered in the hearts and lives of Americans. Yet, to truly understand this Founding Father, one must take a look at his beloved home, Mount Vernon. An often well known and repeated fact, countless people remark that Mount Vernon held Washington’s heart in her hands.[1] Located in Mount Vernon, Virginia, Washington’s plantation home continues to exist today through careful protection and preservation. Vast amounts of history flow from the sacred space located along the Potomac River. Through the study of Mount Vernon’s homeowners, various buildings and rooms, ownership of slaves, and one understands why Mount Vernon continues and maintains great significance today. Mount Vernon remains the beloved home of America’s first president and the beloved and frequently visited home by American’s all over the country.

[1] Harrison H. Dodge, Mount Vernon: Splitting the Difference (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippencott Company, 1932) 7.

Before looking at the structure of Mount Vernon, one must peer into the windows of the plantation home to observe the famous family who symbolized the heart of the home. As the prominent figure in the shaping of America, Washington not only wore the titles of president and commander, but Washington lived and upheld a reputation that others began to admire. In The Founding Father: George Washington, Benjamin Latrobe remarks, “He [Washington] had something uncommonly majestic and command in his walk, his address, his figure and his countenance. He did not speak at any time with remarkable fluency. Perhaps the extreme correctness of his language, which almost seemed studied, prevented that effect.”[1] Washington’s reputation truly paved the way to his successes while shaping America. After defeating the French in 1758, Washington desired to return home to Mount Vernon to continue farming and serving in the local government.[2] Yet, in need of cash to develop Mount Vernon, Washington decided to marry a wealthy widow, Martha Dandridge.[3] Martha eventually became the first First Lady of the United States. Although no children appeared, the marriage did not lack love. Washington treated Martha with respect and referred to her for countless matters, and Martha tirelessly committed to Washington’s comfort and career.[4] Together, the couple exemplified a successful marriage. Although no children resulted from their marriage, plenty of children roamed the plantation. Washington fathered his extended family, a role that he loved.[5] Overall, the both George and Martha loved Mount Vernon spending countless hours in the beloved home. Harrison Dodge writes, “Nothing that we know about Washington’s inner nature do we know so well as his deep, unchanging affection for his Virginia home.”[6] As people truly embody the spirit of a home, the homeowners represented the pure heart of Mount Vernon.

[1] Paul Johnson, The Founding Father, (New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2005), 30.

[2] Ibid., 34.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid., 36.

[6] Harrison, Mount Vernon, 7.

Even though the heart of Mount Vernon resided in the hearts of the Washington family, the structure and grounds of the mansion resides in Virginia today. In 1754 after the death of his older half brother, Washington acquired two thousand acres of land that make up Mount Vernon.[1] Throughout the years, Mount Vernon endured multiple expansions and construction, not only during Washington’s time, but during the restoration process. Originally, a simple cottage of eight rooms, the small cottage along the banks of the Potomac required improvements to accommodate the new homeowners.[2] These improvements developed solely from Washington’s designs and plans.[3] The expansion did not occur suddenly, but improvements established to satisfy the immediate needs of the coming bride and groom. A large room for entertaining guests during meals remained a chief essential of the soon-to-be mansion.[4] Throughout the course of the expansion, a butler’s pantry, library, spacious bedroom for the George and Martha, kitchen, office, wash house, smoke house, spinning room, storeroom, parlor, dining room, main hall, sitting room, and various other rooms developed across the plantation grounds.[5] These rooms still remain in existence today for the viewing pleasure and experience of the countless guests of Mount Vernon. Not only were the buildings extensive and well built, but the foliage and landscaping around the beloved home abounded in beauty. In his writings, Washington expressed a love of trees and shrubs creating “wilderness” throughout the views of the Potomac River.[6] Today, the trees and landscaping continue to bloom beauty and the aroma the first president envisioned. Jean Lee writes, “Whether reached over rough roads that wound through dense, hilly woodlands, or first glimpsed from the Potomac River, the mansion and grounds appeared beautifully upon you when you little expect [it].”[7] From the visionary mind of Washington himself, Mount Vernon developed into a spectacular home that continues to capture the hearts of Americans today.

[1] Dennis J. Pogue, “The Domestic Architecture of Slavery at George Washington’s Mount Vernon,” Winterthur Portfolio 37, no. 1 (2002): 5.

[2] Harrison, Mount Vernon, 22.

[3] The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association of the Union, George Washington’s Mount Vernon: Official Guidebook (Mount Vernon: Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association of the Union, 2001), 17.

[4] Ibid., 25.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Ibid., 21.

[7] Jean B. Lee, “History Memory, Sectional Strife, and the American Mecca: Mount Vernon, 1783-1853,” The Virginia Magazine of History and Bibliography 109, no. 3 (2001): 260.

Although Mount Vernon represents a beautiful family and home, the First President and First Lady owned a vast number of slaves. From the acquisition of the home in 1754, Washington received twenty-seven slaves from Lawrence Washington.[1] Even his wife, Martha, inherited slaves totaling 153 from her late first husband.[2] Yet, Washington’s number of slaves would heavily increase. A few months before Washington died, he counted 316 slaves that resided and worked on the land.[3] Although these numbers did not represent the largest amount of slaves owned in Virginia, the amount of slaves owned by the Washington’s exemplified wealth and prosperity. Even though countless slaves inhabited Mount Vernon, Washington always disapproved of slavery believing the practice to be morally wrong, and this hatred grew as Washington aged.[4] Even through his advertisements for his runaway slaves, Washington refused to whip his runaway slaves.[5] Although Washington’s disapproval of slavery lacked evidence in the number of slaves owned, Washington’s will and testament spoke volumes to his character. In his 1799 Will and Testament, Washington predetermined that his slaves would receive freedom after the death of his wife, Martha.[6] After Washington’s death, Martha freed her recently deceased husband’s slaves before her death in fear of the slaves killing her for freedom.[7] Slaves played a large role in the lives of the Washington’s and the existence of Mount Vernon. Today, tombstones exist to remember the lives of those who toiled on the sacred grounds.

[1] Pogue, “The Domestic Architecture of Slavery at George Washington’s Mount Vernon,” 5.

[2] Ibid., 22.

[3] Scott Casper, Sarah Johnson’s Mount Vernon: A Forgotten History of an American Shrine (New York: Douglas & McIntyre Ltd., 2008), 5.

[4] Johnson, The Founding Father, 38.

[5] George Washington, Advertisement for Runaway Slaves in W. W. Abbot, et. al., eds., Papers of George Washington, 7 vols (Charlottesville, VA: University Press of Virginia, 1761-1767), 65-68.

[6] George Washington, “George Washington’s 1799 Will and Testament,” accessed on November 16, 2015. http://www.mountvernon.org/educational-resources/primary-sources-2/article/george-washingtons-1799-will-and-testament/.

[7] Johnson, The Founding Father, 49.

Due to the historical significance of the home and family, Mount Vernon continues to embody great significance today. Nicknamed America’s Hometown, the American Mecca, and countless more, Mount Vernon represents sacred space for America.[1] Purchased around the time of the Civil War, the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association began to restore and preserve the history saturated walls in Mount Vernon.[2] Through the preservation and restoration of Mount Vernon, several other historical moments contribute to the historic landmark's reputation. In fact, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed Mount Vernon in 1939 on the 150th anniversary of the election of Washington as president.[3] Even Roosevelt remarks that “We know that when Mount Vernon came to him by inheritance, here his heart was planted for all time.”[4] Countless other famous and presidential figures visit the estate over the years. With over 1.1 million visitors a year, “Washington’s home is among the foremost American icons and a destination for people from around the world.”[5] Throughout school curriculums, American students not only learn about the significance of the first president, but students learn about the significance of Mount Vernon. Through the continued study, Mount Vernon will not be forgotten. Dodge concludes, “Thus Mount Vernon is not only a reminder and a memory of the happenings of the Washington period, but is a cross-section of contemporary history- a fact which year after year steadily adds to its intrinsic value.”[6]

[1] Lee, “History Memory, Sectional Strife, and the American Mecca: Mount Vernon, 1783-1853,” 255.

[2] “Washington, D. C. Exhibit and Museum Reviews,” The Public Historian 25, no. 2 (2003): 101.

[3] Franklin D. Roosevelt, “Address at Mount Vernon,” accessed on December 2, 2015, http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=15742

[4] Ibid.

[5] “Washington, D. C. Exhibit and Museum Reviews,” The Public Historian 25, no. 2 (2003): 101.

[6] Dodge, Mount Vernon, 19.