What do you know about George Washington?
I cannot tell a lie, I cut down the cherry tree. (Myth)
He had bad teeth and used wooden ones. (Partially true)
He wore a white wig. (Nope—that was his hair)
He stood in the prow of the boat crossing the Delaware River. (A great painting.)
He was a Mason and lived by their tenets. (True)
These are some of the childhood things I grew up knowing about our first president. Those ideas lingered, with not much more thought about George taking place throughout my life.
Until, okay, I’m going to admit it … until watching the highly entertaining TV show, Sleepy Hollow. There it is—it’s out there now. I love this fanciful TV show. The whole idea of George Washington, Ben Franklin, Betsy Ross—being highly imaginative, supernatural spies is appealing on multiple levels.
I already know a great deal about Ben from having taught a workshop with him as a cornerstone. Betsy remains elusive, but George? George was easy. We tackled tours of Mount Vernon and The George Washington Masonic National Memorial during our last jaunt to Washington, DC.
And it was about time, I’d say.
George was as amazing as I’d found Ben to be—intelligent, inventive, and an innovator.
He was an enterprising farmer—owning more than 3,000 acres—interested in trying new methods, fully documenting his efforts. He developed a 16-sided treading barn and the replica shows his advanced method (horse-driven) of handling the wheat harvest for maximum efficiency.
George was asked more than once to step into the public arena. After the war, he wanted to be a farmer and husband and father and grandfather. He repeatedly left office only to be pressed upon to return again and again. Washington didn’t want to be president, and yet wound up doing two terms.
Touring Mount Vernon
The docents—you were handed off to a new one in each room—spoke of the slaves as “enslaved” people. No matter what it’s called, the thought of one person owning another sickens the soul of anyone with a conscious.
That said, the practice at the time was for the gentry to own slaves. You can read multiple views on Washington’s ownership of slaves. He was harsh or kind. George struggled with the idea of slavery—read and decide for yourself how to interpret it. What is clear in his will is that he freed the 123 slaves he owned. The docent didn’t explain what happened to the balance of the slaves, but the site does. The remaining 153 people were part of the “dower property” Martha inherited from her first marriage (Daniel Park Custis). Horrifyingly, law did not permit either George or Martha to release these people from bondage. Upon Martha’s death, they reverted to the heirs from the Custis lineage.
I urge you to visit the website and read the wealth of information available here about slavery at Mount Vernon. On the grounds, there is a moving tribute to the slaves. Please be respectful and silent when walking at the memorial and cemetery.
The Mount Vernon Website is Comprehensive
The original George W. had no formal education, a condition he found troublesome and corrected by a lifelong love of learning. He had an extensive library and treasured his books. Washington had a distillery, making rye and corn whiskey, which he expanded into the largest whiskey making enterprise in America.
You could spend an entire day at Mount Vernon watching the videos, walking the grounds, dining at the excellent restaurant. It is a factual site, where they don’t shine over Washington’s flaws, such as slave ownership. They convey the facts and urge you to think it through for your self.
George Washington Masonic National Memorial
It’s wasn’t until 1910 that the Freemasons established a memorial to Washington. Their goal: “To erect and maintain in the City of Alexandria, Virginia, a suitable memorial temple to George Washington, the Mason; one which will express in durability and beauty the undying esteem of the Freemasons of the United States for him, in whose memory it shall stand throughout the coming years.”
The tour is the only way to see the full building or take the elevator to the observation deck. Absolutely do it. Sitting atop an Alexandria hill, it is comprised of three sections—the bottom Doric, the middle Ionic, the top Corinthian.
Opposite from George (17 feet of bronze) are two elevators on either side of the entrance. You can tell the breadth of the room. When you take the elevator to the top, here’s how close the elevators become. Isn’t that an amazing architectural/engineering feat?
You stop at a few of the floors, including the auditorium/theater with seating for at least 358. The Family of Freemasonry exhibit comprises various ceremonial garb that’s been worn over the decades.
Another interesting exhibit is the Form & Function of American Freemasonry. We learned the history of Freemasons in America and the part the organization has played/does play in our country. There is also the George Washington Museum with various artifacts from Mount Vernon including the 1792 family bible.
The eighth level has four amazing stained glass windows and is known as the Knight Templar Chapel. I couldn’t help but think of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
On the top floor, visitors enjoy the Observation Deck and a 360 degree view of the surrounding area. We captured views of Alexandria’s King Street, the front grounds of the Memorial, and the skyline of Washington, DC.
George was Complicated—like most of us
What we learned about our first president during these tours is, in today’s terms, that he was a stand-up guy. He cared deeply about doing what was right and strove to live up to the standards he set for himself.
Yes, he struggled with the issue of slave ownership and how to extricate himself from it. But he was a good man trying to do his best.
When You Visit
Mount Vernon
Check the website ahead of time and pick your tour from the many available. Remember: it would be easy to spend an entire day, so plan for what you want to see and do.
There is a nice restaurant onsite, but it gets busy so you may want to make reservations.
The George Washington Masonic National Memorial:
The tours are one hour long and begin at 9:30, with at least half-hour breaks between. Plan on spending at least two hours exploring the exhibits.
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Read, Alexandria, Virginia
I think they’ve done studies that show people will exhibit way worse behavior when part of a group than when alone. I guess people feel less personally responsible. Which is what I think is one of the scariest aspects of slavery. People did it because everyone did it. Even though the idea of owning another human is horrific. It’s the same with the Nazis and other horrors in history.
But a very interesting post on Washington. I did a report on him in fourth grade, but haven’t thought too much about him since. I learned some new information!
That is a good way of looking at it, Erica. The horrors of history–that was on thing, to digress from Washington, that was striking at the Holocaust Museum in DC. At the end, there is an exhibit showing you all the current atrocities taking place. One segment of society learns and stops doing a thing and another picks it up. It makes me sad.
I was thinking that with our age differences, while my 7th grade (or thereabouts) report on John McCain being released from being a POW is with blue Bic ink on white lined college ruled note paper (still in my keepsake box), your report on Washington is probably easily accessible on your computer!
He was very intriguing. The visit makes me want to read all of David McCullough’s books about our countries history. Is there one about Washington in his collection or just Adams? Hmmm
Washington was complicated individual. He caused the French/Indian Wars, because he signed a surrender to the French without reading it (he did not want them to know he could not read French, which was the “common” language of military leaders at the time). He was a tall man for the time, but met people as President always standing on a podium so he would tower over them. then as you said, only served 2 terms, even though some people wanted to make him King.
I do remember being in the Coast Guard, we had to ring the bell on the ship when we passed Mount Vernon on the Potomac River.
Interesting tidbits, William. That’s kinda cool about ringing the bell. Traditions count.
Wonderful pictures Rosemary! Sounds like an in-depth look at a historical figure. I wonder how he would be perceived if he led the country today? Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, Tatia. I sure like to think that George would still be a stand-up guy who would change with the circumstances to battle the bad and promote the good. Me and my Rose-colored glasses.
Wonderful post and tour RoseMary! I have to admit I don’t recall much about Washington so this was fascinating – I don’t think I ever knew he was never formally educated! This looks like it would be a wonderful way to spend a day (or two) and I’d definitely follow your advice about taking advantage of the tour.
The lack of education was a revelation, Marquita. Yet, when I think about it, I’ll bet most of the had little formal schooling. He rather nicely proves that the trick is to keep continually learning–reading, no matter what your circumstances are in life.
Thanks for this blog. I’ve been wanting to visit Mt. Vernon and this might just give me the boost I need to plan the visit!
It will be a short springtime drive for you, Nadine! I’d advise deciding on which tour ahead of time. We didn’t check that and there are several to pick from.
Thanks for the tip.
Oh man, this post makes me regret only being able to spend a long Memorial Day weekend in DC a few years ago. There is so much to see and learn about in that city. I would love to tour Mount Vernon someday, and I find it fascinating each room had a different docent. It seems more and more tours are going the audio tour route now, but I much prefer house tours led in person. An audio tour I did like was the one at Alcatraz Prison.
Jeri, I just said a week or two ago that I’d like to tour Alcatraz. Such a unique piece of history. For DC, I suggest at least one week. I think I could live there for a month and not see everything I want to see.
Thanks for this incredible post, Rose. Here’s how clued out I am: I never thought about it before and didn’t even realize that Washington DC was named after George Washington! I’ve not yet been to DC, but when I go, I will try and take in Mount Vernon, the amazing tower, and the George Washington Memorial.
Well heck, Doreen, I don’t know anything about Canada’s first … president? prime minister? Guru? See how I am?
WHEN you get to DC, ahem, Washington DC, let me know ahead of time. A mere 5 hour drive and one of my favorite cities to visit.
I now know that little bit more about George Washington. Who knew he was a Freemason? Reading about the slavery room made me feel rather upset and angry. To think this was accepted as the norm – humans being treated as sub-human.
Beautiful photograph taken from the observation deck.
Honestly, Phoenicia, I was thinking of you when we were touring the place. The idea of slavery makes me sick to my stomach. Even in any historical context, from Biblical times forward, I will never understand how anyone can think they own another person. We are all gloriously different shades and it’s grand that God made us so.
It helped me appreciate George more when I read that he struggled with the issue and that he freed his slaves. It was a start.
Thanks on the photographs–I’ll pass that along to Alex.
At least they seem to acknowledge the issue of Washington as a slave owner rather than ignore it.
Yes, it seemed important to the institution that a fair image of Washington was conveyed. I think they did a good job of that.
I did not know those things about George Washington. How did he get his hair curled?
Now there’s a darned good question I’ll have to ask next time, Jackie! How did he get those lovely curls?
Sounds like an interesting tour and a fun way to learn more about George Washington. I like that it seemed to focus a lot on the man himself and tried to present a balanced picture.
Yes to that, Donna. We don’t need to re-write history–just tell it like it was and let us form our own opinions.