BGuthrie Photos: VA -- Mt. Vernon -- Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center

VA -- Mt. Vernon -- Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center:

Bruce Guthrie Photos Home Page: [Click here] to go to Bruce Guthrie Photos home page.

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Slide Show: Want to see the pictures as a slide show? [Slideshow]

Copyrights: All pictures were taken by amateur photographer Bruce Guthrie (me!) who retains copyright on them. Free for non-commercial use with attribution. See the [Creative Commons] definition of what this means. "Photos (c) Bruce Guthrie" is fine for attribution. (Commercial use folks including AI scrapers can of course contact me.) Feel free to use in publications and pages with attribution but you don't have permission to sell the photos themselves. A free copy of any printed publication using any photographs is requested. Descriptive text, if any, is from a mixture of sources, quite frequently from signs at the location or from official web sites; copyrights, if any, are retained by their original owners.

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Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
1. MTVEV1_150216_004.JPG: George Washington Raymond Kaskey, 2006
2. MTVEV1_150216_020.JPG: "No estate in United States is more pleasantly situated than this..." -- George Washington
3. MTVEV1_150216_025.JPG: The Washington Family, c 1785 Sculpted by StudioEIS, Brooklyn, New York These life-sized sculptures depict George and Martha Washington at age 53 and 54 respectively While General and Mrs. Washington never had children of their own, together they raised her two youngest grandchildren (also portrayed here), George Washington Parke Custis ("Washy") and Eleanor Parke Custis ("Nelly"), following the death of Mrs. Washington's son, John Parke Custis, in 1781.
4. MTVEV1_150216_035.JPG: The figure above depicts Washington with Blueskin during the Valley Forge encampment. Among Washington's other warhorses was a chestnut named Nelson, who was known for his composure during battle. The general retained Blueskin for more ceremonial duties. Following the war, both horses retired with Washington to Mount Vernon, where a visitor observed Nelson and Blueskin in a comfortable stable "where they feed away at their ease for their past services."
5. MTVEV1_150216_043.JPG: Scenes from the Life of George Washington Studio of Karl J. Mueller Stained glass, circa 1950s-1960s
6. MTVEV1_150216_050.JPG: A Colonel Boyhood 1732: George Washington is born at Pope's Creek in Westmoreland County, Virginia, on February 22nd. He is the first child born to Augustine Washington, a planter and businessman, and his second wife, Mary Ball. The future king of England, George III, is born. (1738)
7. MTVEV1_150216_053.JPG: 1743: Washington's father dies at age 49, leaving his widow with five children under the age of twelve. Financial hardship will prevent George Washington from being sent to England for his education. King George's War (also called the War of the Austrian Succession) is fought between France and England. (1744-1748)
8. MTVEV1_150216_057.JPG: Starting a Career 1748-1749: George Washington begins his career as a surveyor in the Shenandoah Valley. He becomes familiar with the frontier and uses his earnings to purchase land. George Washington sails to Barbados with his older half-brother, Lawrence, who is ill with tuberculosis. While there, George Washington contracts smallpox. 1752: Half-brother Lawrence (age 34) dies. George Washington joins the Masonic Lodge in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and begins his military career. France claims the Ohio River Valley. (1749)
9. MTVEV1_150216_059.JPG: Washington takes a message from the governor of Virginia to French military forces in the Ohio Valley, demanding that they leave. He becomes an international figure when his journal from that expedition is published in America and Europe. The future king of France, Louis XIV, is born. (1754)
10. MTVEV1_150216_061.JPG: The French and Indian War 1754-1758: George Washington begins renting Mount Vernon from the widow of his half-brother, Lawrence. He is involved in several battles with the French and their Indian allies and is given responsibility for protecting settlers on the frontier between Virginia and Pennsylvania. Washington is elected to the Virginia House of Representatives and resigns his military commission. He will serve in the Virginia legislature until 1775. The French and Indian War (also called the Seven Years War) is fought by England and her longtime rivals France and Spain. (1756-1763) Britain's King George II dies (age 77) and is succeeded by his grandson, George III. (1760)
11. MTVEV1_150216_064.JPG: Washington is elected to the Virginia House of Representatives and resigns his military commission. He will serve in the Virginia legislature until 1775. 1759: George Washington marries Martha Dandridge Custis, a young widow (age 27) with two small children. He brings his new family home to Mount Vernon. George Washington takes on a number of public offices in his local community; justice of the Fairfax County Court; vestryman for his Anglican parish; and member of the Alexandria town council. 1760-1774: Washington inherits Mount Vernon upon the death of Lawrence's widow. Britain's King George II dies (age 77) and is succeeded by his grandson, George III. (1760) The British Parliament passes a series of laws to help pay for the costs of the French and Indian War, including the Sugar Act, the Stamp Act, and the Tea Act. The colonists object to paying taxes without having representation in Parliament. (1764-1774)
12. MTVEV1_150216_067.JPG: George Washington's beloved stepdaughter, Martha Parke Custis, dies of epilepsy at age 17. King Louis XV of France dies (age 64) and is succeeded by his grandson, Louis XVI. (1774) Napoleon Bonaparte, the future leader of France, is born. (1769)
13. MTVEV1_150216_070.JPG: Revolution and Founding a Nation George Washington presides over a meeting which produces the Fairfax Resolves, promoting a boycott of British goods and the right of self-government. He represents Virginia as a delegate to the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia. 1775: George Washington is chosen as a delegate to the Second Continental Congress. While there, he is selected to command the continental forces and immediately heads for Boston to take charge of the army. He will not see Mount Vernon for over six years. The American Revolution. (1775-1783)
14. MTVEV1_150216_074.JPG: 1777: Shortly before Christmas, Washington and his army go into winter quarters at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The American colonies declare independence from Great Britain. On Christmas night, Washington crosses the Delaware and surprises the enemy at Trenton. (1776) France officially recognizes the new United States and enters the war against Britain. (1778)
15. MTVEV1_150216_076.JPG: 1781: Washington, with the help of the French, successfully defeats the British at Yorktown, the last major battle of the war. A few days later, Washington's stepson, John Parke Custis (age 27), dies of camp fever. One of Washington's officers urges him to take over as king of the new country. He refuses to consider the plan. Later, at Newburgh, New York, he quietly, but forcefully, convinces his officers not to rebel against the civilian government.
16. MTVEV1_150216_080.JPG: 1784-1788: Washington is very busy with projects to improve Mount Vernon and to connect the frontier settlements with seaports on the Potomac River. General and Mrs. Washington agree to raise her two youngest grandchildren. George Washington is chosen to preside over the Constitutional Convention and signs the new Constitution. Over the next year, he will be very active in encouraging the states to ratify this document. The Treaty of Paris is signed on September 3, 1783, ending the American Revolution. (1783)
17. MTVEV1_150216_083.JPG: The Presidency 1789: George Washington is unanimously elected first president of the United States, with John Adams as his Vice President. He travels to New York for his inauguration. The French Revolution. (1789-1799) The first United States census is done, showing a total population of 3,929,625 people, including 697,624 slaves. The temporary capital of the nation is transferred to Philadelphia. (1790)
18. MTVEV1_150216_085.JPG: 1793: George Washington is again unanimously elected to serve a second term as president of the United States. On September 18th, he takes part in a large Masonic ceremony to lay the cornerstone of the new US Capitol. The Whiskey Rebellion breaks out in western Pennsylvania. George Washington personally leads troops to the area to stop this revolt. Vermont and Kentucky join the union as the 14th & 15th states. After being ratified by the required number of states, the Bill of Rights takes effect. (1791-1792) The French king, Louis XVI (age 39), and queen, Marie Antoinette (age 38), are beheaded by revolutionaries. (1793)
19. MTVEV1_150216_087.JPG: Retirement 1797: George Washington retires as president at the end of his second term in office, setting the precedent of a two-term limit. The family returns to Mount Vernon. Tennessee becomes the 16th state. (1796) The Russian empress, Catherine the Great, dies at the age of 67. (1796)
20. MTVEV1_150216_090.JPG: When war threatens with France, President Adams appoints Washington commander-in-chief of the armies of the United States of America. Fortunately, the conflict never takes place. 1799: On December 14th, George Washington, then 67 years old, dies at home of a severe throat infection. Four days later, his body is placed in the family vault at Mount Vernon, following Anglican and Masonic funeral rites. John Adams takes office as the second president of the United States. His Vice President is Thomas Jefferson. (1797-1801)
21. MTVEV1_150216_097.JPG: Washington and Alexander Hamilton: Hamilton served on Washington's staff as aide-de-camp during the Revolutionary War and later was Secretary of the Treasury under President Washington.
22. MTVEV1_150216_100.JPG: "I Can Not Tell a Lie": The myth of Washington cutting down a cherry tree was created by Parson Mason Locke Weems.
23. MTVEV1_150216_104.JPG: Reading the Declaration of Independence to Washington, 1776: As Commander in Chief of the Continental Army, Washington ordered the Declaration read to his soldiers in New York City.
24. MTVEV1_150216_107.JPG: Washington Crossing the Delaware: The bold Christmas night night crossing in 1776 gave Washington and his men their first decisive victory in the Revolutionary War.
25. MTVEV1_150216_111.JPG: Washington Taking His Inaugural Oath: Washington is sworn in as the first President of the United States of America at Federal Hall in New York City in April 1789.
26. MTVEV1_150216_120.JPG: "Peace, with all the world is my sincere wish." "Knowledge is in every country the surest basis of public happiness." "The love of my country will be the ruling influence of my conduct." "I can truly say I had rather be at Mount Vernon with a friend or two about me, than to be attended at the seat of government by the officers of state and the representatives of every power in Europe." "Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth." "The Constitution is the guide, which I never will abandon."
27. MTVEV1_150216_128.JPG: Where Did Mount Vernon in Miniature Go? Mount Vernon in miniature was removed in July 2014 for repair, and is slated to return in early 2015. Completed in 1998, this handcrafted model toured the nation before being placed on permanent display here in the Ford Orientation Center in 2006. Now, after 15 years of operation, its hidden mechanics, which allow sections of the exterior walls to lower, and the roof to rise, are being completely overhauled.
28. MTVEV1_150216_147.JPG: "Ladies, the Home of Washington is in your charge." -- Ann Pamela Cunningham, Founder, Mount Vernon Ladies' Association
29. MTVEV1_150216_151.JPG: 1853-1860
30. MTVEV1_150216_155.JPG: With a civil war looming, Ann Pamela Cunningham realized that in order to avoid regional discontent and to establish a broad fundraising base, the campaign to save Mount Vernon would have to be national in scope. Her idea was to establish a network of supporters, all working under the direction of a core group of Ladies, each of whom would represent a given state. A total of 13 women, with Cunningham as the Regent and the others serving as Vice Regents, made up the first Council. John Augustine Washington III became the owner of Mount Vernon in 1850. Unable to afford the estate's maintenance, he offered it for sale in 1861. After the Commonwealth of Virginia and the federal government turned him down, Washington agreed to sell the Mansion and 200 acres of adjoining land to the Ladies' Association in 1858.
31. MTVEV1_150216_161.JPG: If the men of America are allowing the home of its most respected hero to go to ruin, why can't the women of America band together to save it? Accepting this challenge, Ann Pamela Cunningham, a mild-mannered 37-year-old from rural South Carolina, founded the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association in 1853 with the express purpose of saving Washington's home for future generations. In order to raise $200,000 -- an incredible sum in the pre-Civil War period -- to purchase the rapidly-declining Mansion from the Washington family, Miss Cunningham and her original board of 12 determined women organized a campaign that would captivate the entire nation. In doing so, they planted the seeds for the preservation movement in America. Edward Everett, one of the greatest speakers of his age, tirelessly traveled the nation, delivering two-hour orations on the first President and designating his lecture feeds to the purchase of Mount Vernon.
32. MTVEV1_150216_163.JPG: In 1858 the piazza was nearing collapse and was propped up by old ships' masts. Although the Associate did not actually take possession of Mount Vernon until 1860, John A. Washington III allowed repairs to begin even before his family moved out of the Mansion.
33. MTVEV1_150216_169.JPG: Perseverance to the Rescue
34. MTVEV1_150216_171.JPG: With the success of the fundraising campaign and the purchase of Mount Vernon behind them, Cunnningham and the Vice Regents began the daunting task of preserving the site. The first priority was to stabilize and repair the dilapidated buildings. Twelve founding Ladies of the Association, representing their home states, pose on the piazza in 1873 with the famous Houdon bust of Washington. Miss Cunningham was Regent and the others served as Vice Regents in the Association's governing council, a structure still in place today.
35. MTVEV1_150216_174.JPG: Between 1861 and 1865, as the Civil War raged, restoration stopped at Mount Vernon. Soldiers from both sides visited the site, but they were required to lay down their arms before touring.
36. MTVEV1_150216_180.JPG: The small dining room was furnished with an eclectic mixture of objects in 1898. The Vice Regent for New Jersey from 1868 until 1891, Nancy Wade Halsted challenged the Ladies to furnish each room in the Mansion. Eighteenth-century pieces were to be used wherever possible, with more recent Greek Revival and Victorian furnishings filling the gaps. Many decades would pass before the Association could furnish all rooms with original Washington pieces or very similar examples. The bird's-eye view of the Mount Vernon estate shows the 200 acres purchased by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association -- the core of what had been George Washington's 8,000-acre plantation. Harriet Clayton Comegys of Delaware served as Regent from 1909 until 1927. During her tenure, the gardens and grounds were given greater attention that ever before, marking the first concerted attempt to recapture their appearance during George Washington's lifetime.
37. MTVEV1_150216_186.JPG: Thomas Edison designed and installed Mount Vernon's first electrical system in 1916. Only after considerable debate did the Vice Regents agree to Edison's proposal, finally being persuaded that the new technology for lighting would be safer than kerosene lamps.
38. MTVEV1_150216_189.JPG: Keenly interested in preserving Mount Vernon, inventor and industrialist Henry Ford donated a new fire truck to the Ladies' Association in 1924 and encouraged the installation of fire hydrants and alarms. The Ford Motor Company continues to provide vehicles for Mount Vernon's motor fleet and has sponsored many educational programs, facilities, and traveling exhibits.
39. MTVEV1_150216_192.JPG: Phoebe Apperson Hearst served as Vice Regent for California from 1889 to 1918. Hrs. Hearst was an especially generous contributor to the Mount Vernon cause, supporting the installation of Edison's electrical system and funding construction of a stone wall along the river shore to protect against erosion.
40. MTVEV1_150216_194.JPG: Passion for Authenticity 1860-1940
41. MTVEV1_150216_196.JPG: As standards for historic preservation evolved, so did the Association's ambitions to restore Washington's home to its authentic 18th-century appearance. Mansion rooms once filled with artifact cases and dozens of Washington portraits were transformed to recreate a home that reflected the owner's true taste and style. New scholarly research was complemented by microscopic analysis of paint colors, tree ring dating, and archaeology.
42. MTVEV1_150216_200.JPG: George Washington designed an innovative 16-sided barn to streamline the time-consuming processing of wheat. In 1870, the treading barn was near collapse. Mount Vernon's carpenters completed a replica and opened it to visitors in 1996, after five years of intensive research and construction. Major support was provided by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
43. MTVEV1_150216_203.JPG: The large dining room in 1890. The contrast between the appearance of the large dining room before 1890 and now reveals the Association's ongoing quest for historic authenticity. This room was once the principal space to display "relics," ranging from the prized Houdon bust of Washington to a monumental equestrian portrait by Rembrandt Peale. In 1981, this Mansion room was the first to be restored to the colors selected by George Washington.
44. MTVEV1_150216_208.JPG: "Those who go to the home in which he lived and died wish to see in what he lived and died." -- Ann Pamela Cunningham (1874)
45. MTVEV1_150216_209.JPG: The Ladies' Association decided to preserve Mount Vernon as it appeared in 1799, the year of George Washington's death. This required that a 19th-century balustrade on the roof of the piazza be removed in 1936 (left). In 1951 Washington's Greenhouse and Slave Quarter buildings, which burned to the ground in 1835, were reconstructed (right).
46. MTVEV1_150216_214.JPG: In 1979 Mount Vernon launched new research to discover and restore the interior paint colors of the Mansion. In some cases more than 25 layers of paint were analyzed. Over a two-year period the Mansion was completely repainted according to the findings of expert investigators. Archaeologists study artifacts uncovered in excavation to learn more about daily activities of the Washingtons and the many people who lived and worked at Mount Vernon.
47. MTVEV1_150216_220.JPG: Since the 1950s, most outbuildings, including the quarters of enslaved workers, have been restored, furnished, and interpreted for visitors. Mount Vernon's full-time archaeology program has been conducting research here since 1987. The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association is committed to protecting all features and structures related to Washington's original plantation.
48. MTVEV1_150216_226.JPG: "Let one spot in this grand country of ours be saved from change!" -- Ann Pamela Cunningham
49. MTVEV1_150216_240.JPG: Preserving Washington's View
50. MTVEV1_150216_241.JPG: Frances Payne Bolton, Vice Regent for Ohio from 1938 until 1977, spearheaded the effort to protect George Washington's view across the Potomac River. In 1974 President Gerald Ford authorized funds to establish Piscataway Park on the Maryland shoreline opposite Mount Vernon.
51. MTVEV1_150216_247.JPG: View to the North from the Lawn of Mount Vernon Benjamin Henry Latrobe, 1796
52. MTVEV1_150216_252.JPG: As the population of the nation's capitol expanded rapidly following World War II, new developments began to threaten one of Mount Vernon's most beloved aspects -- George Washington's remarkable view across the Potomac River. Led by Frances Payne Bolton, the Vice Regent for Ohio and a United States Congresswoman, the Association garnered the support of the National Park Service, Maryland neighbors, and environmentalists nationwide to preserve the opposite shoreline for future generations. Efforts to protect the view -- which spans 80 square miles -- continue today.
53. MTVEV1_150216_255.JPG: Remembering the First President: President George Bush and King Hussein of Jordan visited Mount Vernon on April 19, 1989. Eugenia Merrill Seamans, Regent of the Association, led a brisk tour of the Mansion and grounds before the entourage boarded a ship for a cruise back to the nation's capital. President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan braved near-zero temperatures to lay a ceremonial wreath at Washington's tomb on George Washington's 250th birthday, February 22, 1982. To commemorate the bicentennial of Washington's death, a moving re-enactment of his funeral was held on December 18, 1999.
54. MTVEV1_150216_258.JPG: Honoring Mount Vernon's slaves: The Mount Vernon Slave Memorial was dedicated in 1983. Its granite column stands within circles inscribed with the words Faith, Hope, and Love. Student architects of the winning design team pose with Harry Robinson, Dean of Howard University. At the 1999 annual wreath-laying ceremony honoring Mount Vernon slaves, Sheila B. Coates, President of Black Women United for Action, presented a gift to a special guest, the award-winning actress Cicely Tyson. This image, of a man named Tom, is the only known photograph of a Mount Vernon slave.
55. MTVEV1_150216_261.JPG: President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy entertained President Mohammad Ayub Khan of Pakistan and his daughter, Begum Nasir Akhtar Aurangzeb, on the east lawn of Mount Vernon in July, 1961. The heads of state and guests dined under a tent overlooking the Potomac, in the first and only state dinner to take place outside of Washington DC.
56. MTVEV1_150216_263.JPG: Queen Elizabeth II and Mabel Livingstone Bishop, Mount Vernon's Regent, presided at the re-dedication of the wharf in 1991. Restoration of the wharf, built by the Ladies' Association in 1860 near the site of one of George Washington's original boat landings, was supported by donations from citizens of Oregon, the Regent's home state.
57. MTVEV1_150216_266.JPG: French General Charles de Daulle and Charles Cecil Wall, Mount Vernon's Resident Director, toured the estate in 1944. De Gaulle laid a wreath at Washington's tomb, as did other distinguished wartime visitors, including President Franklin D. Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
58. MTVEV1_150216_268.JPG: Mount Vernon has served as "a second home" to presidents, their families, and distinguished world leaders.
59. MTVEV1_150216_271.JPG: 1940-1990
60. MTVEV1_150216_273.JPG: "The Home of Washington will be the place of places in our country." -- Ann Pamela Cunningham 1990-Present The Future Lies in Education
61. MTVEV1_150216_278.JPG: The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association embraces the challenge of engaging future generations with the continuing relevance of George Washington's leadership and character. With the help of patriotic donors, Mount Vernon intends to restore George Washington to his proper place in American hearts and minds. George and Martha Washington and her grandchildren welcome guests in the Ford Orientation Center> This elegant space provides a gracious gathering location and a big-screen theater experience, serving guests in all seasons. Mount Vernon continues to be managed by an active board comprised of women representing different states across the nation. Because the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association does not receive state or federal funding, it depends on private support for fulfill its mission of education and preservation.
62. MTVEV1_150216_284.JPG: A Expanded Mount Vernon Experience: The Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center introduces guests to George Washington's remarkable life. Opened in 2006, this expansive facility dramatically advanced the Mount Vernon experience, allowing for a more thorough journey through Washington's unparalleled story.
63. MTVEV1_150216_287.JPG: From left to right at the ribbon cutting for the Ford Orientation Center: James C. Rees, President & CEO of Mount Vernon (1994-2012); Gay Hart Gaines, Regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association (2004-2007); Sandy Ulsh, then-President of the Ford Motor Company Fund; and Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian David McCullough.
64. MTVEV1_150216_294.JPG: Scholarship: Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ron Chernow accepts the first George Washington Book Prize in 2005. The prize is co-sponsored by The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, Washington College, and the Gilder Lehrman Institute for American History.
65. MTVEV1_150216_298.JPG: Mount Vernon hosts dozens of large public programs each year, including a popular celebration of George Washington's birthday, citizenship ceremonies, Christmas candlelight tours, wine festivals, musical performances and more.
66. MTVEV1_150216_300.JPG: Mount Vernon hosts dozens of large public programs each year, including a popular celebration of George Washington's birthday, citizenship ceremonies, Christmas candlelight tours, wine festivals, musical performances and more.
67. MTVEV1_150216_302.JPG: Present
68. MTVEV1_150216_307.JPG: Washington's distillery was one of the largest producers of whiskey in America. After several years of archeological [sic] excavations, research, and construction, the distillery complex opened in 2007. These efforts were supported by the members of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States.
69. MTVEV1_150216_309.JPG: Washington's Gristmill & Distillery: Washington's gristmill, located on his Dogue Run Farm, was a major commercial operation and provided an important source of revenue. The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association has operated the mill as a working replica since 2002.
70. MTVEV1_150216_312.JPG: Pioneer Farm: Inviting guests of all ages to learn more about Washington's progressive agricultural practices, the four-acre Pioneer Farm serves as a "living" classroom. The centerpiece of this popular demonstration farm is a replica of Washington's innovative 16-sided treading barn. Completed in 2007, this replica slave cabin located at the Pioneer Farm helps share the story of the enslaved communities on the outlying farms of Mount Vernon.
71. MTVEV1_150216_315.JPG: Completed in 2007, this replica slave cabin located at the Pioneer Farm helps share the story of the enslaved communities on the outlying farms of Mount Vernon.
72. MTVEV1_150216_317.JPG: Blacksmith Shop: To support his expansive farm, Washington had a blacksmith shop built just steps from his iconic home in 1755. This detailed reconstruction was completed in 2009 and has allowed the critical trade of blacksmithing to return to the estate.
73. MTVEV1_150216_320.JPG: Ongoing Restoration Staying true to the Association's mission, preservation of Washington's home and the surrounding landscape continues. In 2011, an authentic Upper Garden reopened to guests after considerable archaeological and historical investigation. The New Room's 2013-2014 restoration was one of the most extensive in the Mansion and brought back the original grandeur of the space that Washington spent years designing.
74. MTVEV1_150216_323.JPG: National Recognition The President of the United States presented the coveted National Humanities Medal for service to the nation to the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association. From left to right at the 2003 Oval Office ceremony: James C. Rees, President & CEO of Mount Vernon (1994-2012); James M. Walton; former Regent Eugenia Seamans; President George W. Bush; Regent Ellen Walton (1999-2004); First Lady Laura Bush; former Regent Mabel Bishop; former Regent Carew Lee; and Clarence M. Bishop.
75. MTVEV1_150216_332.JPG: Washington's Presidential Library "I have not houses to build, except one, which I must erect for the accommodation and security of my military, civil and private papers, which are voluminous and may be interesting." -- Letter from George Washington to James McHenry, April 3, 1797 More than 200 years after the General wrote of his dream for a library, the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association built The Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington at Mount Vernon with the patriotic support of over 7,000 donors. Erected on the estate, this impressive 45,000-square foot facility was opened on September 27, 2013.
76. MTVEV1_150216_335.JPG: More than 1,200 people assembled at the Library for its grand opening. From left to right on the ceremony stage: Dr. Douglas Bradburn, Founding Director of the Library, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian, David McCullough; Curtis G. Viebranz, President & CEO of Mount Vernon; Ann H. Bookout, Regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association (2010-2013); and Fred W. Smith, Chairman of the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, which provided the lead gift for the Library campaign.
77. MTVEV1_150216_346.JPG: Mount Vernon owns more than 100 volumes of Washington's original book collection, in addition to hundreds of manuscripts. Washington's original annotated copy of the Constitution and other acts of the first Congress was acquired at auction by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association and returned to his beloved estate in 2012. The Library, the only of its kind dedicated to our first president, safeguards original books and manuscripts according to the highest standards. It positions Mount Vernon as the preeminent center of learning about George Washington, where scholars and researchers come together to explore new thoughts and uncover fresh insights about the Founding Era. The Library also serves as a center for educational outreach and leadership training, employing Washington's extraordinary life, achievements, and character as inspiration.
78. MTVEV2_150216_004.JPG: Discovering the Real G. Washington A Leader of Character
79. MTVEV2_150216_020.JPG: Reconstructing George Washington "My whole life has been dedicated to the service of my country in one shape or another." -- George Washington George Washington remains one of the most fascinating and important figures in American history. At the same time, he is one of the most difficult to get to know. Who was the real George Washington? Explore the following galleries, where historians, artists, and forensic scientists have joined forces to provide a new look at the man behind the legend.
80. MTVEV2_150216_033.JPG: Family: Virginia Born: In February 1732, Mary Ball Washington gave birth to a healthy baby boy on the family's plantation. The family later recorded the arrival of young George -- a fourth generation Virginian -- in the family Bible. The child was Mary's first. Her new husband, Augustine, had three living children from a previous marriage. Together the couple would have give more children as they worked to expand the family's financial holdings and social status.
81. MTVEV2_150216_036.JPG: Young Virginian: Few intact objects remain from George Washington's earliest years, leaving generations of American free to create stories about his childhood. Recent archaeological excavations at Washington's boyhood home, Ferry Farm, near Fredericksburg, Virginia, have unearthed new evidence about the family's life. Findings include bone rollers used to curl wigs, which were evidently worn by all of the Washington boys; metal fittings used to decorate horse tact; stone and clay marbles; and pieces of wall plaster.
82. MTVEV2_150216_045.JPG: "Washington is the last person you'd ever suspect of having been a young man." -- Samuel Eliot Morison, American Historian Not much is known about George Washington's early life. Tall tales and myths often replaced the missing details of his youth. The young Virginian was born to a moderately wealthy family but lost much of his privilege when his father died early. Forced to grow up quickly, the tall, sometimes awkward Washington relied on ambition, family connections, and strength of character to forge a remarkable life.
83. MTVEV2_150216_049.JPG: Young Virginian
84. MTVEV2_150216_059.JPG: Person Weems' Fable by Grant Wood, 1939: In this painting, Grant Wood pokes fun at the myth that a young George Washington chopped down a cherry tree. Biographer Parson Weems made up the cherry tree story his book, "The Life and Memorable Actions of George Washington," published during the early 1800s.
85. MTVEV2_150216_064.JPG: Hardships George Washington's family moved three times before he was seven; four years after their last move, his father died. 1732: George Washington born on family's plantation on Pope's Creek. 1735: Washington family moves to the Little Hunting Creek property (later called Mount Vernon). 1739: Washington family moves to what later became Ferry Farm.
86. MTVEV2_150216_072.JPG: Setbacks and Tragedy: George Washington came from a long line of enterprising Virginians. His father Augustine -- a successful planter, land speculator, iron forge owner, and county justice -- always kept an eye open for the next opportunity. He moved his family often and sent his oldest sons to England for their educations. Young George might have followed this same path if Augustine had not died unexpectedly when the boy was 11 years old. George's older brothers inherited the best of their father's estate, while his portion was limited to one small farm.
87. MTVEV2_150216_076.JPG: Rules of Civility: At age 16, Washington copied down The Rules of Civility and Decent Behavior in Company and Conversation, probably as a penmanship exercise. The rules featured 110 precepts on etiquette originally composed by French Jesuits in 1595. Some seem silly to us today; others speak of an era when humility, consideration, and discretion marked the standards for gentlemanly conduct. Although it is impossible to know how deeply Washington took these rules to heart, there are many occasions when he put them into action.
88. MTVEV2_150216_079.JPG: Rules of Civility
89. MTVEV2_150216_081.JPG: Rule 22: Show not yourself glad at the misfortune of another though he were your enemy. Flash forward... British Surrender at Yorktown: After defeating the British at Yorktown in 1781, General Washington asked his troops not to jeer the defeated Redcoats during the surrender, explaining that "posterity will huzzah for us."
90. MTVEV2_150216_084.JPG: Rules 33: They are are in dignity or in office have in all places precedency... Flash forward... President Adams' Inauguration: Following the inauguration of President John Adams, Washington and Thomas Jefferson experienced an awkward moment leaving the platform. Jefferson deferred to Washington, but the former president insisted that the newly-elected vice president take the honor of leaving first.
91. MTVEV2_150216_087.JPG: Rule 82: Undertake not what you cannot perform but be careful to keep your promise. Flash forward... Promise Kept: After successfully winning America's quest for independence in 1783, General Washington kept his promise to only serve for the length of the war. That December, with the war over, he submitted his resignation to Congress.
92. MTVEV2_150216_090.JPG: Rule 110: Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience. Flash forward... Washington and Slavery: A slaveholder his entire life, Washington's feelings toward slavery changed as he grew older. He came to disdain the institution, realizing that it was incompatible with the ideals of a nation founded on liberty.
93. MTVEV2_150216_093.JPG: Ambition "Every action done in company ought to be done with some sign of respect to those that are present." -- Rules of Civility, Rule 1
94. MTVEV2_150216_097.JPG: Searching for a Way Up: Young George received little more than what today would be considered a grade school education. That, combined with the small inheritance he received after his father's death, impeded his prospects of moving up in Virginia society. But Washington was determined to overcome these setbacks. With help from his older half-brother Lawrence -- a military officer who owned Mount Vernon -- and the Fairfaxes, a powerful Virginia family, he began molding his early career, expanding his education, and polishing his social graces.
95. MTVEV2_150216_100.JPG: Surveyor "There is no saying to what length an enterprising man may push his good fortune." -- George Washington A First Career at Age 17: Always drawn to adventure, George Washington planned to join the British Navy until his mother refused to let him go. Instead, he embarked on an inland adventure as a surveyor on the Virginia frontier. With new lands being claimed constantly, surveying paid well and offered him the chance to obtain land of his own and move up in society. More importantly, it introduced him to the American wilderness, a place he would return to time and again.
96. MTVEV2_150216_109.JPG: Surveyor tools
97. MTVEV2_150216_119.JPG: George Washington -- Age 19 This figure portrays Washington as a young surveyor. After using a laser to obtain pinpoint measurements of a life mask and bust created by French sculptor Jean Antoine Houdon when Washington was 52 years old, a team of experts worked backwards to create a figure 33 years younger. He is over six feet two inches tall and would have weighed about 175 pounds. 1751 -- Forensic figure
98. MTVEV2_150216_122.JPG: Upstart Colonial Officer
99. MTVEV2_150216_125.JPG: "I heard the bullets whistle, and believe me there is something charming in the sound." -- George Washington, 1754 Washington began his military career as a major in the service of Virginia. Young, ambitious, fearless, and thoroughly inexperienced, the 20-year-old colonial officer soon found himself at the center of controversy and world war. Despite several major blunders, he emerged a few years later as one of the colonies' first war heroes with a reputation as a natural born leader.
100. MTVEV2_150216_136.JPG: George Washington, The Young Surveyor by Emanuel Leutze, ca 1851
101. MTVEV3_150216_002.JPG: First Mission: George Washington risks his life to report on French Forts
102. MTVEV3_150216_005.JPG: A Warning to the French: Alarmed that the French had begun building forts in the Ohio River valley, King George II of England ordered Virginia's Lieutenant Governor to demand that the French leave. Seeking to advance his military career, Washington volunteered for the dangerous assignment of delivering the message. Part spy and part diplomat, the young major set out in October 1753, commanding six men and carrying the Lieutenant Governor's letter insisting that the French withdraw. The French refused, and Washington hastened back across a harsh winter landscape to report the stalemate.
103. MTVEV3_150216_008.JPG: The French and Indian War "The volley fired by a young Virginian in the backwoods of America set the world on fire." -- Horace Walpole, English author
104. MTVEV3_150216_013.JPG: Setting the World on Fire: During the early 1750s, longtime enemies Britain and France both laid claim to the land surrounding present-day Pittsburgh. Both countries saw the area as key to controlling the western frontier, and they were determined to defend it at all costs. In 1754, a young and inexperienced George Washington led his Virginia Regiment there on behalf of Great Britain. Washington soon clashed with the French and their Indian allies, starting a war that quickly spilled beyond North America to Europe, Africa, and Asia.
105. MTVEV3_150216_019.JPG: A Backwoods Skirmish: On May 28, 1754, Indian scouts led Washington and 40 men from the Virginia Regiment to a French encampment in southwestern Pennsylvania. Although no one knows who fired first, shots broke the early morning calm, killed 13 French and one Virginian. In July, the French and their Indian allies retaliated at the Great Meadows during the Battle of Fort Necessity -- the first battle in what would come to be known as the French and Indian War.
106. MTVEV3_150216_020.JPG: Surrender at Fort Necessity: On his second military mission, Washington marched westward once again. Promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and commanding 159 men, Washington left Virginia in April 1754 to take control of the Ohio Country. The expedition found trouble from the start. After attacking a French detachment in May, Washington built "a fort of necessity" to resist French retaliation. But the small, poorly positioned fort offered little protection against the overwhelming French and Indian forces. Washington surrendered after a daylong battle and returned home on July 4, 1754.
107. MTVEV3_150216_044.JPG: The French and Indian War
108. MTVEV3_150216_057.JPG: The Battle of Fort Necessity: On July 3, 1754, French and Indian troops descended on Fort Necessity. Washington marched his troops out to engage them in the traditional European manner of open field fighting. The French and Indians advanced, fired two volleys, this disappeared into the surrounding forest, where they raked Washington and his men with a merciless barrage. Outnumbered by more than 2 to 1, the English colonials fell back and returned fire; but they were hopelessly exposed. Worse, driving rains flooded their trenches and soaked their gunpowder, making it almost impossible to fire their muskets. As darkness fell, the outcome was clear. Washington surrendered later that night.
109. MTVEV3_150216_070.JPG: French & Indian War: In his first war, Washington learned many valuable lessons. Twenty years before the Revolution, Washington fought in another war on American soil -- the French and Indian War. A loyal British subject, the young man rose to the rank of colonel in the Virginia Regiment, earning a reputation as a daring warrior and gifted leader. Even so, the British failed to offer him a full commission in the King's Army. Disappointed and offended, Washington left the regiment and went home. 1740s: The British and French make competing claims on a strategically important area known as the Ohio Country. Late 1740s. 1750s: The French build a series of forts in the Ohio Country, establishing a strong military presence. Spring & Summer 1753 First Mission: For his first military assignment, Washington delivers a message from Virginia's lieutenant governor to the French, demanding that they leave the western frontier. The French decline. Fall & Winter 1753 The Virginia Regiment, commanded by George Washington, is sent to confront the French in the Ohio Country. Spring & Summer 1754 The British and French officially declare war on one another, bringing the conflict to Europe, where it becomes known as the Seven Years' War. May 1756 With their victory at Fort William Henry, the French continue their three-year domination of the British in North America. August 8, 1757
110. MTVEV3_150216_079.JPG: First Mission: For his first military assignment, Washington delivers a message from Virginia's lieutenant governor to the French, demanding that they leave the western frontier. The French decline. Fall & Winter 1753 Fort Necessity: Returning to the colonial frontier as commander of the Virginia Regiment, Colonel Washington battles the French and their Indian allies at Fort Necessity. Beaten soundly, he surrenders and later resigns his military commission. July 3-4, 1754 Redemption: Rebuilding his military career, Washington signs on with British General Braddock's campaign to remove the French. When Braddock is killed, Washington emerged as a hero. Summer 1755 The British and French officially declare war on one another, bringing the conflict to Europe, where it becomes known as the Seven Years' War. May 1756 With their victory at Fort William Henry, the French continue their three-year domination of the British in North America. August 8, 1757 With a renewed war effort led by Prime Minister William Pitt, Great Britain earns a series of victories that changes the course of the war in North America. Summer & Fall 1758 The British make peace with the Iroquois, Shawnee, and Delaware Indians. October 21, 1758
111. MTVEV3_150216_084.JPG: George Washington Reading the Burial Service over the Body of Braddock by Edwin White, 1860
112. MTVEV3_150216_092.JPG: Fort Necessity: Returning to the colonial frontier as commander of the Virginia Regiment, Colonel Washington battles the French and their Indian allies at Fort Necessity. Beaten soundly, he surrenders and later resigns his military commission. July 3-4, 1754 Redemption: Rebuilding his military career, Washington signs on with British General Braddock's campaign to remove the French. When Braddock is killed, Washington emerged as a hero. Summer 1755 On the Frontier: Soon after France declares war on England, the Virginia House of Burgesses promotes Washington to colonel. He is assigned to fortify the Virginia frontier against Indian attack. Spring 1756 Taking Leave: Despite years of colonial military service, Washington never receives the commission from the British army that he feels he deserves. Frustrated, he resigns and begins private life. Late 1758 With a renewed war effort led by Prime Minister William Pitt, Great Britain earns a series of victories that changes the course of the war in North America. Summer & Fall 1758 The British make peace with the Iroquois, Shawnee, and Delaware Indians. October 21, 1758 The British capture Fort Niagara, cutting off supplies and forcing the French to abandon their forts in the Ohio Country. July 1759
113. MTVEV3_150216_096.JPG: 1760s: Montreal falls, and the French surrender Canada to the British. Within two weeks the war is over in North America, although it continues in other theaters. September 8, 1760 The Treaty of Paris marks the official end of the French and Indian War. Great Britain emerges as the clear winner. February 10, 1763
114. MTVEV3_150216_111.JPG: Sword carried by George Washington during the French and Indian War
115. MTVEV3_150216_123.JPG: Capturing Glory
116. MTVEV3_150216_128.JPG: "I had four bullets through my coat and two horses shot under me, and yet escaped unhurt." -- George Washington, 1755
117. MTVEV3_150216_132.JPG: Heading Home: George Washington's courageous actions during Braddock's defeat did not go unnoticed. The Virginia Assembly made him commander in chief of all Virginia Forces. At age 23, the young colonel had achieved the highest rank attainable for a colonial officer in America. He patrolled the Virginia frontier, guarded against Indian raids, and played an important role in removing the French from the Ohio Country. But by 1758, he was exhausted and frustrated by war. He resigned his commission and returned home to Mount Vernon.
118. MTVEV3_150216_139.JPG: Walking Away: At age 23, George Washington rose to the highest rank among colonial officers -- Colonel of the Regiment.
119. MTVEV3_150216_143.JPG: After Surrender, Redemption: Washington resigns from the Virginia Regiment after surrendering at Fort Necessity. The following year he joined the British Army, signing on as an unpaid aide to help General Edward Braddock to reclaim the Ohio Valley. The 1755 campaign ended in disaster as French and Indian forces killed Braddock and most of his officers. Filling the breach, Washington braved fierce enemy fire to help reorganize and rescue dazed British troops. He became a war hero, earning a reputation that followed him for the rest of his life.
120. MTVEV3_150216_148.JPG: Gentleman Planter
121. MTVEV3_150216_150.JPG: "This place is the property of Colonel Washington, and truly deserving of its owner." -- Andrew Burnaby, English traveler, 1760 In 1758, Colonel Washington returned to Mount Vernon and began a new life as a civic-minded Virginia planter. He entered politics, married a wealthy widow, and struggled to keep his fields profitable. Nothing, it seemed, could move him from his beloved home -- until his country came calling 17 years later.
122. MTVEV3_150216_154.JPG: Gown Interpretation of Martha Washington's wedding gown worn in 1758 2006
123. MTVEV3_150216_158.JPG: Portrait Artist's age-regression of Martha Washington based on period portraiture by Michael J. Dean, 2004
124. MTVEV3_150216_187.JPG: Building a Reputation Moving up in Virginia Society Although Washington had accumulated some wealth and land from his days as a surveyor and colonial officer, he was far from being one of the leading planters in Virginia. That changed when he married one of Virginia's wealthiest widows, Martha Dandridge Custis. Backed by her fortune, Washington enlarged his plantation. This combined with his roles as a Burgess, church vestryman, and active freemason allowed him to achieve new standing in Virginia society. * Joins the Freemasons * Enters Political Office * Marries Well * Becomes a Vestryman * Increases Landholdings
125. MTVEV3_150216_193.JPG: Masonic Apron: Given to George Washington by the Marquis de Lafayette for the Grand Lodge of France ca 1784 Free Mason: George Washington was initiated "as an Entered Apprentice" at the Freemason Lodge at Fredericksburg, Virginia, in 1752. A year later, he became a Master Mason, the highest rank in the Fraternity of Freemasonry. Washington maintained his ties to the secret society throughout his life.
126. MTVEV3_150216_207.JPG: Getting Elected Following the practice of the day, Washington campaigned at local taverns, buying drinks for potential voters. In 1758, he picked up the tab on more than 150 gallons of rum punch, wine, brandy, beer, and hard cider. His largesse won him 307 votes and a seat in the House of Burgesses.
127. MTVEV3_150216_210.JPG: Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia, 1773-1776: Record of the proceedings of the Virginia colonial assembly Reprint published in 1906 House of Burgesses George Washington served from 1759-1775 in Virginia's legislative body known as the House of Burgesses -- the first representative government in North America. As a legislator, Washington wrote bills, voted, and reviewed petitions. In 1774, the House of Burgesses sent Washington and seven fellow lawmakers to the first Continental Congress in Philadelphia.
128. MTVEV3_150216_224.JPG: Painting Attributed to John Gadsby Chapman, ca 1834 Built in 1774, Pohick Church fell into a state of disrepair in the early 19th century, as shown in Chapman's view. A national fundraising effort supported a major restoration in the 1840s.
129. MTVEV3_150216_233.JPG: Church Vestryman: George Washington belonged to Truro Parish, which included much of Fairfax County. In 1762, the Parish elected Washington to serve as one of its twelve vestrymen. The vestry was charged with maintaining the church and its staff and caring for the poor in the community, collecting taxes for funds. Washington served actively as vestryman until the Revolution.
130. MTVEV3_150216_236.JPG: Wood Fragment: From George Washington's pew at Pohick Church, the parish church for Truro Parish. Chalice: Made by John East, London, England, 1716-1717. The Pohick Church chalice was used for serving wine during communion services. George Washington sometimes paid for this wine, "for administering ye Lords Supper."
131. MTVEV3_150216_247.JPG: Hogsheads By 1765, the tobacco market turned against Washington. His hogsheads sold for about 45 pounds per barrel; but by the time a series of processing charges were deducted, he earned only 5 pounds per hogshead. He spent much of that money on supplies for his plantation, which left him very little, if anything, in real profit. 1 hogshead = gentleman's suit 3.5 hogsheads = a dozen mahogany chairs 8 hogsheads = assorted groceries
132. MTVEV3_150216_250.JPG: Keeping Up Appearances Following the established economic system of his day, Washington grew his tobacco in Virginia but had to sell it in Great Britain. Packing the cash crop in great wooden barrels known as hogsheads, he shipped it across the ocean, where middlemen sold it for textiles, farm supplies, and luxury goods. Ultimately, Washington decided to abandon both tobacco and the system. Tobacco ruined his land, and the system saddled him with overpriced merchandise and crushing debt. He soon began seeking better ways to make money.
133. MTVEV3_150216_255.JPG: George Washington: Architect by Peter Waddell, 1993, after the original in the Mount Vernon collection
134. MTVEV4_150216_002.JPG: "Great Britain hath no more right to put their hands into my pocket... than I have to put my hands into yours, for money..." -- George Washington, 1774
135. MTVEV4_150216_013.JPG: Taxes! Taxes! Taxes! Hoping to refill their depleted treasuries after the French and Indian War, Great Britain levied a series of taxes on the American colonies, touching everything from sugar to paper to textiles to tea. The Americans were used to taxing themselves, but they rebelled at the idea of taxes imposed without their consent.
136. MTVEV4_150216_017.JPG: The Sons of Liberty, dressed as Mohawk Indians, protest Britain's Tea Act by dumping tea in to Boston Harbor during the Boston Tea Party in 1773.
137. MTVEV4_150216_031.JPG: Tar and Feathering During the 1760s, American patriots revived the medieval practice of tar and feathering in order to punish and intimidate British loyalists and tax collectors. The mere thought of having one's body coated with scalding hot tar and then covered with feathers deterred many from openly taking up Great Britain's cause.
138. MTVEV4_150216_042.JPG: "And tell King George we'll pay no taxes on his foreign tea." -- Popular Colonial American tavern song Looking for ways to pay debts from the French and Indian War, Britain began taxing colonists without their consent during the 1760s. Many colonists, including Washington, protested vigorously, claiming that taxation without representation violated their rights as British citizens. Washington led boycotts and organized peaceful protests, hoping that the British would change their policies. In addition, he warned that continued suppression of American liberties would lead to armed rebellion.
139. MTVEV4_150216_045.JPG: Enough!
140. MTVEV4_150216_052.JPG: Parliamentary Act Pamphlet printed by the British Crown discontinuing duties on cotton and wool, dated 1779
141. MTVEV4_150216_063.JPG: A Call for Liberty, A Call to Arms: The decision to go to war with Great Britain did not come easily. The colonists tried protests, boycotts, and other tactics to protect their rights as British citizens. Even after the violence at Lexington and Concord in April 1775, many Americans did not feel a split was inevitable. Yet tensions continued to rise. The Second Continental Congress unanimously named Washington commander in chief of the Continental Army. More battles followed, and by 1776 there was no turning back. America declared independence from England.
142. MTVEV4_150216_066.JPG: Breaking Away As a last resort, Americans declare independence
143. MTVEV4_150216_068.JPG: "Our cause is noble; it is the cause of Mankind!" -- George Washington, 1779 In June 1775, General Washington took command of the Continental Army. A hero from the French and Indian War, who was known for his character and leadership, the 43-year-old Virginian appeared to be uniquely qualified. But he had not seen action in 17 years. He had never fought in an open-field battle, and he had never planned a major campaign. Nonetheless, Washington was the brightest hope of a struggling new nation.
144. MTVEV4_150216_071.JPG: First In War
145. MTVEV4_150216_074.JPG: Against All Odds "Few people knew the predicament we are in." -- General Washington, 1776
146. MTVEV4_150216_081.JPG: The Power of Great Britain: When the Colonies broke away from Great Britain, they took on the world's most powerful nation. Great Britain had nearly five times more people than the colonies and possessed the most feared fighting forces on earth. The American forces were appallingly untrained and undersupplied. In the beginning of the war, they were outnumbered 10 to 1. Yet they possessed a number of advantages, including knowledge of the land, a revolutionary's resolve to win at all costs, and an inspiring leader. Total Continental Army conscripted troops plus local militia sent by states, at end of 1776: Approximately 5,000 Combined colonial British Regulars plus reinforcements transported to America in late 1776: Approximately 50,000
147. MTVEV4_150216_115.JPG: George Washington -- Age 45 To gain a sense of what Washington looked like as a Revolutionary War General, an expert team studied his uniform's waistcoat and breeches, now located in the Smithsonian Institution, in order to determine the exact proportion and density of his torso and limbs. They based his hair color on dated samples of Washington's own hair found in Mount Vernon's collection. 1777 Forensic Figure
148. MTVEV4_150216_117.JPG: His Trusty Steeds "He rode, as he did everything, with ease, elegance, and with power." -- George Washington Parke Custis, Washington's stepgrandson One of the best horsemen of his age, General Washington took great pride in the horses that carried him through the war. He especially favored two: Blueskin, a fiery hunter with a blue-grey coat; and Nelson, a chestnut gelding with unshakable nerves. Washington preferred Nelson for battle because he never shied under cannon fire. He reserved Blueskin for more ceremonial duties. Both horses served with distinction. After the war, the General rewarded them by retiring them to a life of ease at Mount Vernon.
149. MTVEV4_150216_121.JPG: Leading The Way "I do not think myself equal to the command I am honored with." -- George Washington, June 16, 1775 As much as Washington rightly became known as one of the great heroes of the American Revolution, he was a leader with human flaws. He suffered from bouts of indecisiveness, made strategic blunders, and faced challenges to his power. At times he experienced moments of complete despair, believing that chances of an American victory were near impossible. Yet his deep commitment to the cause made it impossible for him to quit; his character forever compelled him to keep moving onward.
150. MTVEV4_150216_126.JPG: Washington Subduing a Camp Brawl by George Hall after Felix Darley, 1857
151. MTVEV4_150216_132.JPG: Pistol: One of a pair owned by George Washington and said to have been carried during the Revolutionary War. ca 1760-1790
152. MTVEV4_150216_135.JPG: Telescope Owned by George Washington, ca 1750-1800
153. MTVEV4_150216_147.JPG: Ideals of the Republic Washington deeply believed in the principles of the American Revolution. He saw himself as a servant to the cause and made it a point to take his orders from civilian authority. He also reminded his troops about their mission whenever possible -- as when he had Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" distributed to his soldiers in 1776.
154. MTVEV4_150216_149.JPG: Training an Army: When Washington's troops reached Valley Forge in late 1777, they were battle-tested but far from a disciplined army. Real change began when a former Prussian officer named Friedrich von Steuben arrived to train the Continental soldiers. By winter's end, he had molded them into a cohesive fighting force better able to take on the British.
155. MTVEV4_150216_152.JPG: Holding it Together: Charged with raising and training a true citizen army during wartime, Washington chose to lead by example. He often rode into the thick of battle and refused to take a day off during the eight-and-a-half year war. But it was his obvious devotion to his soldiers that earned him their respect and motivated many of them to re-enlist.
156. MTVEV4_150216_156.JPG: Commander in Chief: When George Washington became Commander in Chief, he inherited a makeshift army of inexperienced officers, farmers, tradesmen, merchants, frontiersmen, and even recently released felons pressed into service. It was a new general's worst nightmare. Discouraged yet determined to find some way to defeat the British, Washington began shaping his troops into a cohesive fighting force. But he would face many obstacles along the way. "An army without order, regularity, and discipline is not better than a commissioned mob." -- George Washington
157. MTVEV4_150216_159.JPG: Diseases and Death: Diseases with dysentery, typhoid, small pox, and other "camp fevers" plagued the Continental Army, claiming more lives than British cannons, bullets, and bayonets ever did. To combat the deadly enemy, Washington built camp hospitals and had his troops inoculated against small pox -- a revolutionary action that saved countless lives.
158. MTVEV4_150216_164.JPG: Supplying the Troops: Washington faced many challenges in keeping his troops supplied. One of the greatest was that the Continental Congress had very little money to wage war. The lack of money made it impossible for them to provide Washington -- despite his constant requests -- with the food, supplies, and pay that he needed for his troops.
159. MTVEV4_150216_168.JPG: Mrs. Washington's War: Martha Washington did not sit by while her husband fought the British. Each year she left the comfort of Mount Vernon for the rugged conditions of winter quarters. Always a welcome sight to the General and his men, she nursed sick and wounded soldiers and otherwise brightened the cold, dark season.
160. MTVEV4_150216_180.JPG: A Leader of Character "Good moral character is the first essential in a man." -- George Washington
161. MTVEV4_150216_182.JPG: Perseverance
162. MTVEV4_150216_185.JPG: This Revolutionary War era iron cannon ball (circa 1776) has a circumference of 7-3/4 inches.
163. MTVEV4_150216_188.JPG: The Will to Win "We should on all occasions avoid a general Action or put anything to the risque unless compelled by a necessity..." -- George Washington, 1776 At first Washington believed he could win the Revolutionary War if he met British forces head on. But a series of disastrous defeats convinced him to develop a new strategy to combat the King's overwhelming power. He devised a plan of surprise and retreat. This "hit-and-run" approach allowed him to attack the enemy on his own terms and draw back after inflicting damage. The strategy worked. It extended the war, convinced the French to provide major assistance, and wore down Britain's will to continue the fight.
164. MTVEV4_150216_192.JPG: Timeline of the Revolutionary War: 1775: Rumblings of War: * April: The British and colonists clash at Lexington & Concord; the American Revolution begins. * May: The Americans capture Fort Ticonderoga in New York; send cannons to Boston, Massachusetts. * June: With heavy losses, the British win the Battle of Bunker Hill. * July: Washington assumes command of the Continental Army. 1776: Breaking Point: * March: After an American show of force, the British abandon Boston. * June/July: A huge British war fleet with 30,000 men arrives in New York. * July: The Continental Congress declares independence from Great Britain. * August: Washington is routed at the Battle of Long Island; retreats to Brooklyn Heights, New York. * December: Washington crosses the Delaware; captures Trenton, New Jersey. 1777: Northern War: * January: Washington defeats the British at Princeton, New Jersey. * September: Washington is defeated at Brandywine Creek; the British occupy Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. * October: The American defeat the British at Saratoga, New York. * December: Washington's troops enter winter camp at Valley Forge. 1778: French Alliance: * February: France allies with the United States and joins the war against England. * June: The British leave Philadelphia for New York; Washington fights the British army to a standstill at the Battle of Monmouth in New Jersey. * December: Britain takes the war to the South by occupying Savannah, Georgia. 1779: No End in Sight: * September: American John Paul Jones captures a British frigate off the coast of England. * December: British General Clinton sails from New York to Charleston, South Carolina with 8,000 troops. 1780: Southern War Heats Up: * May: The American suffer their worst defeat of the war at Charleston. * October: Washington appoints Nathaniel Greene as General of the Southern Army in hopes of turning the tide of war in the South. * [October:] The Americans are victorious at the Battle of Kings Mountain, South Carolina. 1781: End Nears: * January: The Americans are victorious at Cowpens, South Carolina. * March: British General Cornwallis suffers heavy losses at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse in North Carolina. * October: Under siege by Washington and French allies, General Cornwallis surrenders at Yorktown, Virginia. 1782-1783: Final Days: * April 1782: Peace talks between the United States and Great Britain begin. * September 1783: The Treaty of Paris officially brings an end to the Revolutionary War. * December 1783: Washington voluntarily steps down as commander in chief of the Continental Army.
165. MTVEV4_150216_196.JPG: Battles of the Revolutionary War: The Revolutionary War began outside of Boston in 1775. Over the course of the next eight and a half years, it spread over an enormous portion of North America. Battles ranged as far north as Quebec, as far south as Savannah, and as far west as the Mississippi River. In all, the British and Americans battled at more than 150 different sites. This map features the 30 most significant battles.
166. MTVEV4_150216_203.JPG: Blue = American victories Red = British victories
167. MTVEV4_150216_209.JPG: During the Revolutionary War, British and American forces used a wide range of spy networks and spycraft. George Washington was a strong believer in the need for effective military intelligence and developed a number of spy rings and other secret agents to gather and distribute critical information. The identities of may of the agents who contributed to America's ultimate success were never discovered, while other agents, such as Washington, Nathan Hale, and Benjamin Tallmadge, are well known.
168. MTVEV4_150216_212.JPG: Tools of War
169. MTVEV4_150216_215.JPG: Officers and Gentlemen At the time of the American Revolution, the British Army was the world's most powerful fighting force. The officers leading the King's troops in the colonies were some of the most experienced leaders the country had to offer. This flipbook highlights some of the most effective officers who fought for Great Britain and her allies.
170. MTVEV4_150216_218.JPG: General Sir Henry Clinton: A career soldier, Clinton served as Great Britain's Commander in Chief in America. The only son of a British Admiral, Clinton joined the army and rose steadily through the ranks. He arrived in Boston in 1775. Three years later he became Commander in Chief of the British Army. An able tactician, he had many critics in the British administration. His failure to provide timely aid during the doomed Yorktown campaign led to his resignation in 1781. General Charles Cornwallis: This British General is best known in the United States for his surrender at Yorktown. Serving as second in command to General Henry Clinton, Cornwallis helped lead the British to victory at Brooklyn, Brandywine, Monmouth, and Charleston. He demonstrated his tactical abilities during the southern campaign of 1780-81, when he drove the British army deep into the southern colonies and destroyed organized American resistance. But losses late in his campaign -- especially at Yorktown -- signaled the end of the war.
171. MTVEV4_150216_221.JPG: Admiral Lord Richard Howe: Lord Howe often lent naval support to military operations run by his younger brother, William. A veteran of the French and Indian War, Lord Howe took command of the British North American fleet in February 1776. Together with his brother William, Commander in Chief of the British Army, Howe nearly destroyed Washington and the Continental Army at New York at the outset of the war. After several successful campaigns, he resigned in 1778 and returned to Great Britain. Major General William Howe: Howe directed British troops during the early years of the war. A Whig who sympathized with the Americans, Howe took over as the commander in chief of the British Army in 1776. A young but able soldier, he was inexplicably slow; and at times his hesitation allowed Washington's army to escape certain destruction. After three years of leading the war effort in the colonies, he resigned, frustrated by a perceived lack of support from London.
172. MTVEV4_150216_225.JPG: General Wilhelm Knphausen: This German general once commanded New York during British General Clinton's absence. After a distinguished career in Frederick the Great's army, Knphausen landed in America with a division of British-allied German mercenaries in 1776. As Commander in Chief of German troops for over six years, he fought at White Plains, Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth. Injuries and the loss of an eye forced his retirement in 1782. Cornplanter: This Iroquois chief reluctantly aided the British cause during the Revolutionary War. The son of a Seneca woman and a Dutch trader, Cornplanter tried to remain neutral during the Revolutionary War, but the Iroquois Confederacy pressured him to ally with the British. His successful raids of American settlers in 1778 and 1780 forced the Continental Army to divert troops and supplies from the war effort in order to retaliate.
173. MTVEV4_150216_229.JPG: Offices and Gentlemen As Commander in Chief, Washington relied on a number of officers to help him win the war. Some had little previous military experience; others were veteran soldiers. This flipbook features some of the most important men who guided the Continental Army and its allies during the Revolutionary War.
174. MTVEV4_150216_231.JPG: General Benedict Arnold: This infamous traitor fought for both the Americans and the British. A successful merchant before the war, Benedict Arnold built an impressive resume fighting for the Americans and became one of Washington's most trusted generals. But in 1779, Arnold began bargaining with the British to turn over West Point. The plot was foiled, and Arnold barely escaped with his life. He led two battles against the Americans before leaving the country. Brigadier General Thaddeus Kosciuszko: A brilliant military engineer, Kosciuszko served the American cause for eight years. Dedicated to the ideals of liberty, Kosciuszko came to the United States in 1776 and volunteered his services as a military engineer to the Continental Army. His major contributions included the fortifications at Saratoga and West Point. He also accompanied American General Nathanael Greene, serving as a cavalry leader during the southern campaign.
175. MTVEV4_150216_234.JPG: Inspector General Friedrich Wilhelm Baron von Steuben: Baron von Steuben became known as "the first teacher of the American Army." In February 1778, Baron von Steuben arrived at Valley Forge and offered to train Washington's troops. In the midst of a bitter winter, the former Prussian army officer transformed a rag tag group of soldiers into a cohesive fighting force. Impressed by von Steuben's accomplishment, the Continental Congress appointed him Inspector General of the Continental Army. General Henry Knox: Despite no formal military training, Knox became one of the country's most important general. An imposing figure at over 300 pounds, this Boston bookseller joined the war in 1775. That winter he directed the heroic movement of dozens of heavy cannon and mortars on sleds from Fort Ticonderoga to Boston, forcing the British to evacuate that city ahead of schedule. Knox fought by Washington's side throughout the war.
176. MTVEV4_150216_237.JPG: Lieutenant General Jean-Baptiste Rochambeau: This French Lieutenant General teamed with Washington at Yorktown to defeat the British. In 1780, King Louis XVI of France sent Lieutenant General Rochambeau along with 5,500 regular troops to the United States to aid the American cause. A year later Rochambeau and Washington marched together from New York to Virginia, leading to British General Cornwallis' surrender at Yorktown and the end of the war. General Marquis de Lafayette: At Washington's protege, the young Frenchman became a valued Continental Army officer. Enamored by the American Revolution, Lafayette sailed from France to the United States in 1777, with hopes of joining Washington's army. Within months of his arrival, the nineteen-year-old had befriended the American Commander in Chief and fought with him at Brandywine. He continued his close relationship with Washington, serving with distinction at Valley Forge, Monmouth, and Yorktown.
177. MTVEV4_150216_241.JPG: Lieutenant Colonel Francis Marion: Marion's guerrilla warfare actions helped push the British out of the Carolinas. A planted and Indian fighter before the war, Marion organized guerrilla troops after the British captured Charleston in 1780. His partisan forces harassed southern loyalists and launched surprise attacks against British regulars. Marion's hit-and-run tactics earned him the nickname "Swamp Fox," because of his ability to disappear into swamp country in order to evade British capture. General Nathanael Greene; Greene emerged from the Revolutionary War as one of the country's best generals. Known as "the fighting Quaker," Greene came into the war with very little military experience. He advanced rapidly through the ranks, gained a field command, served as quartermaster general, and replaced Benedict Arnold as command in the Hudson highlands. He is best known for his brilliant southern campaign that helped turn the tide of the war in favor of the Americans.
178. MTVEV4_150216_246.JPG: Admiral Francois Comte de Grasse: De Grasse's vital naval support at Yorktown helped force a British surrender. In 1781, the French promoted de Grasse to Rear Admiral and sent him to the West Indies with orders to provide the Americans with much needed naval support. Later that summer, he sailed north to the mouth of the Chesapeake River and blockaded British troops encamped at Yorktown; while Washington and French General Rochambeau closed the trap by land, leading to an eventual British surrender. General Daniel Morgan: A first cousin of Daniel Boone, Morgan gained a reputation as a brave but cantankerous leader. This French and Indian War veteran distinguished himself during the early years of the Revolutionary War. He took over for a wounded Benedict Arnold during the March to Quebec and fought valiantly at the Battles of Saratoga in 1777. Three years later, he transferred to the American Southern Army to lead an elite corps.
179. MTVEV4_150216_247.JPG: General Anthony Wayne: Washington valued Wayne "as an administrator and as a field commander." Known as "Mad Anthony" for his fiery battlefield temperament, Wayne began the Revolutionary War as a colonel and was promoted to Brigadier General in 1777. He fought at Brandywine, Germantown, and Monmouth, but won his greatest victory at Stony Point along the Hudson River in 1779, where he captured a vital British fort during a nighttime raid.
180. MTVEV4_150216_253.JPG: Military Officers: George Washington regarded a professionally trained officer corps as an essential foundation for a truly Continental Army. To make up for limited field experience, Washington instructed his officers to read books about military strategy and tactics. He insisted that they set an example in placing the "Great and common Cause" of American liberty ahead of local interests. Washington also believed that it was important for officers to be distinguished from their men both in social background and appearance. Accoutrements such as holster pistols, swords, and spontoons (a type of pole arm seen to the right) helped to reinforce this distinction.
181. MTVEV4_150216_259.JPG: "Exact discipline and the strictest obedience to orders is the Soul of an Army and foundation of success." -- George Washington, Valley Forge, 1778
182. MTVEV4_150216_262.JPG: Instilling Discipline: George Washington believed deeply in the strategic value of military discipline and training. Early in his career, he observed that discipline "makes small numbers formidable; procures success to the weak, and esteem to all." In the 1750s, he forged his Virginia Regiment into a corps that even British officers admired. Washington modeled the Continental Army on British and other professional European forces. He labored to ensure that soldiers were comparably armed, equipped, and clothed. Most units carried smoothbore military muskets that were manufactured in America, captured form enemy forces, or imported from France and other European nations.
183. MTVEV4_150216_270.JPG: Rifles and Riflemen: At the opening of conflict, George Washington and other revolutionaries placed great hope in rifled firearms. Washington observed the deadly effectiveness of rifles during frontier conflicts of the French and Indian War. Spiral grooves of "rifling" cut inside the barrel of these specialized weapons imparted spin on the round lead bullets, greatly improving accuracy. Like many patriots, Washington hoped that the marksmanship of American riflemen would help offset the British army's advantages in manpower and discipline. He also understood the psychological impact of the riflemen's distinctive fringed "hunting shirts," advocating this dress for the entire army in 1776.
184. MTVEV4_150216_272.JPG: Forging an Army: George Washington had to build an American army that could resist the armed forces of Great Britain. He faced two great challenges. First, many inhabitants of the various colonies (later states0 deeply distrusted one another. Second, few Americans understood or accepted the military discipline and organization needed to confront the British army. Washington had witnessed the dangers of disunion and amateurish military efforts during the French and Indian War. He drew on these experiences to forge a national identity and a professional American army. Immediately after taking command in July 1775, Washington issued general orders "that all Distinctions of Colonies will be laid aside so that one and the same Spirit may animate the whole." He further directed his officers that "exact discipline be observed, and due Subordination prevail thro' the whole Army."
185. MTVEV4_150216_282.JPG: Arming the Troops: George Washington struggled throughout the War of Independence to supply his regiments with standardized, dependable military arms. Many American soldiers arrived in camp carrying their own weapons. These included personal hunting guns and outdated military arms of British, Dutch, Spanish, French and other origins, left behind in America after earlier conflicts. The diversity of calibers (barrel diameters) made it challenging to stockpile and issue ammunition that would fit the soldiers' weapons. Bayonets were also in short supply. Without them, American soldiers could not withstand close attacks by disciplined enemy regiments.
186. MTVEV4_150216_296.JPG: Model of Bastille Carved from Bastille prison stone
187. MTVEV4_150216_302.JPG: Salver Serving tray with Washington coat of arms, purchased for George Washington by the Marquis de Lafayette, ca 1784
188. MTVEV4_150216_311.JPG: Marquis de Lafayette by LH Gebhard after Charles Peale Polk, 1919
189. MTVEV4_150216_320.JPG: "George Washington was one of the few men in all of human history who was not carried away by power." -- Robert Frost, poet
190. MTVEV4_150216_323.JPG: Giving Up Power
191. MTVEV4_150216_325.JPG: Newburgh Conspiracy In March 1783, the Revolutionary War was all but over. Yet discontent swept through the ranks of the Continental Army. Officers in Newburgh, New York, circulated petitions demanding back pay and pensions. Rumors swirled of a military overthrow of Congress. Catching wind of the unthinkable, Washington intervened. He delivered a powerful speech that brought tears to the eyes of the his senior officers. Appealing to their sense of honor and history, the General convinced them to abandon the conspiracy and united behind the "Cause of our common Country."
192. MTVEV4_150216_328.JPG: Making a Graceful Exit At the close of the Revolutionary War, some of Washington's long unpaid officers advocated overthrowing the new civilian government and seizing power for the military. Some even suggested making Washington king. Washington, however, refused to abandon the fledgling nation's democratic ideals. He urged his men to support the new government. Then to make his stand clear, he retired from the Army and returned to Mount Vernon as a citizen of the United States.
193. MTVEV4_150216_345.JPG: He could have been king...
194. MTVEV4_150216_347.JPG: He Would Not Be King A Leader Like No Other Unlike other leaders of revolutionaries throughout world history, George Washington truly placed power in the hands of the people. He would not be king. In Rome, Julius Caesar led a revolt against the Republican Army but then put himself in charge. In England, Oliver Cromwell led a successful revolt against King Charles I but then made himself Lord Protector of England. In France, Napoleon was active in the revolution to usurp King Louis XVI but then made himself First Consul and finally Emperor.
195. MTVEV4_150216_351.JPG: Visionary Entrepreneur
196. MTVEV4_150216_354.JPG: "I hope, someday or another, we shall become a storehouse and granary for the world." -- George Washington, 1788 On Christmas Eve 1783, General Washington, now 51, returned home from the war. He threw himself into developing new farming practices and finding revolutionary technologies to make Mount Vernon more profitable and the nation more independent and prosperous. In doing so, he set an example for others to follow and cultivated a far-reaching vision for the United States.
197. MTVEV4_150216_358.JPG: Landowner Washington spent a lifetime investing in properties both around Mount Vernon and in seven different states. 70,000 acres
198. MTVEV4_150216_361.JPG: Building Wealth Like his father before him, Washington built his wealth by investing in land. He started early, buying parcels during his days as a surveyor; and he continued to buy properties for most of his life. He greatly expanded Mount Vernon, creating a five-farm estate extending over almost 8,000 acres. By the time of his death, he held nearly 51,000 acres located throughout much of the nation. These landholdings contributed to making him one of the wealthiest men in America.
199. MTVEV4_150216_370.JPG: Farmer Washington "Agriculture has been amongst the most favorite amusements of my life." -- George Washington, 1786 When Washington took over Mount Vernon in the 1750s, he did what most Virginia planters did -- he raised tobacco. But he soon grew frustrated, finding the crop labor intensive to cultivate, damaging to the soil, and increasingly unprofitable. Searching for a change, he read up on the latest English farming trends and consulted leading farmers at home. He phased out tobacco and began growing wheat and over 100 other crops, mapping out a new future for both Mount Vernon and American agriculture. Washington gave up raising tobacco (shown here) in favor of wheat. He believed that wealthy farmers should pioneer new farming techniques and pass them along to those who could not afford to experiment.
200. MTVEV4_150216_374.JPG: American Mule: "I hope to secure a race of extraordinary goodness which will stock the Country." -- Washington on his mule-breeding program, 1789 In 1786, Washington -- a respected livestock breeder -- started a special breeding project that he hoped would change farming in America. He began breeding mules. Washington believed that mules, which are the offspring of male donkeys and female horses, worked harder and longer than most draft animals. Word of Washington's success spread, and farmers across the country began using mules. By the late 1800s, more than two million mules and donkeys had revolutionized American agriculture. Washington's mules descended from a male donkey named Royal Gift that he received from the King of Spain.
201. MTVEV4_150216_377.JPG: over 100 crops
202. MTVEV4_150216_380.JPG: Crop Rotation: "Our welfare and prosperity depend upon the cultivation of our lands and turning the produce of them to the best advantage." -- George Washington, 1788 Growing tobacco in Virginia took its toll on the soil, often forcing planters to let their fields lie fallow for up to ten years. Many simply abandoned their exhausted fields and developed new farmland. Seeing the futility of the practice, Washington set about developing a "system of agriculture" that would provide fertile fields for high-yielding crops. He replaced tobacco with wheat, experimented with fertilizers, and created an innovative seven-year crop rotation system that successfully maintained the productivity of his fields. Overseeing Mount Vernon, Washington designed plans to rotate his crops on seven fields over the course of seven years. Few farmers in America at the time followed such a sophisticated crop rotation plan. The large charge in front of you is Washington's crop rotation plan for Ferry Farm.
203. MTVEV4_150216_382.JPG: Rotherham Plow: "I am never sparing... in furnishing my Farms with any... tool and implement that is calculated to do good and neat work..." -- George Washington, 1793 In his constant efforts to improve efficiency and profit on his farms, Washington was fascinated by plows and their potential to improve agriculture. Here you see an accurate reproduction of a Rotherham plow, which Washington first ordered from England in 1765. Technologically superior, the Rotherham featured a compact design, lighter frame, and better moldboard (curved blade wedge), that made it easier to to cut through and run over strips of earth. Confident of its capabilities, Washington encouraged other farmers to use this more efficient plow.
204. MTVEV4_150216_389.JPG: Washington's Crop Rotation Schedule for Ferry Farm
205. MTVEV4_150216_393.JPG: The Distillery "As to the profits of the Distillery... the proof of the pudding will be in the eating." -- George Washington, to his whiskey distiller John Anderson, 1795 As Mount Vernon grew into an 8,000-acre estate, George Washington sought out new ways to fund the expanding operations. In 1797, he began making whiskey on the advice of his farm manager, James Anderson, a trained distiller from Scotland. Washington soon built one of the largest distilleries in America. At its peak, it produced over 11,000 gallons of whiskey and brought in so much money that it became one of his most successful commercial enterprises. Master distillers from member firms of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States conduct a demonstration of 18th-century style distilling at the site of Washington's distillery.
206. MTVEV4_150216_400.JPG: largest distillery in America Scientific Farmer: "I know of no pursuit in which more real and important service can be rendered to any country than by improving its agriculture." -- George Washington, 1794
207. MTVEV4_150216_405.JPG: "System to all things is the goal of business. To deliberate maturely and execute promptly is the way to conduct it to advantage." -- George Washington, 1797 Latest gristmill techonology
208. MTVEV4_150216_412.JPG: Ledger Lead from Mount Vernon ledger, 1785
209. MTVEV4_150216_427.JPG: The Gristmill: For nearly 45 years, Washington managed a series of gristmills at Mount Vernon. His early mill focused on local production. But as his estate grew, he built a larger "merchant mill," which enabled him to grind enough flour to sell to local, national, and international markets. In 1791, he improved his millworks yet again. This time he installed the technologically advanced systems -- shown in the scale model here -- developed by renowned inventor Oliver Evans. The changes automated much of the milling process and allowed Washington to produce more flour using fewer workers.
210. MTVEV4_150216_443.JPG: 1.5 million herring caught in seven weeks
211. MTVEV4_150216_446.JPG: Farming the River: "The whole shore in short is one entire fishery." -- George Washington, 1793 No project better represented George Washington's entrepreneurial spirit that his three Potomac River fisheries. For almost 40 years, his fishing operations brought in food for his workers and profits for his estate. When the fish began running past his 10-mile Mount Vernon shoreline each season, slaves, overseers, and indentured servants dropped everything and headed to the river. In a few short weeks, the could haul in and process nearly 1.5 million fish, securing their food for the year and enabling Washington to sell the rest. Slaves and other workers at Mount Vernon's fisheries used large nets -- some more than 450 feet wide and 8-10 feet deep -- to catch yearly runs of shad and herring.
212. MTVEV4_150216_452.JPG: The Dilemma of Slavery
213. MTVEV4_150216_454.JPG: "There is not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do, to see a plan adopted for the abolition of it." -- George Washington on slavery, 1783 As Washington grew older, he found it increasingly difficult to justify slavery in a country founded on liberty. And he questioned its value to the economy. He also believed that the slavery question would tear the country apart -- and so, like many others, he refused to address it publicly. Instead, he acted privately and freed his slaves in his will, setting an example for others to follow.
214. MTVEV4_150216_462.JPG: Change of Heart, Change of Mind: George Washington's attitudes toward slavery changed over time. 1743: At age 11, Washington inherits 10 slaves in his father's will. 1754: Begins farming Mount Vernon with a workforce of about 36 slaves. Continues to buy and sell slaves. 1759: His bride Martha Custis arrives at Mount Vernon with 20 "dower slaves" from a previous marriage. "With this letter comes a Negro [Tom] which I beg the favor of you to sell... for whatever he will fetch..." -- Letter the Joseph Thompson, 1766 1775: Leaves to fight in the Revolutionary War with slave Billy Lee, who will serve at his side for the entire war. 1780s: Increasingly troubled by the moral and economic implications of slavery, vows never to purchase another slave. 1789: As president, avoids dealing with the slavery issue, fearing it will tear apart the fragile union. 1797: Proposes a plan to sell his western land in order to purchase the freedom of the dower slaves so that he does not have to break up slave families. Lacking buyers, the plan never materializes. "I wish from my soul that the legislature of this state [Virginia] could see the policy of a gradual abolition of slavery." -- Letter to Lawrence Lewis, 1797 1799: 316 slaves (over a third of whom are too young or too old to work) live at Mount Vernon: 123 belong to Washington, 153 are dower slaves, and 40 are leased from a neighbor. 1799: Washington dies. His last will calls for his slaves to be freed after Martha's death. He could not free the dower or the rented slaves because he did not own them. 1801: Still living, Mrs. Washington sets her late husband's slaves free.
215. MTVEV4_150216_471.JPG: The Slaves of Mount Vernon: The talents and energy of slaves touched every aspect of the Mount Vernon estate.
216. MTVEV4_150216_474.JPG: Behind the Shadows of Slavery: Born into a world that depended on slave labor, George Washington inherited his first slaves at age 11. When he died more than a half century later, he and his wife owned 316 men, women, and children. Slaves played invaluable roles throughout Washington's life. Some followed him into the American Revolution. Others tended to him as president. The rest worked as field hands, weavers, blacksmiths, house servants, carpenters, and overseers, who built Mount Vernon into a beautiful and profitable estate.
217. MTVEV4_150216_476.JPG: William Lee: Valet: Known as Will or Billy, Lee served as Washington's personal valet. An excellent horseman, he accompanied Washington on every major campaign of the Revolutionary War. In gratitude, Washington made provisions in his will to make Lee the first of his slaves to be freed and to provide him with clothes, food, and cash for the rest of his life. Oney Judge: House Servant: One of Martha Washington's favorite slaves, Oney Judge escaped to New Hampshire in 1796. Acting on behalf of his distraught wife, George Washington negotiated with Judge to return home. She consented on one condition: that she be freed. Washington refused. Oney Judge remained in New Hampshire, married, and raised a family. She died in 1850.
218. MTVEV4_150216_479.JPG: Suckey Bay: Field Slave: Working sun up to sundown, six days a week, Suckey Bay labored with other field slaves in Washington's River Farm fields. At night she cared for her three children alone because her husband belonged to Washington's neighbor and could visit only on Sundays. She was freed at age 48 along with her children and grandchildren.
219. MTVEV4_150216_481.JPG: Caroline: House Maid: One of Martha Washington's house slaves, Caroline sometimes annoyed the Washingtons because of her slow work and failure to make production quotas -- acts most likely practiced as passive resistance to being enslaved. The Washingtons threatened to move her to the fields but never followed through. Carolina was one of the people in the room with the General when he died in 1799. Hercules: Cook: When the Washingtons moved to the President's House in Philadelphia, they brought their master chef, Hercules, from Mount Vernon to cook for them. He soon became legendary int he city both for his memorable state dinners and his fashionable wardrobe, which he financed by selling scraps from the president's kitchen. Hercules escaped from Mount Vernon toward the end of Washington's presidency.
220. MTVEV4_150216_484.JPG: Field Slaves Clothing rations for a year Food rations for a day
221. MTVEV4_150216_487.JPG: Clothing Each year George Washington provided his slaves with the following articles of clothing: Men: One jacket Two pair breeches Two shirts One pair stockings One pair shoes Women: One jacket Two petticoats Two shifts One pair stockings One pair shoes
222. MTVEV4_150216_499.JPG: A Leader's Smile
223. MTVEV4_150216_503.JPG: "At home all day -- not well. Still indisposed with an aching tooth and swelled and inflamed gum." -- George Washington Although he was a man of exceptional physical stature and stamina, George Washington suffered from chronically bad teeth. Despite frequent brushing and availing himself of the finest dental care, he suffered through a lifetime of inflamed gums and abscessed teeth. His tortuous, oversized dentures left his mouth puffy, raw, and swollen -- giving him little reason to smile.
224. MTVEV4_150216_517.JPG: Dentures Worn by George Washington, ca 1775-1799 Although George Washington brushed his teeth regularly, by the time he took the oath of office as president at age 57, he was wearing full dentures. Contrary to popular myth, Washington's false teeth were not made of wood but of human and cow teeth as well as elephant ivory. The dentures required frequent adjusting to function naturally, and Washington repeatedly sent them to John Greenwood, his dentist in New York City, for repairs.
225. MTVEV4_150216_522.JPG: 1732: Cutting Teeth George Washington is born on his father's plantation in Virginia. Although no records document it, the young boy's first tooth most likely appears sometime over the next year.
226. MTVEV4_150216_524.JPG: 1755: Good Habits Even with the French and Indian War underway, 23-year-old Washington makes personal dental care a priority. He buys the first of what will be dozens of toothbrushes, tinctures of myrrh, and other tooth powders and pastes.
227. MTVEV4_150216_529.JPG: 1756: The Exodus Begins Despite his best efforts to care for his teeth, Washington's first tooth is extracted in April. Almost every year after that, Washington suffers from severe toothaches followed by extractions of the painful teeth.
228. MTVEV4_150216_533.JPG: "His mouth is large and generally firmly closed, but which from time to time discloses some defective teeth." -- Captain George Mercer, Washington's aide in the Virginia Regiment, 1760
229. MTVEV4_150216_536.JPG: 1773: Easy Eating Washington's teeth continue to deteriorate, making it painful for him to chew. He writes a letter to a London merchant thanking him for his gift of "two large stone jars of pickled tripe," which is soft and easy to eat.
230. MTVEV4_150216_539.JPG: 1774: First in Dental Care Named to the Virginia delegation, Washington, now 42 years old, travels to Philadelphia to attend the first meeting of the Continental Congress. Ever conscientious about his dental care, he purchases a toothbrush during his stay.
231. MTVEV4_150216_542.JPG: 1776: Peale's Portrait Already a Revolutionary War hero, Washington poses for a portrait painted by Charles Willson Peale. The portrait reveals a scar on Washington's left cheek, said to be the result of an abscessed tooth.
232. MTVEV4_150216_545.JPG: "Having some teeth which are very troublesome to me at times and of which I wish to be eased... by a man of skill." -- George Washington in a letter inquiring about a prospective dentist, 1783
233. MTVEV4_150216_551.JPG: 1781: Wired In Now missing several teeth, the 49-year-old Washington wears false teeth wired to his remaining ones. He writes to his dentist William Baker requesting "pa air of pincers to fasten the wire."
234. MTVEV4_150216_560.JPG: 1783: False Impressions Following his dentist's instructions, Washington uses wax and Plaster of Paris to construct a model of the inside of his mouth. He sends it to his dentist, who uses it to construct more false teeth for the General.
235. MTVEV4_150216_564.JPG: 1789: Then There Was One At his swearing in as first president of the United States, George Washington has only one tooth remaining. That year he receives the first of four full sets of dentures made by John Greenwood, featuring hippopotamus ivory and human teeth.
236. MTVEV4_150216_571.JPG: "He had just had a set of false teeth inserted, which accounts for the constrained expression so noticeable about the mouth and lower part of the face." -- Gilbert Stuart, painter
237. MTVEV4_150216_573.JPG: 1796: Last to Go During Washington's second term as United States president, his last tooth begins to cause him problems. The 64-year-old reluctantly allows his dentist, John Greenwood, to remove it and soon orders a new set of dentures.
238. MTVEV4_150216_576.JPG: 1799: The Struggle Ends In December, Washington dies. Throughout his life, he spent a small fortune to care for his teeth. He hired the best dentists, suffered through numerous extractions, and owned at least eight sets of dentures, none of which were made of wood.
239. MTVEV4_150216_580.JPG: The Patowmack Canal This model is a scale recreation of the Patowmack Canal. The original canal featured a series of five locks that raised and lowered boats around the swift and dangerous Great Falls. It represented the most ambitious aspect of Washington's Potomac River improvement project, requiring a unique work force of engineers and laborers who built it by hand over the course of 17 years. It finally opened in 1801 -- two years after Washington died.
240. MTVEV4_150216_585.JPG: Looking West "The navigation of this river is equal, if not superior to any in the Union... This will become the great avenue into the Western Country." -- George Washington
241. MTVEV4_150216_589.JPG: The Great Avenue Washington believed that America's future lay in westward expansion. In a time before automobiles and airplanes, he was convinced that the Potomac River provided the best avenue to the country's frontier. In the mid-1780s, Washington headed up an ambitious venture to improve the Potomac River, hoping to create an east-west passage that would help keep the new nation united and self sufficient. The 220-mile project, which included building a canal around Great Falls, created one of the first viable westward water routes in America's interior.
242. MTVEV4_150216_592.JPG: Lottery Ticket #380 George Washington endorsed this ticket for a 1768 raffle The proceeds were for building a road through the Allegheny Mountains.
243. MTVEV5_150216_014.JPG: Coming Apart at the Seams
244. MTVEV5_150216_023.JPG: The State of the Union By 1787, the United States was a country in name only. Crippled by an ineffective central government, it was little more than a loose affiliation of independent states. Each steered its own course, raised its own money, and paid little attention to Congress. The fragile state of the Union left it vulnerable to rising debt, internal strife, and foreign invasion. With the country in danger of folding, Congress called a meeting of state delegates to address the problem. The resulting Constitutional Convention helped pull the country back together.
245. MTVEV5_150216_034.JPG: Philadelphia, Seat of Government In the summer of 1787, 55 delegates from 12 states (all except Rhode Island) met behind the shuttered windows and locked doors of the Pennsylvania State House's Assembly Room to draft a new Constitution for the United States. Seated in a grand armchair carved with a sunburst in its crest rail, George Washington presided over the constitution. When, after four months, the delegates had finally completed their work, Benjamin Franklin expressed his confidence in the new government by commenting: "I have often looked at [the sunburst]... without being able to tell whether it was rising or setting. But now.. I have the happiness to know that it is a rising and not a setting sun." Three years later, Philadelphia became the country's second capital, a position it held until May 1800. The federal government convened in the Philadelphia County Courthouse, located next to the State House, and renamed it Congress Hall.
246. MTVEV5_150216_039.JPG: Power the Union "I do not conceive that we can exist long as a nation without... a power which will pervade the whole union." -- George Washington, 1786 Desk: Part of a large order of furniture made to use in the government's offices in Congress Hall, which was built between 1787-1789. Attributed to Thomas Affleck, Philadelphia, ca 1790-1793
247. MTVEV5_150216_044.JPG: The Constitutional Convention "Be assured, his influence carried this government." -- James Monroe, on Washington's impact on the Constitutional Convention
248. MTVEV5_150216_047.JPG: Constitutional Convention "Let us raise a standard to which the wise and honest can repair." -- George Washington The state delegates to the Constitutional Convention came to Philadelphia because they agreed that America needed a more effective national government. Thought they were unanimous in elected Washington convention president, they argued over every other issue. Washington worked to forge consensus, demanding complete secrecy as the delegates set about the controversial task of not just revising the old government but scrapping it altogether. Standing above conflicts between individual states, he created an atmosphere that allowed convention members to reach the compromises necessary to create a bold, new government. Washington as Statesman at the Constitutional Convention by Junius Brutus Stearns. Under George Washington's watchful eye, America produced one of the world's greatest political documents, the United States Constitution.
249. MTVEV5_150216_054.JPG: Portrait of the Presidency: "In a world frightened by... kings, the convention decided on one President and gave him an amazing amount of power." -- James Flexner, historian In structuring a new government, the Constitutional Convention debated how to divide powers between the presidency, legislature, and judiciary. They argued over how much power should be given to the president, what his term of office should be, and whether he should command the armed forces. In the end, the framers placed a tremendous amount of power in the hands of one man, but only because they knew that Washington would fill the role of chief executive first. They trusted him to set precedents for all future presidents. Washington's leadership at the Constitutional Convention united the state delegates behind the idea of a new, stronger federal government.
250. MTVEV5_150216_062.JPG: Uniting the States: In Washington We Trust Thirteen states moving apart in different directions... Only Washington could pull them together
251. MTVEV5_150216_078.JPG: A Celebration to Remember On April 16, 1789, George Washington began an unforgettable journey from Mount Vernon to New York to be sworn in as president. In each city, town, and hamlet along the way, church bells clanged, women threw flowers, and throngs cheered his arrival. Yet nothing compared to the last leg of the trip when Washington boarded a decorated barge to cross the Hudson River to the nation's temporary capital. Hundreds of ships followed. Cannons thundered. Choirs sang. Flags waved. And all of New York turned out to welcome America's hero.
252. MTVEV5_150216_081.JPG: Washington's Journey to his First Presidential Inauguration, 1789
253. MTVEV5_150216_089.JPG: 30 April 1789
254. MTVEV5_150216_093.JPG: "Long live George Washington, President of the United States!" -- Robert R. Livingstone, Chancellor of New York, 1789
255. MTVEV5_150216_102.JPG: People's President "I was summoned by my Country, whose voice I can never hear but with veneration and love." -- George Washington After the Convention adjourned, Congress sent the Constitution to the states of ratification. George Washington worked behind the scenes to ensure its passage. By 1789, the United States had a new government unlike any under the sun. The country unanimously elected the 57-year-old Washington as president, believing he was the only man who could lead the bold new experiment in American democracy.
256. MTVEV5_150216_104.JPG: "That the Government, though not absolutely perfect, is one of the best in the world, I have little doubt." -- George Washington
257. MTVEV5_150216_113.JPG: George Washington -- Age 57 In creating this figure of Washington as president, a team of experts paid close attention to the role tooth loss played in shaping his face. A lifetime of tooth decay led to lone loss around the jaw, creating hollowness around the cheeks. At the time of this swearing-in-ceremony, he had just one tooth left in his mouth. 1789 Forensic Figure
258. MTVEV5_150216_131.JPG: Taking the Oath Place your hand on the Bible and take the presidential oath of office. Since George Washington first placed his hand on the Bible at New York's Federal Hall on April 30, 1789, and recited the oath of office, the term of each American president has started with the sentence you see in front of you. By taking this oath, which is specified in the US Constitution, a citizen becomes president and a new administration begins.
259. MTVEV5_150216_134.JPG: Presidential Oath of Office: I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. ... So help me God. Scholars debate whether Washington added these final four words to the oath as set forth by the Constitution. Most modern-day presidents include these words and think they are following in Washington's footsteps.
260. MTVEV5_150216_186.JPG: Stepping Into History "I do solemnly swear..." -- George Washington On April 30, 1789, George Washington stepped onto the second floor balcony of New York City's Federal Hall and took the oath of office as the first president of the United States. When he finished, the swelling crowd of politicians, townsfolk, and foreign dignitaries exploded in a chorus of cheers as a salvo of 13 cannons rang out over the nation's temporary capital. Chancellor Robert Livingston administered the 35-word oath of office to Washington as Secretary of the Senate, Samuel Otis, held the Bible at New York's Federal Hall in April 1789.
261. MTVEV5_150216_194.JPG: Role Model for the Nation As the first president, George Washington knew that the success or failure of the new government depended on his actions. He also knew he would be setting the example for future presidents. He carefully oversaw each aspect of the office, ranging from the furnishing of the president's home to appointing the Supreme Court. While developing policy, he sought diverse points of view, always trying to steer a course that served the best interests to the nation.
262. MTVEV5_150216_197.JPG: Choosing the Presidential Titles: Skateboarder: Yo, leader dude! George: Methinks that's too informal... By Signe Wilkinson
263. MTVEV5_150216_204.JPG: Signe Wilkinson In 1992, Signe Wilkinson became the first female to win the Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning. In addition to her editorial cartoon work, she also draws a hybrid comic strip/editorial cartoon focused on the botanical and political landscape.
264. MTVEV5_150216_210.JPG: (Top row) Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State Henry Knox, Secretary of War (Bottom row) Edmund Randolph, Attorney General President George Washington John Adams, Vice President
265. MTVEV5_150216_213.JPG: George Washington's Inner Circle: Unlike most modern presidents, Washington did not select advisors who always agreed with him -- or each other. Rather, he chose the most experienced and talented person for each particular job. President Washington is shown here with Vice President John Adams and his four-member Cabinet, a body created by Washington to provide leadership to the new Executive Branch of government. Edward Sorel: Edward Sorel's cartoons and satires have appeared in the Atlantic Monthly, Vanity Fair, GQ, Esquire, The Nation, and The New Yorker, for which he also produced 45 covers. He is the author/illustrator of several children's books, including The Saturday Kid, as well as a collection of his caricatures, Unauthorized Portraits. The National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC mounted an exhibition of his drawings in 1998.
266. MTVEV5_150216_216.JPG: 1789: Pomp and Circumstance: The new American government debates presidential protocols
267. MTVEV5_150216_221.JPG: What is in a Name? When Washington took office, the new government had lots of details to work out, including questions of title, ceremony, and etiquette. In fact, one of Congress's earliest debates centered on Washington. What should they call him? Suggestions ranged from "His Highness the President of the United States of America and Protector of their Liberties" to "His Exalted High Mightiness." Congress rejected them all, opting for the simpler "President of the United States" -- later shortened to "Mr. President."
268. MTVEV5_150216_226.JPG: The President's Cabinet One of Washington's more important presidential precedents was establishing the Cabinet, his circle of trusted advisors He purposefully selected experienced men who offered diverse viewpoints, believing that they would provide the perspective he needed in order to make decisions on important matters of the day. While today's presidential cabinets include more than a dozen members, Washington's included only four -- Secretary of State, Secretary of War, Secretary of the Treasury, and the Attorney General. Lift the panels to see Washington's first cabinet.
269. MTVEV5_150216_229.JPG: Washington looks to western expansion by Randy Bish
270. MTVEV5_150216_233.JPG: Randy Bish Syndicated by the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association for almost two decades, Randy Bish's cartoons have been featured on Good Morning America, Fox News, C-Span, and CNN as well as being the subject of several gallery exhibits across the country.
271. MTVEV5_150216_236.JPG: 1789: Westward Expansion: Searching for an answer to the Indian question
272. MTVEV5_150216_240.JPG: "Sagoyewatha" (Red Jacket) by Charles Bird King, ca 1828 Facsimile Indian Peace Medal, ca 1789 George Washington's administration issued the first American peace medals in an effort to build allegiances with Native American leaders previously allied with Great Britain. This medal features engraved images of an Indian warrior and a classical figure symbolizing America. A Tricky Balance: When Washington took office, many -- including the president himself -- cast an eager eye westward when they thought of the future of the country. But Indians on the western frontier stared back, determined to stand their ground. Washington tried to find a middle ground policy that accommodated both Indian claims to their land and Americans' need to move west. He had little success. In the end, Indians were pushed farther west by the expanding nation.
273. MTVEV5_150216_245.JPG: Indian Peace Medal, ca 1789 George Washington's administration issued the first American peace medals in an effort to build allegiances with Native American leaders previously allied with Great Britain. This medal features engraved images of an Indian warrior and a classical figure symbolizing America.
274. MTVEV5_150216_262.JPG: Hamilton: We need one strong national bank. Jefferson: No, we need small state banks. Washington: Say, does anybody have change for a Franklin? by Mike Peters
275. MTVEV5_150216_266.JPG: Mike Peters Syndicated by King Features Syndicate, this Pulitzer Prize winner's work appears in over 400 newspapers worldwide. He also pens the popular cartoon strip, Mother Goose & Grimm, which is seen in more than 800 newspapers across the globe.
276. MTVEV5_150216_268.JPG: 1791: The National Bank: Washington stands behind Hamilton's new economic plan
277. MTVEV5_150216_271.JPG: Colony of New Jersey Currency One-shilling note, dated March 25, 1776
278. MTVEV5_150216_274.JPG: Continental Congress Currency $7 note, dated November 2, 1776
279. MTVEV5_150216_280.JPG: From Disaster to Prosperity Burdened by crushing war debt, the United States faced economic disaster in the 1790s. President Washington instructed Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton to develop a plan to rescue the country's economy. Hamilton proposed establishing a National Bank. The controversial idea angered detractors like Thomas Jefferson, who complained that it gave the federal government too much power. But Hamilton convinced Washington that the centralized bank would stimulate investment, reduce the national debt, and strengthen America's status abroad.
280. MTVEV5_150216_284.JPG: Bottling Up the Whiskey Rebellion by Walt Handelsman
281. MTVEV5_150216_287.JPG: Walt Handelsman A 1997 Pulitzer Prize winner for editorial cartooning, Walt Handelsman has won numerous awards for his work including: the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award, the National Headliner Award (twice), and the 1992 Sigma Delta Chi Award.
282. MTVEV5_150216_289.JPG: 1794: Whiskey Rebellion: Protesting farmers provide first threat to federal power
283. MTVEV5_150216_293.JPG: President Leads Militia In 1791, Congress passed an excise tax on distilled spirits. The tax hit small western whiskey-producing farmers especially hard. It cut into their profits and weakened their ability to compete against larger producers. Already distrustful of national authority. the farmers openly rebelled. By 1794, protests in western Pennsylvania turned increasingly violent. Determined to enforce the law, Washington led 13,000 militiamen westward. This show of force convinced the rebels to disband, reinforcing the supremacy of the federal government.
284. MTVEV5_150216_307.JPG: Steve Kelley This award-winning cartoonist is also the co-creator of Funny Money, which provides funding for the San Diego Child Abuse Prevention Foundation, and the founder of 1,000 Laughs for 1,000 Smiles, which helps fund reconstructive surgery for children in Mexico.
285. MTVEV5_150216_310.JPG: 1794: Jay's Treaty Pact with Great Britain riles the American public Protestor: Hang the Cowards! John Jay: As promised, we're not being attacked by the British. by Steve Kelley
286. MTVEV5_150216_313.JPG: Avoiding War By the 1790s, relations between Great Britain and the United States had deteriorated nearly to the point of war. Knowing that his young country could not suffer another conflict, Washington turned to diplomacy. He sent Supreme Court Justice John Jay to England to negotiate a treaty. Afterwards, Americans -- outraged by terms favoring the British -- burned Jay in effigy and angrily denounced Washington. However, the flawed agreement successfully saved the country from war and gave it time to grow stronger.
287. MTVEV5_150216_316.JPG: First Term in Office: Guiding the New Nation: When George Washington was sworn in, the United States was a young nation experimenting with a new and untried form of government. To many, success or failure depended on the first president. Aware of the expectations of his countrymen and the world, Washington carefully guided the nation through its early turbulent years. Swearing in the President: April 30, 1789: Unanimously elected, Washington is sworn in as the first president of the United States at Federal Hall in New York City. Lady Washington's Levees: Spring 1789: Martha Washington begins hosting informal levees on Friday evenings while her husband hosts a more formal reception for gentlemen on Tuesday afternoons.
288. MTVEV5_150216_322.JPG: Entire Supreme Court Appointed: September 24, 1789: Washington appoints Chief Justices John Jay and five associate justices to the Supreme Court. First Thanksgiving: November 26, 1789: Proclaimed by Washington, the first National Day of Thanksgiving is celebrated. Capital Gains: July 16, 1790: After agreeing to move the country's capital from New York to Philadelphia, Washington signs a bill to later locate a permanent capital on the Potomac River. Proclamation of 1790: August 26, 1790: Washington issues an executive order reinforcing treaties "between the United States and the Cherokee, Choctaw, and Chickasaw nations of Indians."
289. MTVEV5_150216_325.JPG: Proclamation of 1790: August 26, 1790: Washington issues an executive order reinforcing treaties "between the United States and the Cherokee, Choctaw, and Chickasaw nations of Indians." National Bank Chartered: February 1791: To help recover from Revolutionary War debt and establish a unified national currency, Washington signs a bill establishing The Bank of the United States. Bill of Rights: December 15, 1791: With Washington's support, the Bill of Rights is formally adopted and goes into effect.
290. MTVEV5_150216_331.JPG: Second Term in Office: Reluctant Return: Exhausted after years of service, Washington did not wish to run for president again. He wanted to retire to Mount Vernon. Despite his wishes, the country still called. "North & South will hang together," argued Thomas Jefferson, "If they have you to hang on." Reluctantly agreeing to continue, Washington embarked on a second term that would prove far more volatile than the first. The Second Inauguration: March 4, 1793: Unanimously elected once again, Washington delivers his second inaugural address. Only two paragraphs long, it remains the shortest in presidential history. Neutrality Declared: April 22, 1793: Washington issues his Neutrality Proclamation, declaring that the United States is at peace with both England and France.
291. MTVEV5_150216_341.JPG: Capitol Cornerstone: September 18, 1793: Washington lays the cornerstone for the Capitol in Washington, DC. Jefferson Resigns: December 31, 1793: After growing differences of opinion about how the country should be run, Thomas Jefferson formally resigns as Washington's Secretary of State. Whiskey Rebellion: September 30, 1794: Extending the limits of federal power, Washington leads nearly 13,000 troops out toward Western Pennsylvania to put down a growing protest over federal taxes on whiskey.
292. MTVEV5_150216_344.JPG: Whiskey Rebellion: September 30, 1794: Extending the limits of federal power, Washington leads nearly 13,000 troops out toward Western Pennsylvania to put down a growing protest over federal taxes on whiskey. Jay's Treaty: August 14, 1795: After facing down the greatest crisis of his administration, Washington signs the controversial Jay's Treaty, successfully avoiding another war with Great Britain. Farewell Address: September 19, 1796: In an open letter published in newspapers throughout the country, Washington declines a third term and outlines his views about the future of the country.
293. MTVEV5_150216_352.JPG: Presidential Travels: As president, Washington thought it important to help unite the new nation by visiting every state. Hoping to bring the far-flung citizens of America face-to-face with their new federal government, he traveled to the northern states in 1789 and visited each of the southern states in 1791. Travel at the time was difficult, but Washington looked forward to meeting the American people. The people, in turn, came out in great numbers to welcome the new president at every stop along the way.
294. MTVEV5_150216_358.JPG: Dating back to his days as Revolutionary War General, Washington drew large crowds wherever he traveled in the United States.
295. MTVEV5_150216_362.JPG: Washington slept here and here... and here... and... New England Tour 1789 On October 15, 1789, Washington left New York and embarked on a month-long tour of the northern states. He visited every New England state except Rhode Island, which had not yet ratified the Constitution. (He returned to Rhode Island the following summer after the state official joined the Union.)
296. MTVEV5_150216_370.JPG: Washington slept here and here... and here... and... Southern Tour 1791 (continued) This map shows Washington's route through the Carolinas and Georgia before returning through Virginia.
297. MTVEV5_150216_378.JPG: Washington City: In July 1790, Congress voted to place the nation's permanent capital along the Potomac River and authorized President Washington to select the exact location for the city. Washington took his authority a step further and set about personally overseeing every aspect of the project. He selected the architects, reviewed building designs, decided on workers' meals, and even picked out the paving stones for the streets. Yet he would never govern from the city that would bear his name. It was not completed until 1800 -- the year he died.
298. MTVEV5_150216_382.JPG: Under Washington's supervision, Chief Architect Pierre L'Enfant created this 1793 plan for the nation's permanent capital. It called for a city that would grow as the country grew.
299. MTVEV5_150216_389.JPG: Vision and Legacy
300. MTVEV5_150216_396.JPG: "We are a young nation and have a character to establish. It behooves us therefore to set out right, for first impressions will be lasting." -- George Washington
301. MTVEV5_150216_402.JPG: Parting Words In September 1796, Washington released his Farewell Address announcing his decision not to seek a third term. Published in newspapers throughout the country as an open letter to the American people, the document revealed Washington's deep affection for the nation he had served for so long. It also featured wise words of caution and advice. He wanted against the divisive effects of party politics, urged unity at home and neutrality abroad, and wished the country well as it prepared to move on without him.
302. MTVEV5_150216_407.JPG: "I have no wish superior to that of promoting the happiness and welfare of this Country." -- George Washington, 1793 Farewell Address
303. MTVEV5_150216_410.JPG: Private Citizen
304. MTVEV5_150216_416.JPG: "Grandpapa is very well, and much pleased at being once more Farmer Washington." -- Nelly Custis, Martha Washington's granddaughter, 1797 In 1797, George Washington retired once again and returned to Mount Vernon. A robust 65, he spent his last two-and-a-half years tending to his farms and real estate, entertaining streams of visitors, and providing advice to the Adams administration. But most importantly, the world's most famous private citizen was home with his family at last.
305. MTVEV5_150216_419.JPG: Final Hours: "My breath can not last long..." -- Washington on his deathbed When the normally healthy and active George Washington caught a cold after inspecting his farms on a stormy mid-December day, the 67-year-old thought little of it and decided to "Let it go as it came." But his illness quickly worsened, and, despite the best medical care available, he died two days later. His final hours were anything but peaceful.
306. MTVEV5_150216_421.JPG: The Death of George Washington, 1896 by Howard Pyle
307. MTVEV5_150216_426.JPG: "You know I never take any thing for a cold. Let it go as it came." -- Washington
308. MTVEV5_150216_428.JPG: Thursday, December 12, 1799: Afternoon: Washington returns from his farms after spending almost five hours in a wintry mix of snow, sleet, rain, and cold winds. He does not change out of his wet clothes before eating dinner.
309. MTVEV5_150216_431.JPG: Friday, December 13th, 1799: Afternoon: Complaining of a cold and sore throat, Washington heads out in the snow to mark trees that are to be cut down. Evening: Hoarse but still in good spirits, Washington reads the newspapers and discusses politics with her personal secretary, Tobias Lear. He refuses to take any medicine for his cold.
310. MTVEV5_150216_434.JPG: "A mixture of Molasses, Vinegar & butter was prepared to try its effects in the throat; but he could not swallow a drop. Whenever he attempted it he appeared to be stressed, convulsed and almost suffocated." -- Tobias Lear on treatments given to Washington
311. MTVEV5_150216_444.JPG: Saturday, December 14th, 1799: Early Morning: Washington awakens his wife to tell her he is having difficulty breathing. But he does not allow her to summon help, fearing that she will catch cold. Daybreak: Mrs. Washington alerts the household of her husband's condition. Later, the ailing Washington asks for and receives his first bleeding but finds no relief.
312. MTVEV5_150216_448.JPG: "I feel myself going, I thank you for all your attentions; but I pray you to take no more trouble about me, let me go off quietly..." -- Washington to his doctors
313. MTVEV5_150216_451.JPG: Saturday, December 14th, 1799: Mid-Morning: Washington's personal physician, Dr. James Craik, arrives. He begins bleeding his patient and applies blister treatments. Mid-Afternoon: Tow more doctors arrive. Washington is bled for a fourth time with no improvement. Expecting the worst, Washington asks his wife to bring him his two wills. He selects one and orders the other destroyed.
314. MTVEV5_150216_454.JPG: Evening: Washington's condition worsens despite more blister treatments from his doctors. He confides to them that the end is near. Late Evening: Washington takes his last breath and dies quietly. Physicians today speculate that a bacterial infection called epiglottitis slowly suffocated him. Had antibiotics been available at the time, his life might have been saved.
315. MTVEV5_150216_457.JPG: " 'Tis Well." -- Washington's last words
316. MTVEV5_150216_459.JPG: George Washington in Masonic Regalia by LH Gebhard after William Williams, 1919
317. MTVEV5_150216_474.JPG: Bidding Farewell: Four days after he died, Washington was laid to rest in an elaborate ceremony at Mount Vernon. A ship's cannon on the Potomac boomed a salute, and a band played a solemn dirge as a funeral procession of hundreds escorted his lead-lined coffin to the family tomb. Beyond Washington's home, the stunned nation also bid farewell for many months after, staging mock funerals and offering up heartfelt eulogies to the departed hero.
318. MTVEV5_150216_481.JPG: Mask of George Washington, 19th century
319. MTVEV5_150216_484.JPG: Funeral Urn Medal Medal die cut by Jacob Perkins of Newburyport, Massachusetts for a ceremonial funeral procession. 1799-1800
320. MTVEV5_150216_501.JPG: Coffin Handle: Brass bail handle said to have been from George Washington's coffin. ca 1799
321. MTVEV5_150216_509.JPG: Mrs. Washington Mourns
322. MTVEV5_150216_513.JPG: Moving On Alone Martha Washington deeply grieved the loss of her loss of 40 years. Following custom, she closed their bedroom door and moved to the mansion's third floor. There she privately mourned and directed household activities at Mount Vernon. With the help of her grandchildren, she still graciously received the seemingly endless number of guests to Mount Vernon. But most agreed that the widow had lost her spark. She died two and a half years later and was entombed next ot her husband following a private ceremony.
323. MTVEV5_150216_517.JPG: Martha Washington's Garret Chamber: Following the custom of the day, Martha Washington closed the bedroom she shared with her husband after he died and moved to the third floor of the mansion.
324. MTVEV5_150216_521.JPG: Free At Last: "It is my Will & desire that all the slaves which I hold in my own right, shall receive their freedom..." -- George Washington's last will and testament Feeling politically unable to end slavery during his lifetime, Washington used his Last Will & Testament to address the problem. He stipulated that Mrs. Washington would have the use of his slaves during her lifetime. Immediately upon her death, the slaves would be freed. He also set aside considerable funds to provide for his slaves for when they set out to live as free men, women, and children. Mrs. Washington wasted no time; she freed his slaves a year after his death. Ambrotype image of Tom, one of Mount Vernon's freed slaves, circa 1860
325. MTVEV5_150216_537.JPG: A Private Matter: "I retain an unalterable affection for you, which neither time nor distance can change..." -- George Washington in a letter to his wife, 1775 Throughout there 40-year marriage, George and Martha Washington wrote numerous letters back and forth during the times they could not be together. Yet only three of probably hundreds of letters survived -- and none of them provide much insight into their relationship. Mrs. Washington, who did not like living under the public eye, burned almost all of the letters a short time after her husband died. With this act, she succeeded in keeping her marriage a private matter.
326. MTVEV5_150216_555.JPG: Remembering Washington: Washington's legacy did not fade after he died. On the contrary, as the young country grew, so did his reputation. When Americans pushed beyond the Mississippi River to the western shores of California and even across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii, they carried the memory of the man with them. They named towns, counties, mountains, rivers, hospitals, cemeteries, schools, and universities after him. Today Washington's name lives on in every state of the union.
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Description of Subject Matter: The new visitor center covers quite a lot of Washington's life. Some signs:

Setting the World On Fire:
During the early 1750s, longtime enemies Britain and France both laid claim to the land surrounding present-day Pittsburgh. Both countries saw the area as key to controlling the western frontier, and they were determined to defend it at all costs.
In 1754, a young and inexperienced George Washington led his Virginia Regiment there on behalf of Great Britain. Washington soon clashed with the French and their Indian allies, starting a war that quickly spilled beyond North America to Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Walking Away:
At age 23, George Washington rose to the highest rank among colonial officers -- Colonel of the Regiment.
After surrender, redemption.
Washington resigned from the Virginia Regiment after surrendering at Fort Necessity. The following year he joined the British Army, signing on as an unpaid aide to help General Edward Braddock to reclaim the Ohio Valley.
The 1755 campaign ended in disaster as French and Indian forces killed Braddock and most of his officers. Filling the breach, Washington braved fierce enemy fire to help reorganize and rescue dazed British troops. He became a war hero, earning a reputation that following him for the rest of his life.

The Dilemma of Slavery:
-- "There is not a man living who wishes more sincerely than I do, to see a plan adopted for the abolition of it." -- George Washington on slavery, 1783
As Washington grew older, he found it increasingly difficult to justify slavery in a country founded on liberty. And he questioned its value to the economy. He also believed that the slavery question would tear the country apart -- and so, like many others, he refused to address it publicly. Instead, he acted privately and freed his slaves in his will, setting an example for others to follow.
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Same Subject: Click on this link to see coverage of items having the same subject: [History 1700s (excl wars)]
2015 photos: Equipment this year: I mostly used my Fuji XS-1 camera but, depending on the event, I also used a Nikon D7000. I retired from the US Census Bureau in god-forsaken Suitland, Maryland on my 58th birthday in May. Yee ha! Trips this year: a quick trip to Florida. two Civil War Trust conferences (Raleigh, NC and Richmond, VA), and my 10th consecutive San Diego Comic-Con trip (including Los Angeles). Ego Strokes: Carolyn Cerbin used a Kevin Costner photo in her USA Today article. Miss DC pictures were used a few times in the Washington Post. Number of photos taken this year: just over 550,000.
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