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

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

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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. MTVERV_200217_005.JPG: Scenes from the Life of George Washington Studio of Karl J. Mueller Stained glass, c. 1950s-1960s 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.
2. MTVERV_200217_008.JPG: Scenes from the Life of George Washington Studio of Karl J. Mueller Stained glass, c. 1950s-1960s "I Can Not Tell a Lie" The myth of Washington cutting down a cherry tree was created by Parsons Mason Locke Weems.
3. MTVERV_200217_013.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)
4. MTVERV_200217_016.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)
5. MTVERV_200217_017.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)
6. MTVERV_200217_020.JPG: 1752: Half-brother Lawrence (age 34) dies. George Washington joins the Masonic Lodge in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and begins his military career. 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)
7. MTVERV_200217_022.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)
8. MTVERV_200217_028.JPG: The French and Indian War Washington is elected to the Virginia House of Representatives and resigns his military commission. He will serve in the Virginia legislature until 1775. Britain's King George II dies (age 77) and is succeeded by his grandson, George III. (1760)
9. MTVERV_200217_030.JPG: 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.
10. MTVERV_200217_032.JPG: Scenes from the Life of George Washington Studio of Karl J. Mueller Stained glass, c. 1950s-1960s 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.
11. MTVERV_200217_034.JPG: 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. 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) Napoleon Bonaparte, the future leader of France, is born. (1789)
12. MTVERV_200217_035.JPG: George Washington's beloved stepdaughter, Martha Parke Custis, dies of epilepsy at age 17. Napoleon Bonaparte, the future leader of France, is born. (1769) Illustration is Washington as Architect, oil on canvas, by Peter Waddell, 1998.
13. MTVERV_200217_036.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. MTVERV_200217_040.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. MTVERV_200217_042.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. MTVERV_200217_049.JPG: 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 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)
17. MTVERV_200217_052.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. MTVERV_200217_054.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. MTVERV_200217_060.JPG: Retirement
20. MTVERV_200217_061.JPG: 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.
21. MTVERV_200217_062.JPG: Scenes from the Life of George Washington Studio of Karl J. Mueller Stained glass, c. 1950s-1960s Washington Crossing the Delaware The bold Christmas night crossing in 1776 gave Washington and his men their first decisive victory in the Revolutionary War.
22. MTVERV_200217_065.JPG: Scenes from the Life of George Washington Studio of Karl J. Mueller Stained glass, c. 1950s-1960s Washington Taking His Inaugural Oath Washington was sworn in as the first President of the United States of America at Federal Hill in New York City in April 1789.
23. MTVERV_200217_067.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. 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. Tennessee becomes the 16th state. (1796) The Russian empress, Catherine the Great, dies at the age of 67. (1796)
24. MTVERV_200217_075.JPG: George Washington, Architect George Washington, a self-taught architect, enlarged the Mansion twice. In the late 1750s, he raised it to two-and-one half stories, and in the 1770s, he added a wing to each end of the house. The south wing was begun before Washington left for the Second Continental Congress in 1775. Its interior was finished by his manager, Lund Washington, who also directed construction of the north end while Washington was away commanding the Continental Army. By 1787, Washington had built the piazza overlooking the river and capped the roof with a cupola.
25. MTVERV_200217_082.JPG: South The Cellar The cellar held store rooms for wine, spirits, soap, and other household provisions, as well as a work area or quarters used by Frank Lee, the enslaved butler. It also incorporated a circular brick pit twenty-two feet deep, which was used at different times to store ice and other food stuffs.
26. MTVERV_200217_083.JPG: The Study Part of the south wing, completed in 1775, this was the headquarters from which George Washington managed his estate and penned the letters that moved the new nation toward establishing a federal government. It was also his personal retreat, where before sunrise he prepared himself for the day's activities and in the evening he could retire from ever-present guests.
27. MTVERV_200217_085.JPG: The Washingtons' Bedroom This room and its closets occupy the second floor of the south wing. Martha Washington used this room as her headquarters as she oversaw household activities. After the General's death on December 14, 1799, Mrs. Washington closed this room and moved to a bedroom on the third floor.
28. MTVERV_200217_091.JPG: Mount Vernon in Miniature Mount Vernon in Miniature, completed in 1998 after five years of work, is a detailed replica of George Washington's Mansion. A group of patriotic citizens engaged master artists, engineers, and miniaturists from around the world to create the miniature model on a scale of one inch to one foot. They used as their reference measured drawings of the Mansion and the extensive room-by-room inventory taken just after Washington's death. Every feature, from the rusticated siding to the handsome carved mantels, was true to Washington's vision for his home, as it was understood in the 1990s. Virtually every aspect of the miniature is in working order. Door knobs turn, windows open and close, and drawers pull out.
29. MTVERV_200217_094.JPG: The Second Floor Rooms There are four full-sized bedrooms on the second floor, in addition to the Washingtons' chamber in the south wing. A fifth room, known simply as the "Small Room," was converted into a bedroom when the number of guests required it.
30. MTVERV_200217_098.JPG: The Downstairs Bedroom A bedroom for the entire history of the house, this room may have been occupied by the Washingtons before the south wing of the house was completed in 1775. With the great number of overnight visitors to Mount Vernon, this bedroom would have been a necessity.
31. MTVERV_200217_103.JPG: The Lafayette Bedroom In 1784, the Marquis de Lafayette slept here during his last visit to Mount Vernon. More than a friend and military comrade during the American Revolution, Lafayette was like an adopted son to Washington.
32. MTVERV_200217_109.JPG: The New Room The last addition to the house, the New Room remained unfurnished until after Washington returned from the Presidency in 1797. Its decoration and furnishings showcased Washington's interests and hopes for the new nation. Agricultural tool displayed in the neoclassical ceiling design affirmed his passion for farming while the unique collection of American landscape paintings proclaimed the beauty and power of the new nation's natural resources.
33. MTVERV_200217_115.JPG: The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association In 1858-1859, the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union raised the funds to purchase the Mansion, outbuildings, and 200 surrounding acres from John Augustine Washington III. Restoration soon began, and the Ladies welcomed visitors to the estate in 1860. The Association was the first national historic preservation organization and is the oldest women's patriotic society in the United States. Daughters of the American Revolution From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a lineage-based membership service organization for women who are directly descended from a person involved in the United States' efforts towards independence. A non-profit group, they promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism. The organization's membership is limited to direct lineal descendants of soldiers or others of the Revolutionary period who aided the cause of independence; applicants must have reached 18 years of age and are reviewed at the chapter level for admission. The DAR has over 185,000 members in the United States and other countries. Its motto is "God, Home, and Country." Founding In 1889 the centennial of President George Washington's inauguration was celebrated, and Americans looked for additional ways to recognize their past. Out of the renewed interest in United States history, numerous patriotic and preservation societies were founded. On July 13, 1890, after the Sons of the American Revolution refused to allow women to join their group, Mary Smith Lockwood published the story of patriot Hannah White Arnett in The Washington Post, asking, "Where will the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution place Hannah Arnett?" On July 21 of that year, William O. McDowell, a great-grandson of Hannah White Arnett, published an article in The Washington Post offering to help form a society to be known as the Daughters of the American Revolution. The first meeting of the society was held August 9, 1890. The first DAR chapter was organized on October 11, 1890, at the Strathmore Arms, the home of Mary Smith Lockwood, one of the DAR's four co-founders. Other founders were Eugenia Washington, a great-grandniece of George Washington, Ellen Hardin Walworth, and Mary Desha. They had also held organizational meetings in August 1890. Other attendees in October were Sons of the American Revolution members Registrar General Dr. George Brown Goode, Secretary General A. Howard Clark, William O. McDowell (SAR member #1), Wilson L. Gill (secretary at the inaugural meeting), and 18 other people. The First Lady, Caroline Lavina Scott Harrison, wife of President Benjamin Harrison, lent her prestige to the founding of DAR, and served as its first President General. Having initiated a renovation of the White House, she was interested in historic preservation. She helped establish the goals of DAR, which was incorporated by congressional charter in 1896. In this same period, such organizations as the Colonial Dames of America, the Mary Washington Memorial Society, Preservation of the Virginia Antiquities, United Daughters of the Confederacy, and Sons of Confederate Veterans were also founded. This was in addition to numerous fraternal and civic organizations flourishing in this period.
34. MTVERV_200217_120.JPG: Mount Vernon in Miniature Mount Vernon in Miniature, completed in 1998 after five years of work, is a detailed replica of George Washington's Mansion. A group of patriotic citizens engaged master artists, engineers, and miniaturists from around the world to create the miniature model on a scale of one inch to one foot. They used as their reference measured drawings of the Mansion and the extensive room-by-room inventory taken just after Washington's death. Every feature, from the rusticated siding to the handsome carved mantels, was true to Washington's vision for his home, as it was understood in the 1990s. Virtually every aspect of the miniature is in working order. Door knobs turn, windows open and close, and drawers pull out.
35. MTVERV_200217_124.JPG: The Third Floor The third floor contained large storage rooms and a few bedrooms. After George Washington's death, Martha Washington closed the second floor bedroom that she had shared with her husband, and moved up to a bedroom on the third floor.
36. MTVERV_200217_126.JPG: The Front Parlor Before the New Room was added, Washington considered this "the best place in my House," and important family portraits hung here. The Washington family coat-of-arms is carved and painted in the pediment above the mantel; the Washington crest is cast in the iron fireback. The paneled interior probably dates to just before Washington's marriage in 1759.
37. MTVERV_200217_139.JPG: Passage During warm weather, the Washingtons likely held informal gatherings here because this tended to be the coolest room in the house. Here, Washington also prominently displayed the key to the Bastille prison in Paris and a drawing of the Bastille's destruction, both sent to him by the Marquis de Lafayette.
38. MTVERV_200217_145.JPG: The Nelly Custis Lewis Bedroom This room is believed to have been used by Martha Washington's youngest granddaughter, who was a member of the Mount Vernon household from childhood. On General Washington's last birthday, February 22, 1799, she married his nephew, Lawrence Lewis, at Mount Vernon.
39. MTVERV_200217_149.JPG: The Dining Room This elegant room served the Washington family and their guests. Washington added the elaborately carved chimney surround and the plaster ceiling decorations in 1775. He found green to be a color "grateful to the eye" and less likely than others to fade.
40. MTVERV_200217_156.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."
41. MTVERV_200217_160.JPG: Donald W. Reynolds Museum & Education Center
42. MTVERV_200217_165.JPG: Donald W. Reynolds 1908-1993 This facility has been donated through the generosity of the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. Donald W. Reynolds was a business and believer in high ideals who built his success around free enterprise and a strong work ethic. He was the founder and principal owner of a large media group. The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, established in 1954, proudly continues his philanthropy. Stephens Media (newspapers) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Stephens Media LLC was a Las Vegas, Nevada, diversified media investment company. It owned stakes in the California Newspapers Partnership and the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette. The company had been expanding its interactive Internet business, operating online sites for its newspapers and portal sites like LasVegas.com, which is licensed to Greenspun Media Group. The company is also a partner in the California Newspapers Partnership with MediaNews and Gannett. The company also formed Northwest Arkansas Newspapers LLC in November 2009, a joint venture with WEHCO Media Inc., in Arkansas. On November 28, 2010, Stephens Media Iowa, LLC, a subsidiary of Stephens Media, acquired several newspapers, including the Ames Tribune, Boone News-Republican, Dallas County News, Nevada Journal, Ames About People & Advertiser, Tri-County Times, and Algona Upper Des Moines from Midlands Newspapers Inc., a subsidiary of the Omaha World-Herald Company. In August, 2011, the Algona Upper Des Moines was sold to Hallmark Media. In February 2015, Stephens Media was purchased by GateHouse Media for $102.8 million. In December 2015, GateHouse sold the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the Stephens group's largest paper, to casino magnate Sheldon Adelson for $140 million.
43. MTVERV_200217_168.JPG: Lives Bound Together Slavery at George Washington's Mount Vernon While this was an interesting exhibit, photography was prohibited.
44. MTVERV_200217_170.JPG: Discovering the Real G. Washington A Leader of Character
45. MTVERV_200217_183.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.
46. MTVERV_200217_197.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
47. MTVERV_200217_199.JPG: Portion of Cross Beam Said to be a piece of Fort Necessity
48. MTVERV_200217_205.JPG: George Washington: Architect by Peter Waddell, 1993, after the original in the Mount Vernon collection
49. MTVERV_200217_217.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
50. MTVERV_200217_223.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.
51. MTVERV_200217_225.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.
52. MTVERV_200217_233.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
53. MTVERV_200217_235.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.
54. MTVERV_200217_239.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.
55. MTVERV_200217_248.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.
56. MTVERV_200217_250.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.
57. MTVERV_200217_254.JPG: The Elizabeth and David Bruce Smith Theater Revolutionary War Theater
58. MTVERV_200217_258.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
59. MTVERV_200217_260.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.
60. MTVERV_200217_263.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.
61. MTVERV_200217_266.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.
62. MTVERV_200217_268.JPG: This Revolutionary War era iron cannon ball (circa 1776) has a circumference of 7-3/4 inches.
63. MTVERV_200217_280.JPG: Washington's Headquarters at Newburgh, New York This placid 19th-century scene depicts George Washington's former military headquarters in Newburgh, New York. Washington lived in the fieldstone farmhouse from April 1782 to August 1783. Seven thousand American troops resided in the nearby New Windsor cantonment, where Washington delivered his famed Newburgh Address. Painted by George Gunther Hartwick, 19th century
64. MTVERV_200217_281.JPG: The Newburgh Conspiracy Near the end of the Revolutionary War, a group of military officers threatened to mutiny against the Continental Congress for not providing adequate pay. George Washington skillfully quelled the unrest through a speech that acknowledged the men's grievances but urged patience and caution. Washington promised to lobby Congress on his men's behalf, which he did, eventually securing them five years of full pay.
65. MTVERV_200217_288.JPG: Spectacles, ca 1780-1790 During his Newburgh Address, George Washington famously paused and pulled out a pair of spectacles, commenting, "Gentlemen, you must pardon me, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in service to my country." According to eyewitnesses, this acknowledgement of shared sacrifice led many officers to weep openly. We do not know which eyeglasses Washington wore at Newburgh. This pair has a history of Washington ownership.
66. MTVERV_200217_300.JPG: Giving Up Power 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." 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.
67. MTVERV_200217_303.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."
68. MTVERV_200217_305.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.
69. MTVERV_200217_308.JPG: He could have been king...
70. MTVERV_200217_315.JPG: Instead he gave up power and returned to Mount Vernon.
71. MTVERV_200217_321.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.
72. MTVERV_200217_323.JPG: 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.
73. MTVERV_200217_326.JPG: Visionary Entrepreneur "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.
74. MTVERV_200217_327.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.
75. MTVERV_200217_329.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.
76. MTVERV_200217_331.JPG: This map shows the five farms that made up the Mount Vernon estate in 1793.
77. MTVERV_200217_336.JPG: Washington's Real Estate Holdings Washington's Mount Vernon plantation made up just one part of a vast real estate empire of nearly 70,000 acres. He owned land in Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania as well as in what are now the states of West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. He also held properties in Williamsburg, Alexandria, and the new Federal City, including two townhouses on Capitol Hill.
78. MTVERV_200217_340.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.
79. MTVERV_200217_341.JPG: 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.
80. MTVERV_200217_344.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.
81. MTVERV_200217_347.JPG: Food Rations for a Day
82. MTVERV_200217_352.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.
83. MTVERV_200217_360.JPG: Weekly Report Account of the labor of enslaved people on Mount Vernon's five farms from August 8-14, 1790.
84. MTVERV_200217_365.JPG: 1.5 million herring caught in seven weeks
85. MTVERV_200217_368.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.
86. MTVERV_200217_370.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.
87. MTVERV_200217_371.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.
88. MTVERV_200217_373.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.
89. MTVERV_200217_376.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
90. MTVERV_200217_377.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.
91. MTVERV_200217_380.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.
92. MTVERV_200217_381.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.
93. MTVERV_200217_384.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
94. MTVERV_200217_386.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."
95. MTVERV_200217_389.JPG: Dental Instruments Toothbrush, tongue scraper, and toothpowder box Used by Washington's family for dental hygiene. Silver, ivory, animal hair, ca 1795.
96. MTVERV_200217_391.JPG: Scaler Set Used by surgeon-dentists to remove built-up tartar from teeth. Ivory, silver, ferrous metal, ca 1790-1820.
97. MTVERV_200217_394.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.
98. MTVERV_200217_396.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.
99. MTVERV_200217_399.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
100. MTVERV_200217_401.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.
101. MTVERV_200217_404.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.
102. MTVERV_200217_409.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.
103. MTVERV_200217_423.JPG: Lottery Ticket #380 George Washington endorsed this ticket for a 1768 raffle The proceeds were for building a road through the Allegheny Mountains.
104. MTVERV_200217_427.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.
105. MTVERV_200217_436.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.
106. MTVERV_200217_438.JPG: Indispensable American
107. MTVERV_200217_440.JPG: "The power under the Constitution will always be in the People." -- George Washington In 1787, a weak and ineffective confederation barely held the states together as a nation. To keep the Union from falling apart, America summoned Washington once again. Reluctant to come out of retirement and assume a leadership role, the 55-year-old ultimately felt duty bound to safeguard the nation he had worked so hard to create. On May 9, he departed for Philadelphia to preside over the Constitutional Convention.
108. MTVERV_200217_445.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.
109. MTVERV_200217_448.JPG: 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 Afflect, Philadelphia, ca 1790-1793
110. MTVERV_200217_452.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.
111. MTVERV_200217_457.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.
112. MTVERV_200217_467.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.
113. MTVERV_200217_471.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
114. MTVERV_200217_476.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.
115. MTVERV_200217_483.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.
116. MTVERV_200217_486.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.
117. MTVERV_200217_487.JPG: Choosing the Presidential Titles: Skateboarder: Yo, leader dude! George: Methinks that's too informal... By Signe Wilkinson
118. MTVERV_200217_490.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.
119. MTVERV_200217_493.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."
120. MTVERV_200217_496.JPG: Washington looks to western expansion by Randy Bish
121. MTVERV_200217_499.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.
122. MTVERV_200217_502.JPG: 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.
123. MTVERV_200217_503.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.
124. MTVERV_200217_507.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
125. MTVERV_200217_510.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.
126. MTVERV_200217_512.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.
127. MTVERV_200217_525.JPG: This case holds an extraordinary piece of American numismatic history -- the only gold coin ever made in this pattern. Before Congress established a national mint in April 1792, many private firms tried to win government contracts by sending samples (called pattern coins) to federal officials. This example by Jacob Perkins of Newburyport, Massachusetts, is one of more than 20 surviving pattern coins featuring the first president's portrait. There was one problem: George Washington did not want his image on currency, and so this pattern was never put into production. This coin's history has long intrigued scholars and collectors. It may have been sent to George Washington by a friend of Jacob Perkins in February 1792. Former owners of the coin believed that Washington carried it as a "pocket piece." Did Washington ever have this item in his possession? That question remains unresolved.
128. MTVERV_200217_526.JPG: Bottling Up the Whiskey Rebellion by Walt Handelsman
129. MTVERV_200217_530.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.
130. MTVERV_200217_536.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.
131. MTVERV_200217_539.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
132. MTVERV_200217_544.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.
133. MTVERV_200217_546.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.
134. MTVERV_200217_548.JPG: English Guitar George Washington gave this guitar to Nelly Custis Lewis. A keyboard mechanism made it easy to play.
135. MTVERV_200217_568.JPG: View of the Birth-place of Washington John Gadsby Chapman, 1834
136. MTVERV_200217_573.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.
137. MTVERV_200217_582.JPG: 1753 Silver-Hilted Smallsword Made by John Carman II, London, 1753 This fine sword dates to 1753, the same year in which the 21 year-old George Washington received his first military appointment, as a major in the Virginia Militia. He is believed to have carried it during the French and Indian War engagements at Jumonville Glen and Fort Necessity in 1754, and the 1755 ambush of General Edward Braddock's army. Stylistically, the blade and hilt present a curious combination of an out-of-date blade design with highly fashionable lobed or "gadrooned" decoration on the silver hilt. The wooden grip would originally have been wrapped in spiraling bands of silver tape and twisted silver wire, echoing the gadrooning. The 1753 smallsword descended in the family of Washington's nephew, Major George Lewis (1757-1821), and was eventually purchased by the Vice Regent for Alabama in 1884, as a gift to the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association.
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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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