Existing comment:
Gleason's Pictorial, Mount Vernon
After George Washington's passing, Mount Vernon became an "American mecca," with thousands making pilgrimage to his home and tomb. Overwhelmed by the surge of visitors, John Augustine Washington III attempted to sell the unprofitable and deteriorating property in the 1850s. Written after the state and federal government refused to purchase the land, this article sought to alert Americans to the uncertainty of Mount Vernon's future and advocate for its preservation.
Gleason's Pictorial Drawing-Room Companion, October 29, 1853 |