This is the same view Mr. and Mrs. Washington enjoyed from the front of their home in the 1700s.On the other side of the river is Maryland. (Taken from the north end of the piazza looking southeast.)
View of the river from the kitchen outbuilding connected by a breezeway to the main house. This is looking east.When the Mt. Vernon Ladies Association purchased Washington's estate, they also raised enough money to buy the land on the Maryland side of the Potomac River in an effort to preserve the view that Mr. and Mrs. Washington would have enjoyed in their day. The result is a view that is unspoiled by development and, in the world of real estate, is quite enviable. Would that we could all enjoy such pristine vistas!
Mr. Washington was a farmer and engaged in steady commerce from his estate and plantation. The river was a means of conveying his goods to market, including hogsheads of tobacco, bushels of wheat, and corn, among other crops. Additionally, the river brought him goods that ranged from fine linens to fresh fruit to furniture.
Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 12/07
5 comments:
I wonder who ran this plantation for him while he was away much of the time. Was it a black slave, or? I'd love to think that the father of our country would put his trust in a black person, but did he? Your postings make me think and wonder. I love your blog!
wonderful view.
Bobbie: It's a good question. If he was like most landowners with slaves, he probably had a white overseer. Washington was, by the standards of the day, very kind to his slaves and--if I remember correctly--freed them in his will upon his death. As I mentioned earlier, I'm going back on the 26th, so I'll be sure to ask specifically.
Lara: Pretty, isn't it? Sort of reminiscent of the Danube River Valley between Linz and Vienna.
Traditional history books from my school years have created in my mind a disconnect between the reality of history and folksy grandeur.
These two pictures of yours, with their angles and vivid liveliness have gone a long way toward remedying that disconnect.
Debi: Wow! Your comments have been the best and are motivating me to continue posting pictures like these and providing information. Thank you!
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