This was a small postcard type book I bought as a souvenir when I was in 9th grade and on my school trip around the Washington DC area. Some of the photos are kind of weird as it was difficult to scan some of the pages of the booklet.
West Front of Mansion: In the 18th century, guests arrived at the west front entrance of the Mansion. Washington enlarged the original house that his father had built by adding another story and building wings on the north and south. The exterior siding of the Mansion and courtyard outbuildings is pine, which has been beveled to resemble blocks of stone and painted with sand and paint to simulate the texture of stone.
Large Dining Room: The most formal and elegant room in the Mansion, the large dining room could accommodate a great number of guests for a variety of functions, including dinners and parties. One such feast is the holiday dinner, featuring a Christmas pie, leg of lamb and stuffed cabbage. The temporary dining room table was stored away when not in use.
Central Passage: Much of the social life of the Washington family and guests was centered around the mahogany-grained passage, which runs the full width of the Mansion. The key to the Bastille, a gift to George Washington from the Marquis de Lafayette, hangs on the south wall.
George and Martha Washington's Bedroom: On December 14, 1799, George Washington died on this bed in the room he and his wife shared. Other objects of interest in this room include Washington's trunk at the foot of the bed, Martha Washington's desk and portraits of her four grandchildren.
Study: No room at Mount Vernon is as closely associated with George Washington as his study, which contains the desk he purchased in Philadelphia at the end of his presidency, his terrestrial globe and an 18th century fan chair. From this private room Washington directed the activities of his plantation and corresponded with leaders of the day.
Family Kitchen: Meals for family and guests were prepared in the kitchen, a separate building that connected to the Mansion by a colonnade. Martha Washington supervised the planning of meals and made regular visits to the kitchen.
Lower Garden: The lower garden provided a bountiful supply of fresh produce for the family and guests at George Washington's estate. Vegetables were grown in beds lined with herbs and fruit trees were trained along the garden walls.
George Washington's Tomb: In his will, Washington included instructions and a basic design for a new tomb. More than 30 years later, his remains were transferred to the new enclosure, which is also the final resting place of Martha Washington and other family members.
Slave Memorial: A memorial on the site of the slave burial ground honors the African-Americans who served as slaves at Mount Vernon. The slave memorial was designed by architecture students at Howard University and was dedicated by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association in 1983.
Wharf: The wharf at Mount Vernon was constructed in the 19th century to serve visitors to the estate. Today, more than 50,000 visitors journey by boat to Mount Vernon each year. The structure received an extensive renovation in 1991 using contributions primarily from the citizen of Oregon.
Upper Garden: In his upper garden, George Washington created a formal pleasure garden, with beds of flowers and vegetables separated by brick-lined walls. The small octagonal garden house stands in the northeast corner of the upper garden.
East Front of Mansion: The Mansion overlooks the sweeping east lawn and surrounding lands of George Washington's vast estate. The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association has preserved 500 acres of Washington's original 8,000 acre estate.
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