Last week I took the kids to Mount Vernon, primarily to see the "George Washington and His Generals" exhibit which is only on display for one year, ending in January 2010.  I was delighted with how the kids read everything and excitedly talked about various artifacts.

   We are always saddened by one painting in particular of the Battle of Bunker's Hill near Boston June 7th, 1775. In this painting, Dr. Warren is shown dead.  If you've seen the movie "Johnny Tremain", then you've seen Dr. Warren in the movie. He operates on Johnny's hand, restoring use of his fingers. He is also one of the Sons of Liberty. In addition, he died at the Battle of Bunker Hill. This was one of the first paintings we saw.    

     There were medals with Latin inscriptions that the kids tried to translate.  They'd call me over to help them when they got stuck.  Amazingly, my son discovered that one of the medals, Washington Before Boston, had the wrong date. Written in Roman numerals, the one for Washington's first victory that took place in Boston at Dorchester Heights said 1275 instead of 1775. Oops!  (The link takes you to this beautiful medal and actually discourses on the wrong date at the bottom.) There was also a copy of a play about Bunker Hill, written about controversial John Burke, which I had blogged about last year.  It was great seeing lots of things we had learned about. 

          Later my son called me over to a giant painting of Washington Rallying the Troops at Monmouth and he asked, "Hey Mom, is that Lafayette and Hamilton?" "Yes," I smiled.  He asked more questions so I told him to read the sign that went with it.  He would discover he was on the right track. (The link will take you not only to the painting, but to Steuben Society of America, as in Baron von Steubon, a German who came to America to help in our war. He trained the troops at Valley Forge. If you scroll further down, you'll get some German history from my part of Texas, New Braunfels and Fredericksburg, with Prince Carl Solms and Baron von Meusebach who formed the only lasting peace treaty with the Comanche.) 

     I was excited to see a cannon thought to have been one that was transported from Fort Ticonderoga, over the mountains in the winter, to the bluffs overlooking Boston.  This led to General Washington's first victory as the British yielded Boston and fled, all according to Knox's bold plan. We read all about it in TOG Y2U2. I have been to Fort William Henry which is at the southern end of Lake George. Fort Ticonderoga is at the northern end and I can appreciate the difficulty it took to transport these cannons. Quite impressive! (The resulting victory is the one featured by the medal that had the wrong date.)   

     Last summer while touring this museum, I learned about the Society of the Cincinnati and saw their emblem on some Washington china. Historians are going to groan, but I was wondering why???  I thought it had something to do with Cincinnati, Ohio, except that didn't make sense either, because I was certain that the city had not been established yet. (In my defense, last summer's display had no history of the Society of the Cincinnati.) This particular morning while touring the mansion, I noticed a relief of hmmmm, who is that? Not Julius Caesar?  I asked the tour guide, who said it was Cincinnatus. Ohhhhhh. I knew him! We read about him in TOG Y1U4. He was the ancient Roman, who while plowing his field, was called upon to defend his country. After the victory, he returned to his plow instead of assuming leadership/dictatorship like other caesars before him had done. The actor who portrays Washington at Colonial Williamsburg mentions Cincinnatus whenever guests ask him if he plans to run the country after the American Revolution.  I thought that was the actor adding that info for us, because Washington was just like Cincinnatus. Washington did not seek to lead our country, but returned home to manage his estate after the war.  I asked the tour guide if that relief had been hung on the wall by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association?  No, General Washington put it there.  Wow, General Washington knew about Cincinnatus?  Washington never got a full education like many of his peers like Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry and the Marquis de Lafayette.  As a young boy, his future held a formal education in England, like his older half-brothers had. Unfortunately, his father died while he was young and Washington had to go to work. Nevertheless, he continued to educate himself.  I knew that Washington had educated himself. However I didn't know to what extent he took his education. As a teacher, I was impressed!  There is truely no limits to education for one who truely wants to learn!

      In the "George Washington and His Generals" exhibit, there is a Society of the Cincinnati display and I finally got it.  (Note to Historians...there is hope for me yet!) After the victory at Yorktown in 1781, peace talks lagged for two more years and tempers grew short, causing two of the generals to threaten mutiny. Washington's infamous words, "I have grown grey in your service," reestablished loyalty among the men.  In response, Henry Knox designed the Society of Cincinnati to encourage esprit de corps and support veterans.  Of course, the Society of Cincinnati was derived from the Roman Cincinnatus who returned to his plow after leading his country to military victories.  (In fact, I have since learned that the town of Cincinnati, Ohio was established after the American Revolution and was eventually given the name Cincinnati to honor the Roman hero Cincinnatus and the Society of Cincinnati.)

     In the exhibit, medals for the society were displayed. Washington designed his own, as president of the society. However it was not needed. The French naval officers designed a stunning one for him encrusted with diamonds, rubies and emeralds.  This has only been worn by Washington and succeeding presidents of the society.   

     When Lafayette came to America on his Grand Tour of 1824, George Washington's step-granddaughter gave the simpler one that Washington had designed to Lafayette. There is a painting of Lafayette wearing it.  When my son was done reading everything, and we were waiting for my daughter, I made sure he knew about the medals and the simpler one. He had no idea who else, besides Washington had owned it. I told him a painting in the room shows someone wearing it. He grinned and said he took that as a challenge. He found a Society of Cincinnati medal on General Kosciuszko from Poland. No, that medal is on the other side of the display case. My son finally figured out that Lafayette was wearing it. About that time a docent came over and told us that that medal, that Washington designed and that was given to Lafayette, had recently arrived for display at the museum a few weeks before! We were glad we didn't come earlier!  In fact he said it has rarely been on display at all!  I think this is only the second showing of it!  

     The "Generals" exhibit was extremely interesting and it was fun to watch my kids' enthusiasm at finding various things. My daughter found a set of calipers donated by the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and called us over to see. 

     As interesting as everything was, there was one huge disappointment. There were displays on Dr. Warren, Henry Knox, Nathaniel Green, Benedict Arnold, Mad Anthony Wayne, Baron von Steubon, and many, many more. But the only mention of Lafayette was his likeness in two paintings. Lafayette was so important, why wasn't there a significant display for him like all the others had?  In reading the tour guide book, the organizers admitted they had to narrow down the display due to space, from Washington's 81 generals. I understand that, but to not have more on Lafayette? Perhaps its because they had a special exhibit a couple of years ago centering completely on Washington and Lafayette. Well, I didn't get to see that one. We were in Texas back then.  At least we did get to see the Washington/Lafayette Society of Cincinnati medal!  And we did do the house tour earlier, where again we got to see the key to the Bastille that Lafayette sent to General Washington.  That key is what first sent me on a path to discover Lafayette.     

    After we had completed the tour, we went to the gift shop so I could purchase the corresponding tour guide book.  With most of the artifacts behind glass and in the dark lighting, I could barely see details on any of the artifacts. The book goes into detail both in words and in pictures. It's nice to see the engravings of the various pieces up close and especially to see the beautiful Society of Cincinnati medal the French gave to Washington.  I was going through the book today and stopped at one of my favorite American Revolution paintings, Washington's Farewell to His Officers by Alonzo Chappel. Today I noticed an usual looking soldier in the painting. He looks a lot like the British dragoon, Banastre Tarleton in his short green coat and bushy helmet. My son and I were wondering who it really represented in this painting.  

     While in the midst of unpacking, painting, a tiny bit of gardening, and Unit 3 Celebration prep, (Pictures are forthcoming for all of you who have requested!) our house decided to spring a leak! =( The water has been turned off, the plumber is here and I am getting a headache.  To get my mind off "things", how about some pictures of Mount Vernon last weekend?  My husband had me choose a special activity.  I had noticed special programming at Mount Vernon for Mother's Day weekend, so off we went!

     There were special events scheduled for the entire day.  First we went to the landscape tour. Before starting, the tour guide told us that earlier that morning, she had been on the shore of the Potomac when a navy ship came by. She asked if we knew what happened. "Oh yes!  They gave honors to George Washington!" I exclaimed.  I wish we could have been there!  It was incredible hearing her describe the experience. 

    On to the landscape tour.  Instead of focusing on plants, we looked at Mount Vernon through the eyes of a surveyor.  After all, that was George Washington's first career. He used these skills to build the beautiful property we enjoy today.    

   After surveying the mansion itself, we went to the pleasure garden.  One of the comments the tour guide made I could not let slip by!  She showed us the fleur de lis garden and said something about Washington never really having something that French and formal. He was an American!

I don't remember exactly what she said, but it was along those lines. I was really bothered by what she said, because it didn't match what I had learned about him.  When we moved on to the kitchen garden, I had a chance to make a comment.  I told her that I had read that historians think that Washington  designed that garden to honor his French "adopted son", the Marquis de Lafayette and the French for their help in the American Revolution. She laughed and said that makes a nice story.  I told her I read it at the Mount Vernon website only a couple of weeks ago!  She was flabbergasted and exclaimed, "Why didn't they tell us that?"    I told her I was a Lafayette fan so I always pay attention to the Lafayette stories.  She said she was a Lafayette fan too but didn't think he'd have approved of a garden like that. I told her that I thought he would have been charmed by it, because he always liked attention and accolades.  Well this spurred lots of Lafayette stories, all of which I've already blogged about. She told the story of the American wolf hound  and "Lafayette we are here." 

     From there we did a few garden tours.  I got some free seeds from the Mount Vernon gardens.

     We played the game of graces.  My son was impressed with how well I did. I was challenged by my garden hat blowing off and holding onto my purse and camera.  Now that I think about it, maybe that was why he was impressed! 

   We watched chocolate being made, in the colonial fashion.  It was similar to what we saw at Colonial Williamsburg but all the steps in the process were laid out at once for us to see.  This was all set up in a tent on the bowling green, with no fireplace.

   We met with Martha Washington in the little theater. Boy did she have the gift of the gab.  She talked and talked and talked, telling  personal warm stories of George Washington as few see him. She talked about his sense of humor and how children adored him.  She told us that she had been getting lots of questions on their presidential pet. She couldn't understand why she was getting so many questions on this one topic.  She told us the first presidential pet was green! It was a parrot! Her granddaughter tried to teach him how to sing in French but it didn't work out too well.

   Then we all went to the bowling green for Martha Washington to toast motherhood. We all got chocolate to drink!  She suggested that we not give the young ones any chocolate.  She said they never allow the children to have chocolate because it is too stimulating. Someone asked what the children could drink and she replied, "Water, light wine..."  We all laughed! 

    Whenever I see an actor/interpreter, I catch myself paying a lot of attention to the costumes. While Martha Washington talked, I couldn't help but think that I have the exact same fabric from her dress, the blue toile, in a comforter I made. I liked her dress a lot and thought about how I could recreate that!

Then we went back to the pleasure garden where period music was being played...

so that we could have dance lessons. 

     Saturday we saw some historical reenactments of the Bristish arrival at Mount Vernon.  The activities were to begin at 1pm so we spent the morning looking at all the gardens. The kids were  surprised to see one of the Redcoats enjoying the gardens too. I told them he was checking the inventory before the raid. 

     We had an early lunch before the action started. To our surprise, the Redcoats joined us for lunch at the Food Court!  They arrived with their ammunition, muskets, full unifom...everything!  My son said with shock, "That one bought food at Cafe Lafayette!"  Of course they attracted a lot of attention, as they walked by with their food, smiled back at all of us, set their muskets against the wall, and sat down to eat.  I told the kids they wanted to taste the provisions before the raid. 

       After lunch, we went down to the encampment to meet some of the British. The first group we met was the navy. The spokesman said the British army and navy didn't get along too well.  But what was the army going to do? They needed the navy for transportation. The spokesman showed us the display of guns and supplies for us to see. I motioned for my son to check it out, since all he could talk about on the drive to Mt Vernon was the difference between a musket and a rifle. No, he had no interest.  Ever a patriot at heart, he could not bring himself to spend time with the enemy. After a few moments, he went to the display. What changed his mind? I decided to follow him. We saw some cool things.  My son talked to one of the interpreters about the guns.  My husband questioned some of my son's information but the interpreter said our son was right!

We got to see a sextant...

ummm, and this device used for navigating at night. We forget what it's called. We've read lots of great books about sailors like Mr. Bowditch and Captain Cook. These helped to make the books come alive.

They let us look through the spyglass. We were told it was probably an original. I was impressed with how well it worked!  

When we left my son whispered, "Ah, I now have secret information for General Washington." Hmmmm, my very own Spymaster.

     Then we went to the encampment of the Highland Regiment. They do a third person interpretation and although they represent men from Scotland, the conversation somehow took a turn to the Alamo.  One of the men said he had visited the Alamo before, but there are no reenactments there. "Oh, yes there are!" I piped up.  I told him my children and I were asked by the interpreter group to work on interpretations with them at the Alamo.  We didn't get a chance to work for them, since we moved to Virignia.  When we move into our house and get our photos out of storage, I'll have to blog about the Alamo reenactments.  Well, our conversation came to an end as the action was scheduled to start.

     This reenactment is based on actual documentation on events in April of 1781, when the British arrived at Mount Vernon from the Potomac.

They offered freedom to the slaves if they joined their army...

They demanded from Lund Washington (the general's cousin) provisions or else they would burn down Mt Vernon.

General Washington had put his cousin in charge of the plantation during his absence.  He told him to never cooperate with the British.

However, Mrs. Washington was in the house and Lund Washington was concerned about her.  He provided the British with food and supplies.

Then we went to the slave cabin where we listened to Daniel tell the others about the opportunity to gain their freedom by joining the British.

There were many things to consider like leaving a husband on the next plantation behind, disease, possibility of capture and possibility of the British losing the war.

     Later we went to the Greenhouse where the different slaves talked about their experience with freedom. One asked us not to tell anyone he was there. He had chosen freedom and ended up in Nova Scotia. Another was a lady who chose to join the British and followed them to Yorktown. She described the surrender ceremony.  The Americans were lined up on one side and the French on the other.  The British marched through. Refusing to look at the Americans, they looked only at the French. At that moment, Lafayette ordered that Yankee Doodle be played. That got the Redcoats' attention! Because the British lost, this lady had to return to Mt Vernon as a slave. Afterwards, the slave answered questions first from a first person interpretation, then went into a third person interpretation.

     The next slave to speak got the news that she was freed after George Washington's death. She was scared.  Where to go? What to do?  Where to sleep? She didn't want to leave her husband behind.  She was one of General Washington's slaves. Her husband was one of Mrs. Washington's slaves that she had received from her first husband's estate, Daniel Parke Custis', after he died.  According to Virginia law, she could neither sell nor free these slaves from her husband's estate. She could only use them.  After she died, they had to be passed on to the Custis family heirs. Then she took questions to answer from a third person perspective. 

     One of the topics discussed was General Washington's changing perception of slavery throughout his life.  While he fought for liberty, he questioned slavery...especially when many slaves joined the army and fought with him.   Also he was influenced by his adopted son, Lafayette, who was opposed to slavery.  Washington wrote in his will that his slaves be freed after his and Martha's death. Martha Washington freed his slaves a year after his death.    

     Finally Lund Washington told us about General Washington's displeasure to the news that he supplied the British in order to save Mt. Vernon.

   Afterwards we went to one of the gift shops by the garden. My daughter had been fascinated by the unusual orange flowers. She asked the ladies in the shop about it. They said that was General Washington's favorite flower. He had written that he wanted them planted in the garden every year.

     Last Saturday we braved the dreary, cold, drizzly weather to warm up at Mount Vernon. The highlight of the day was taking the National Treasure tour. When we got to the ticket window at 9am, we were thrilled that we could take the 3pm tour! These tickets can be difficult to get.  Note: You can buy the tickets ahead of time on-line.

    We began the day at the "kids'" museum, which portrays Washington's life from birth to death.  Along the way are interactives, displays and movies. Some of my favorite displays are built around the wax figures of George Washington at different parts of his life.  Here he is as a surveyor at the age of 19.

     These wax figures are as lifelike as a likeness of George Washington can be.  The artists carefully inspected the original Houdon and then using science and logic, deducted years from his face to get realistic representations at different times of his life. This particular display is lots of fun for the young at heart because of all the wild animals, hidden within the tree, peeking at you! 

     At this display, you can sit in a church pew like George Washington's. That activates the movie about George Washington and religion.  When that was over, we went into the room across the way to watch another movie about George and Martha Washington...how they met and their life together.  It talked about why Martha burned their correspondence.  I got teary eyed in that one!

     Here is the wax figure of General George Washington.  Is he on Blueskin or Nelson?  When did he use each one? And why?Those questions can be answered here!

      We looked at a book of pictures and description of the generals of the American side and the British side.  Of course many French helped the American side.  Across from this, was a special Lafayette display. A certain someone asked me why Lafayette got a display of his own, when there were other French who helped. Rest assured, I clarified Lafayette's significance to America to this certain someone over lunch!  =)  In the display are two of the muskets Lafayette had France send to the American army. Also there is a carving of the Bastille out of stone that actually came from the Bastille. 

      The favorite of my husband and son was the interactive movie of three battles of the American Revolution: Boston, Trenton, Yorktown.  There is mist rising from underneath the screen, snow falling from above and the chairs in which we sit rumble with cannon roars.

     We were also intrigued by a fascinating display through a window where Washington had a choice...king or civilian?  We saw a wax figure of Washington seated on a throne, only to fade away as his civilian figure emerged.  When advised by his generals (not Lafayette) after the war to take military leadership of his country, he refused. Instead of following the history of Julius Caesar and Oliver Cromwell, he forged a different path like an ancient Roman named Cincinnatus, who peacefully returned to his plow.  America's strength has been built upon the foundation Washington laid of neither seeking power...nor keeping power.  May Americans always follow in his footsteps.

    Here is George Washington taking the Presidential Oath of Office.  You really feel like you're there! You can place your hand on the Bible and give the Oath of Office and then there is applause. Hmmmm, I wonder if my son did that because he wants to be president someday. 

    I loved this display of the Presidential Cabinet. You open the doors to see their pictures.

      At the end, when we got to George Washington's death, I got teary eyed again. Where were the tissues?

     Finally it was time for the long anticipated National Treasure tour. The tour groups are never larger than 25 people, because we are going to places seldom seen at Mount Vernon.  Some of these places are a bit cramped, like the basement. We also got to find out where history separates from Hollywood!  We began the tour on the Potomac River side of the house, where the guide showed us pictures from the movie of the fictitional President's birthday party and showed us from the pictures where all the action happened.   

    Then we went into the basement.  We got to see the Lawrence Washington  crest that was instrumental in the basement scene. Lawrence was the half brother of George Washington, who previously owned Mount Vernon. Here's the real crest...

     Here is the other part of the cellar that Hollywood recreated for the secret tunnel scenes...

This is outside looking into the upper part of the secret tunnel...

A closer look...

    We went down to the Potomac to get a view of the tunnel (a bit more inaccessible than the one we were at) that Benjamin Gates and the fictitional president came out of. It is nestled on the side of the hill.  During the tour you find out what these tunnels were really used for!

Close up...

    The guide asked if we'd like to see the old fire truck.  The guys definitely wanted to see that!  There were also barrels of whisky and gin stored down there!  My husband insisted I get a picture of this!

 On the hill above the fire truck we got to see the wild turkeys...

Close up...

     We also saw where the dogs had been kept. Many of the dogs were gifted to George Washington by his "adopted" son Lafayette. One of the descendants, named Vulcan, stole one of Mrs. Washington's hams and wouldn't give it back!

     While standing below the mansion, we heard the history behind the naval honors given to George Washington.  In 1801 a man-of-war was going up the Potomac.  Everyone went up to the deck to see the lovely home of their former Commander-in-Chief.  (Washington had passed away a few years before.)  They saw Mrs. Washington and other family members on the portico. They saw his tomb to the left. The colors were lowered to half-mast and a thirteen gun salute was fired.   In 1906, President Theodore Roosevelt was aboard a yacht that gave naval honors while across from Mount Vernon. Impressed, he made this tradition official. Sometimes the Star Spangled Banner is played. Civilians passing in boats often take off their hats in honor while passing.  Last summer when we took a boat ride from Mount Vernon up the Potomac, we were all awed by the sight of Mount Vernon from the river. We all stood, all was serene...even though we had just walked through the mansion and grounds itself...we were still in awe of how God had used this great Father of our Country.    

   I highly recommend this tour, which will be available until October.  We got to go behind the scenes of history (and Hollywood). We attracted a bit of attention, as we got to go where some curious tourists wanted to follow.  Alas, one can only join this tour if they have a ticket. =)

   By now, the rain had stopped. During the tour we had heard the bleating of sheep and had been told it was the lambs. We went to see them.  It seemed to be dinner time for the ewes but none of them seemed interested in feeding their babies for long. That was the reason for all the bleating!   While meandering through the sights of spring, the sun came out at long last! 

We got up early to meet the Washington family at Mount Vernon!

George Washington had a long resume: Colonel in the French and Indian War,  seat in the House of Burgesses in Williamsburg, General during the American Revolution, President of the Constitutional Convention, President of the United States of America...yet spent most of his life longing for those he loved at his cherished Mount Vernon.  Imagine...General Washington riding on his horse, after 8 long years at war, finally coming home.  Imagine his feelings of anticipation and excitement.  Imagine an overwhelming mix of emotions, when at long last, he arrived at this gate...at last, home, sweet, home.  And yet he did this not once, but repeatedly throughout his life, as he dutifully responded to his country's call to service.  

We got there so early that we had a private tour!  The tour guides were surprised at how much the kids knew.  The stuff they were telling the kids was too easy and the kids kept stumping them!  Of course we knew that the Marquis de Lafayette visited George Washington here.  We got to see the Lafayette room upstairs where he stayed in 1784.  One of the items I couldn't wait to show the kids was the key to the Bastille, the notorious political prison in France.  During the French Revolution, Lafayette led the National Guard, who stormed the prison on July 12, 1789.  Lafayette sent a sketch of the Bastille and the key to George Washington with this note:  "Give me leave, my dear general, to present you with a picture of the Bastille, just as it looked a few days after I ordered its demolition, with the main key of the fortress of despotism.  It is a tribute which I owe as a son to my adoptive father-as an aide-de-camp to my general-as a missionary of liberty to its patriarch."  Wow!  What powerful artistic wording!  

After touring the mansion and grounds, we decided to take the boat tour on the Potomac.  It was modestly priced and was one of the best boat rides we have ever taken. The kids were elated since they were hoping we'd do a boat ride this year and got to spend time on big water and see big bridges to boot!  lol  We got to see Fort Washington in the distance, and the scary WoodrowWilson drawbridge that we took the day before.  We could see the Washington Monument and Capitol in the background.

After lunch we toured the gristmill which is about a mile away.  

The water supply is activated with a lever indoors...

It was fun watching all the gears move. The gristmill was applying the very principles Leonardo da Vinci designed and we experienced earlier this summer!  My son must have been quite impressed. When we got home from vacation, he spent a week with his gears kit!

Then we went back to see the Mount Vernon museums.  These were new since 2004 and are incredible!  The first thing we did was to look at the Houdon of Washington.  There was a cute movie showing about how it was made, told from the perspective of Washington's granddaughter.  Because of that movie, we now appreciate the works of Houdon which we would see again at Monticello.  My husband and I got to see many of his works when we toured the Virginia capitol in 1989.  My kids now want to go there and see the Houdon sculptures.  There wasn't enough time on this vacation.  We're just going to have to come back one summer!  Or maybe move here?  One can always dream, right?  

I was a bit overwhelmed about to see next.  We toured the grown up museum and saw lots of neat things.  Then we went to the children's museum and that was incredible! Sadly, we ran out of time. My husband and son saw an interactive movie.  My daughter and I tried to see all the life size figures of George Washington that we could. We worked some of the interactive displays and appreciated the ones where we saw how outnumbered the Continental Army was compared to the British.  I also liked the massive wall map that showed the battles of the American Revolution and then you could light up the ones in which George Washington participated.  I was blown away to see the Gilbert painting of Washington. (Here's the link to the interactive portrait!) I remember reading about that as a girl, that Dolly Madison saved it when the British came into Washington DC during the War of 1812.  To see how big it is in a picture is not the same as seeing how big it is in real life!  

One new thing we learned when we left, George Washington started the Purple Heart!