Mt. Vernon VA

After a nice breakfast in the hotel restaurant, we departed for Mt. Vernon in Virginia. We arrived about 10:40am at our destination and I could not believe the numbers of people that were lined up to buy tickets. They parked us in the grass median in front of the main gate - nice and close at least.

Michael and Evan pose with George and Martha Washington and their grandchildren.

We watched a brief movie about the grounds of Mt. Vernon and how Washington was instrumental in the historic turning of the Revolutionary War to our favor. We then made our way to a long line to wait in to see inside Washington's mansion. As I mentioned, the wait was very long but at least it was mostly shaded. We were treated to a historic reenactment of a military scene involving George Washington and his army. They fired their guns and the canon - over and over again. We also got several pictures with the historic actors. Evan was just fascinated by the whole scene. We met some very nice folks in line that were from New Jersey. We took turns holding spots in line so we could all watch the reenactment.

Look - it's George and Martha Washington!!
The re-enactment of General Washington's Army

Firing the guns and Canons - boy was that loud!

A nice family photograph. The nice twins in front of us from New Jersey were kind enough to take our photograph.

Evan, a Continental Army Officer, Matt, and Michael - Happy 4th of July!

Mom, Evan, Michael, a Virginia Regiment Officer, and a First Virginia Regiment officer. What a better way to celebrate the 4th?!

The mansion was definately worth the wait. Sorry - no photos of most of the house since photography was not allowed. Just to see how Washington changed his house from a five room modest home to a large mansion with 9 guest rooms and an outdoor kitchen was fabulous considering it was in the 1770's. Michael didn't know that Washington had slaves. I learned that Washington wanted to be known for his agriculture, not his importance to our country. He was a very modest man and a great leader.

After a very late lunch and a stop in the giftshop, we made our way back to see the where the Washington's are interned on the site. While waiting to pay our respects, someone approached Michael and I looked up to see it was one of his Weblo boy scout friends from Hillsboro. What a small world! Joshua was here vacationing with his parents and sister and they were taking her back to school somewhere North of here. What are the odds of seeing someone you know while on vacation? We visited the slave memorial and gravesite and made a quick stop at his farm where I got bit by at least four flies - ouch!

Evan wears his new tri-corner hat and stands with Michael in front of the Washington estate.

Following this, we stopped in the Museum and the Educational Center to learn even more about George Washington. Did you know he never had any children of his own? He and Martha raised Martha's son's children after he died. George also wore dentures - no teeth. He died when his throat got swollen and closed up on him - what a way to go. We also learned that there was initially no term limits for Presidents, but that others who followed Washington honored his importance by only serving at most two terms.

We're back in our hotel room and trying to figure out what to do tomorrow. I'd like to do something historical, but the trip are all 2 1/2 hours away - Monticello, Williamsburg, Jamestown, etc. We'll have to decide something soon...

There may not be a blog update tomorrow evening if we do go to Monticello since we'll be back late and will have to leave for the airport at 3:15am EST - 12:15am PST. The kids will be dead tired!! That may be a good thing...

One more thing. Our hotel room has those Super Flush Toilets where if you're standing too close, you might lose your arm when you flush. So anyway, Michael was just in there and we very loudly heard him say "Fire in the hole" as he flushes the toilet! I'm still laughing :)