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| The Mount Vernon Experience Begins Here |
Our visit began with the short drive from my son and daughter-in-law's condo through the familiar territory of my early years. Mount Vernon is less than a half hour drive from Old Downtown Alexandria. These two areas were my father's sales territory when he raised his family in Alexandria. He was a Fuller Brush Man from 1949-1968 and supported his family well and my mother was a full-time homemaker. I believe I got an appreciation of beautiful homes and their gardens from my early experiences in this area. Since my father knew the area so well selling household products door-to-door, he shared new and exciting places with his family. He also got to meet interesting people who welcomed his regular visits and associated with other salesmen in the popular meeting places for meals and refreshments. It was a simpler time when people kept their doors unlocked and welcomed strangers, especially merchants who made their living by coming into people's homes to became regular visitors and even friends. Can you remember the milkman, bread man, ice cream truck, vacuum and encyclopedia sales people? Surely you can remember the Avon Lady, my father's biggest competitor for cosmetics?
I sometimes went with my father on Saturday deliveries; my brothers went regularly to help. Our family all worked together every Friday evening after the big blue truck unloaded the week's product orders in large boxes that made great "box forts" when we were younger. We organized the individual orders and got everything ready for delivering every Saturday. My job was to organize the "free samples" and stamp the new catalogs with our contact information. Friday was always "seafood dinner" and on a good sales week, we had all the shrimp we could eat and sometimes live lobsters! We lived close to the ocean, of course. Saturdays, we were rewarded with hamburgers/fish sandwiches from McDonalds and donuts from Krispy Creme that my father stopped to get and bring home after all the deliveries were made. Saturday night was scary movie night. Good times!
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| The Fuller Brush Man of Downtown Alexandria and Mount Vernon 1947-1968 |
The estate of George Washington at Mount Vernon was a frequent day trip while I was growing up in the 1950's and 1960's. It was one of many interesting places in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. and is still today the most popular historic home in America. The area grew so fast and changes were constant. But the estate at Mount Vernon is wonderfully preserved as it is privately owned and operated since 1858 by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association who do not accept any government funding.
Here is a brief summary of the highlights the historic area has to offer, then click on my musical album at the end for more of my photos:
The Mansion - Acquired by GW in 1754, it is detailed to look as it did in 1799, the year GW died. Rooms feature original furnishings, period pieces, and replicas. Timed tour tickets are provided for purchase; no photos or pets allowed.
Blacksmith Shop, Slave Quarters, & Other Outbuildings - Original and reconstructed buildings show what life was like on this 18th-century plantation.
Garden & Grounds - The gardens, greenhouse, and nursery show what grew in GW's time. A ¼ mile forest trail connects the historic area to the Pioneer Farm and represents the vast forested areas of the estate.
Pioneer Farm - The Farm is a 4-acre demonstration farm and home to a reconstructed slave cabin and a replica of GW's 16-sided treading barn where horses walk around on the top level stepping on cut grain plants to release the seeds through cracks in the floor to the bottom level where the clean grain is shoveled up. Costumed interpreters demonstrate GW's innovating farming practices.
Washington Tomb - GW is buried alongside his wife, Martha, and near other family members in the Tomb, which was completed in 1831. The original burial vault is located nearby.
Slave Memorial & Burial Ground - The burial ground is marked by a memorial honoring the lives and contributions of the enslaved people who lived and worked here.
Heritage Breed Animals - There are Hog Island Sheep, Ossabaw Island Hogs, and other rare breeds in the historic area and at the Pioneer Farm.
Wharf - There are sightseeing cruises offered in season. GW had a successful fishery business at the wharf and you can find out all about it here.
Distillery & Gristmill - GW used technologies that were cutting edge in the late 1700's. These fully functioning reconstructed buildings are open for tours. It is located 3 miles from the estate with shuttle service included in admission.
The Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center - Plenty to do here should the weather bring you inside! It is a day-trip in itself as it would likely take many trips to see and experience it all! There are more than 700 original objects and 25 theaters and galleries - including a multimedia theater where it actually snows! Some examples of what you can see at the Museum are acclaimed art, original objects, taste and style, books & manuscripts, and military legacy. At the Education Center you can experience the Revolutionary War, GW's teeth, GW at different ages, plantation life, and hands-on-history center. How lucky are the school children in the area to take field trips here?
Checked out another frequented restaurant by my son and daughter-in-law at Shirlington on the way back to their condo. Also treated to some goodies to take home from a bakery. The last quiet evening was spent watching another movie and enjoying some wine…tomorrow it's back to work for them and an early flight back to Missouri for me.
It was the best time! I appreciate my son and daughter-in-law's time for me and their warm hospitality in their lovely modern condo. Next year I will visit them in California as they make a new life together with new memories to make and share with me.
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