A visit to George Washington’s Virginia home, Mount Vernon, is an easy escape from the city – one that the president himself enjoyed. It’s also a journey through history: the country estate of this quintessential gentleman has been meticulously restored and affords a glimpse of rural gentility from a time long gone. On the banks of the Potomac, the 19-room mansion displays George and Martha’s colonial tastes, while the outbuildings and slave quarters show what was needed for the running of the estate.
George and Martha are both buried here, as requested by the first president in his will. The modern Ford Orientation Center, on the grounds, is a must-see. It features a 20-minute film that shows Washington’s courage under fire, including his pivotal crossing of the Delaware River (the do-or-die moment of the Revolutionary War). Another highlight is the sleek Reynolds Museum and Education Center. Home to galleries and theaters, it gives more insight into Washington’s life using interactive displays, short films produced by the cable-TV History Channel and three life-size models of Washington himself. The museum also features period furnishings, clothing and jewelry (Martha was quite taken with finery) and George’s unusual dentures.
