by Richard Bramante

Created on: June 02, 2007   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

It has been three decades since I drove out of Washington, D.C. over the Potomac River to Virginia. We traveled over the George Washington Memorial Parkway towards our destination of Mount Vernon. It was a bright sunny Sunday morning in the month of July. Earlier that week we visited all the major sites within the city. So the plan was to visit other historical sites around our nation's capital. The ride along the Potomac is a pleasant ride and a good way of escaping the summer's heat in the city.

I can recall visiting the Washington home, the tomb where George and Martha are buried and strolling about the grounds. I stood on the back porch of Mount Vernon and viewed the Potomac trying to imagine how it appeared to its occupant. The man who was to be the first president was also a soldier, surveyor and farmer. The man was certainly multifaceted and an appreciation for the whole man is attained by visiting his home.

Since my memory is limited I thought I would see what information on Mount Vernon was available on the Internet. I have discovered that there is a Mount Vernon site www.mountvernon.org which is informative as well as educational. The website and Mount Vernon are both owned and maintained by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, a private, non-profit organization. The website has a virtual tour that is outstanding in allowing a viewer to experience a visit to the mansion without leaving their chair.

I viewed the website extensively and realized that much work has been done since my last visit to Mount Vernon. The addition of The Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center which opened in 2006 and other restored buildings that were once part of the home and farm. They have added farm animals which were the same raised by George Washington at Mount Vernon. There are boat rides on the Potomac and other events held throughout the year. Mount Vernon is open every day of the year including holidays. Hours of operation are 8 AM to 5 PM spring and summer, 9 AM to 5 PM early spring and early fall and 9 AM to 4 PM late fall and winter. Tickets are required for admission with separate admission for additional parts of the tour and Potomac boat ride.

I enjoyed my previous trip to Mount Vernon but now seeing all the improvements that have been made I long for a return trip. Mount Vernon hosts over a million visitors a year. It is a place of history that gives a visitor the essence and ambiance of how it once was when a great patriot and leader of our nation walked the grounds of the home he so loved.

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