Washington was called from Mount Vernon to serve his country on three most noteworthy occasions, and each time after an interval of several years: In 1775, when he was made Commander in Chief of the Continental Army; in 1787, when he became president of the convention in Philadelphia that framed the Federal Constitution; and in 1789, when he became first President of the United States of America.
Courtesy of Army Air Corps.
MOUNT VERNON
MOUNT VERNON
Washington died at Mount Vernon on December 14, 1799. Martha Washington lived there during the remainder of her lifetime. On her death in 1802 the property was inherited by her nephew, Bushrod Washington, an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Thereafter the estate suffered for need of repairs. In 1858 the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association of the Union was organized. The association purchased the property for $200,000 and to-day own and control Mount Vernon, including about 400 acres of the old estate.
TOMB OF WASHINGTON
Mount Vernon each day is the place of pilgrimage of hundreds of American and foreign visitors, who go there by motor or steamboat to visit the mansion and see the many historical articles of interest that once belonged to George Washington and his family and are now there on exhibition, but more particularly do they go to Mount Vernon to pay homage at the Washington tomb, which is near the mansion. Here also Lafayette came on his second visit to the United States during 1824-25, after an interval of almost 40 years.