Mount Vernon, George Washington's Beloved Home

If you ever are in the area, Mount Vernon is quite a beautiful and interesting place to go. I visited years ago, but today, technology has made it more enjoyable.

Isn't it beautiful?

The view from the back porch

Gayle, Kenny, and Chris on the Back Porch

Martha was known for her smoked Virginia Ham

George and Martha Washington had an average of at least 2 house guests each day of the year.  She always had a ham on the table. They were a loving couple. He was 6'1" and she was a "firecracker" at 4'11".  The day George died, she could not speak and moved to the 3rd floor.  On the day of his funeral, she did not attend but watch out her 3rd story bedroom window. It was there she burned all the letters between them. She thought their life was public and that their personal life should stay personal.

The tomb of Martha and George

Martha (left) and George (right)

The museum was outstanding. I like to watch "Bones" and the forensics used in reconstructing George Washington's face as a younger man was very interesting.  A lot of the pics I am posting are Chris'. He took this one of how the wax model was made, as well as many others I am using.

From the skull, to the artist rendering, to the wax finished head

They used computer measurements of all portraits of Washington ever painted, then they had hair samples from his home to get the color right. Locks of hair were saved in lockets as keepsakes. They put all the information collected together to do an accurate wax figure. They did an age regression from the age 19. I believe he is middle aged here.

Very realistic General Washington

On to Gettysburg.....