If The Washingtons Invited You To Mount Vernon

Mount Vernon,"a modest farm house", was built between 1741 and 1742. George Washington began an expansion when he acquired the home in 1757. Many people believe the columned and covered piazza seen in the painting by Francis Jukes (1745-1812) at the right is the "front door" to the Mount Vernon mansion. In fact, it is the "back porch" facing east and overlooking the Potomac River.

Arthur and I moved to Mount Vernon when we first moved to VA and lived about a mile from the west entrance on Old Mount Vernon Road.

Guests of the Washingtons arrived by carriage and entered along a 3/4 mile drive to the front entrance on the west side of the mansion. We passed it four or five times a week for quite a few years before we moved to Prince William County in 1985. When you stop at the gate pictured above you can read a placard that provides details about its' history.

Peeking through the fence is as far as we could go. That probably would have been true when President and Mrs. Washington were in residence, also. We always felt better knowing it is what 18th century guests saw as well.

Of course, once the gates swung open the guests had a decidedly better view than the Kruschkas. It is the gate President and Mrs. Washington would have used on their way to Pohick Church