Day 4 -- Mount Vernon

This was our day to be taken by the Potomac Riverboat Company from Alexandria to Georgetown. Susan had reserved our tickets on line. We were now going to see Washington D.C. from the water while traveling on the Matthew Hayes.

We wondered why this building had big white balls on the roof. Then we learned that inside each ball is a satellite and the balls are simply protection from the weather. 

This is a fairly good view of the safety shroud around the Washington Monument. The fuzzy blur would be the elevator that carries workmen up and down the face of the monument.

Several sailboats were out, taking advantage of a bright, breezy day. The Air Force Memorial with its 3 vapor trails is on the right.

The Lincoln Memorial from a distance.

Memorial Bridge with its gold statues.

The Lincoln Memorial is actually on the Potomac River.

If I'm remembering correctly, this is the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

The infamous Watergate Apartments...what happened here led to Nixon's resignation from the presidency.

We passed under a whole series of bridges.

And sure enough, here's the Jefferson Memorial with that metal gate between the Potomac and the Tidal Basin.

After our excursion on the river, we drove to Mount Vernon, the home of America's first president...

I don't know who the gal is hanging out with the first family...but she does give an idea of Washington's height.

The original house was one story and just the center section. George added the upper floors and a wing on each side. This is the view when one arrives by land. Mount Vernon can also be reached by boat...it just wasn't running the day of our visit...

There were a couple of trees older than this, but I wanted to save my camera battery so I only took a couple of tree pictures. The other one is further on. I was amazed to find trees that have managed to avoid becoming lumber for all these years!

This is the view of the Potomac from Washington's home.

The "front" of a house would always be what faces water, so this is the front of Washington's mansion. If I remember correctly, he averaged over 600 guests a year so the extra bedrooms were truly necessary. Apparently though, he didn't cater completely to company. If guests arrived after a meal was served, they had to wait for the next regular meal to receive any food.

Numerous out-buildings, such as the blacksmith shop, spinning house, salt house, coach house, and even the dung repository, have been restored with explanations about life on the plantation.

I wish we had had more time in the Education Center. There was a ton of fascinating information.

Apparently George Washington pioneered the idea of crop rotation and using fertilizers.

Too bad others didn't always follow his example...

The siding is actually wood, carved to look like stone.

The roof shingles for the mansion and other buildings are also wood.

I doubt that there is a tree in all of Vermont that is 228 years old!