Archive for October, 2008

The Phoebe Apperson Hearst Learning Center is a place for teachers to research 18th century American History, review curriculum kits, use the scholarly edition of the Papers of George Washington, and get custom packets of teaching resources to take back to their own classrooms. Teachers love to drop by the Learning Center while here on a field trip, but for those of you not taking Mount Vernon field trips this year we have now posted a complete bibliography of the resources in the Learning Center so that you can review our materials before you make the trip to the Learning Center.

Teachers may visit the Teacher Learning Center free of charge by announcing themselves at the desk of the Education Center. Please call 703-799-8602 with any questions.

Have you visited the Learning Center? Leave a comment and let us know what you think!

One of our most popular programs for teachers is the annual Educator’s Evening at Mount Vernon, where teachers are invited to a Cocktail Reception and Candlelight Tour of George Washington’s home. This year, we are extending the invitation to our George Washington Wired readers!

The tour and reception will be followed by remarks from William M. Fowler, Jr., Distinguished Professor of History at Northeastern University and the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati George Washington Distinguished Professor. In addition to refreshments and tours, attending teachers will enjoy a 10% discount at The Shops at Mount Vernon, just in time for holiday shopping! Educator’s Evening is on Tuesday, December 2, 2008, 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and reservations are required. RSVP by emailing Education@MountVernon.org or calling 703-799-8604.

For the past ten years, the Bill of Rights Institute has partnered with the Mount Vernon Education Dept. on a range of wonderful programs from Teachers’ Institutes to Teaching American History grants. Recently, the Bill of Rights Institute awarded their George Washington Prize for Teaching America’s Founding and a $2,500 cash award to Christopher Belch of Canton High School in Canton, Michigan. All participants of the Bill of Rights Teachers’ Institute “Shaping the Constitution: A View from Mount Vernon” are eligible to participate in the essay contest. Of his experience, Christopher said, “The privilege of being selected to attend the Bill of Rights workshop has been a dream come true! Upon first arriving at Mount Vernon, I was yet again awe struck and it is hard to find the words to describe the opportunity to get an intensive and personalized tour of the estates and the life of Washington.” Congratulations Christopher!

Across the country, leaves are turning the brightest reds and yellows, pumpkins and mums are decorating front porches, and grocery stores are finally selling those acorn squash that sat untouched all summer. Mount Vernon is preparing for autumn as well- the summer slipcovers have been replaced by heavy damask, the summer vegetables have come off the dining room table to make room for pumpkin and cabbage, and there will be no more ice cream (a Washington favorite!) until warmer weather returns. Other changes in the Washington household this autumn include:

• Martha Washington’s famous boiled ham remains on the table, which was always a favorite with the Washingtons’ many guests. Game hens are also on the table this season. Martha Washington owned Hannah Glasse’sThe Art of Cookery, which includes a recipe for dressing fowl with peas. Glasse notes that for the fall months “all sorts of fowl, both wild and tame, are in season.”
• Crabapples are in the kitchen being prepared for cider. On April 1, 1799, Washington received a letter from Nicholas Fitzhugh who wrote “I send you by the Bearer some Seed of the Hugh’s Crab apple which I have lately received…” “Hewe’s crabapple” was perhaps the most famous apple in the South for making cider. Washington cultivated crabapples at Mount Vernon and also drank crabapple cider. Crabapples are tough and not easily eaten, but Washington grew other varieties of more edible apples at Mount Vernon which were also harvested in the fall. Continue reading Autumn Settles on Mount Vernon »