MV Rolls Out New Tour About Estate, Civil War
The storied histories of Mount Vernon and its most famous resident, George Washington, from the Revolutionary War period are well known, but visitors with a taste for other eras in America’s past are now in for a historical treat of another flavor: Mount Vernon’s Civil War Walking Tour.
George Washington was of course long-deceased by the time the war’s first shots were fired, but his mansion remained. Whether it could withstand the destructive forces of the Union and Confederate troops who fought in its vicinity was a question that was unclear, however.
Today, visitors who take the tour, which will be offered for the first time beginning April 2, learn about Mount Vernon’s near escapes during the war, its early caretakers, and the women who set out to preserve it in the first place.
“We always loved this information and would have liked to have done it before, but it never took off, I think for good reason, because we’re here to talk about George Washington,” said Gail Cassidy, manager of historic interpretation at Mount Vernon.
The 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, however, has provided Mount Vernon with a window of opportunity to share these lesser-known stories with the public.
Guests will hear about Sarah Tracey, the female caretaker of Mount Vernon who gained assurances from every Union general that troops would not attack or destroy the estate, running brigades and accomplishing a number of daring feats along the way. Visitors learn of President Abraham Lincoln’s visit to Mount Vernon during the war (although it may have only been his family and friends who got out of the boat that they arrived on). And guests will also learn about the changing roles that African Americans played at the estate as the war continued.
Records show that Union and Confederate soldiers visited the estate during the turbulent era. Both claimed Washington as their own; the Union felt that the founder of the nation, which they were fighting to hold together, was rightfully theirs, and the Confederacy asserted that Washington’s status as a Virginian made him a man of the South.
Thanks to the astounding characters who stayed at Mount Vernon throughout the war, the estate remained neutral territory.
The one-hour walking tour takes place on Saturdays and Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. through October 30. These special tours are limited in capacity and cost $5 in addition to estate admission.
April 14th, 2011 at 11:26 am
George Washington was a great leader and did many other great things.
April 14th, 2011 at 12:01 pm
WOW Thats and old house..
April 15th, 2011 at 10:41 am
This is amazing George Washington did a lot of great things for the U.S.