Author Archive

In case our GWW readers did not see Sunday’s Washington Post article about George Washington’s horse, Blueskin, you can read the full article here. A Post reader wrote the Answer Man to ask: “There’s a stuffed horse at Mount Vernon, a really good-looking white horse that made me wonder: Where did they get the horse that supposedly looks so much like George Washington’s horse? Did they raise a horse and then kill it for the display or did they just wait for a matching horse to die? It didn’t look old, so could they have killed it just to stuff it?” In a brief answer, No, we did not kill any horses in the making of our Education Center. The article details the journey that Mount Vernon Education’s staff went on to find the perfect horse to portray Blueskin in the new Education Center. It is just one small example of the thought and care that went into each exhibit in the center. And in case you are wondering about the camel that the Answer Man mentions at the end of the article, he is alive and kicking on the grounds of Mount Vernon as we write. His name is Aladdin, and he is here to represent the camel that George Washington had brought to Mount Vernon as a Christmas treat for his household in 1787. Can you imagine waking up as a child on Christmas Day and seeing your very first camel at your own home!?! Aladdin will be here through Janurary 6th as part of Christmas at Mount Vernon.

We often get requests from teachers about what books we recommend their students read to learn about George Washington and 18th century American history. The Phoebe Apperson Hearst Learning Center for Teachers has now provided a Suggested Reading List for teachers in response to your requests. The list is divided by Elementary/Middle School and High School, and each book can be previewed at the Learning Center for Teachers here at Mount Vernon.

Mount Vernon annually accepts a select number of applicants for summer internships at our Pioneer Farm site and our Distillery & Gristmill site. These internships are excellent opportunities for undergraduate students interested in American and agricultural history as well as the museum education field. Interns will become immersed in 18th century history, agriculture, and industry as they actively interpret George Washington’s farming and business operations at Mount Vernon. After the completion of a short training program, interns will develop their interpretive, teaching, and public speaking skills by working on site in period dress under the direction of the Trades staff. Best of all, interns live on the grounds of George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate during the internship. In addition, interns participate in special field trips to other historic sites and museums in the region. Six internships will be awarded, four at the Pioneer Farm site and two at the Distillery & Gristmill. Further information about the internships and applications can be found on our website.

Would your students like to sing a slave song with Caroline, Martha Washington’s maidservant, or hear Billy Lee’s stories of riding alongside George Washington in the Revolutionary War? This is a privilege usually reserved for students who visit Mount Vernon on a field trip, but we are now bringing our popular Washington’s World first person interpreter program to your classroom! Washington’s World: Slave Life is the first in a series of programs where students can meet the people that lived with George Washington. If your classroom is video-conference enabled, please visit us on the CILC website to request a program. This program will be free to the first school to request it, but then resumes the regular price of $125 for a 45 minute program.