Archive for the ‘Popular Culture/Media Literacy’ Category

Using George Washington’s personal journals and the Mount Vernon Ladies Association guest books, Mount Vernon’s historians are able to track the thousands of famous visitors that have visited Mount Vernon since the years when Washington himself would receive them at the door. Founding Fathers, such as Jefferson, Madison, and Patrick Henry, artists such as Jean Antoine Houdon and Charles Willson Peale, and even American lexicographer Noah Webster were amongst the hundreds of guests that the Washingtons would graciously welcome each year. In fact, much of what we know about Mount Vernon in the 1700’s is gleaned from the journals and letters of visitors who described everything from the music and food to the slaves and farms.

The American pilgrimage to Mount Vernon did not end at Washington’s death in 1799, however. Famous visitors have included the Roosevelts, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth, Brigham Young, Prince Charles, Queen Liliuokalani of Hawaii, and Michelle Obama and her daughters. The Kennedys hosted a state dinner at Mount Vernon honoring the President of Pakistan in 1961. Countless celebrities from Barry Manilow to Harrison Ford have walked the same paths as Washington, all perhaps hoping to soak in a little bit of his greatness (admittedly, that’s just a guess). It’s clear that the hospitality of the Washingtons extends to Mount Vernon today, and the desire to see the home that Washington loved so dearly is still as strong as it was in the 18th century.

As Mount Vernon educators, we spend a lot of time coming up with creative, novel ways to teach about George Washington and his life at Mount Vernon. We do everything from writing elaborate content to dancing around in costume, giving extremely well-researched tours to plowing fields with oxen, providing detailed lesson plans to cooking hoe-cakes over an open fire. So it can sometimes be discouraging when you come across a simply worded and adorably pictured piece in the New York Times that sums up George Washington’s life. Sigh… so cute. The piece by Maura Kalman can be linked to here. Enjoy!

It’s the Christmas season once again here at Mount Vernon, and things are lovely as always in December. The chocolate makers have the whole estate smelling like warm chocolate as they grind it by hand. The decorations are up in the Education and Orientation Centers (but not in the Mansion since Christmas trees and Santa figurines were definitely not a part of colonial Christmas). At night, Martha Washington and Dr. Craik lead visitors through the Mansion by candlelight. The Greenhouse is filled with music and dancing. Former White House pastry chef Roland Mesnier has transformed humble gingerbread and icing into an amazing Mount Vernon gingerbread house complete with furniture and animals. And best of all, Aladdin the camel is back to greet visitors, representing the camel that George Washington brought to Mount Vernon to surprise his family and guests on Christmas morning in 1787.

Image by L. Toshio Kishiyama.

Our very first 3-D animated Mount Vernon website is now live! Ta Da! WashingtonsWorld.org is a website that allows children of all ages to explore Mount Vernon and meet some of the people, such as Dr. Craik and Billy Lee, that lived in Washington’s world. The game Washington’s Treasures is a treasure hunt through the estate that has you looking for clues to find famous objects such as Washington’s spy glass or fan chair. In Harpsichord Hero, you are a colonial rock star playing the harpsichord so the Washingtons and their guests can dance. General Washington gives the orders in Bombarding Yorktown as you aim the cannons at the British forts and frigates during the siege of Yorktown. A Mount Vernon archaeology game and virtual jigsaw puzzles are also available when you beat that final level of Harpsichord Hero (though we’re not quite sure that’s possible- it’s hard!). So leave a comment and let us know what you think about our two new websites!