Mount Vernon
Cousin Phil took me to see Mount Vernon, home of George Washington. One of the tour guides (they call them historical interpreters) reflected that as the first, he made many of the traditions of presidents, such as giving an inaugural speech. She said that she thought the most important thing he did, and George III thought he wouldn’t, was to give up power after eight years. That the most important thing we do is peacefully transfer power every four years (and in a quieter voice, she said, and we’re about to do it again, Tuesday.) So here’s to George, the first one, for showing the way to democracy. Pictures after the jump.
On the back porch of Mount Vernon. The cupola is topped by a dove with an olive branch in its beak.
The view from Mount Vernon's back porch. I'm sure this tree is in millions of pictures.
Gazebo on the frozen Potomac.
Soda bottle frozen in the Potomac River.
Outside the grave of the first president of the United States.
Silly things I did not buy at the Mount Vernon gift shop.
