George Washington may be best known for the starring role he played in United States history, but at Mount Vernon he played another: homeowner. A family estate built by his father in 1735, what would later become a famed mansion started out as a modest farmhouse with one-and-a-half stories. When George took full ownership of the estate in 1761 (though he'd already been renting the property from his brother's widow), he transformed it into the grandiose home visitors see today.
George personally oversaw the teams that expanded to home to encompass 21 rooms, raised it another story (for a total of two and a half), and added the two-story piazza that overlooks the Potomac. Today, guests can explore the mansion on guided tours that focus on everything from the rarely-seen rooms to the way the Washingtons ate—and where. The grounds themselves are cause for a visit, as is the separate museum that showcases more of the Washington family's life at Mount Vernon.
Mount Vernon
3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway
Alexandria, VA 22121
http://www.mountvernon.org/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/mount-vernon-alexandria-2
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