2004-7-11
VOICE ONE:
Welcome to THIS IS AMERICA in VOA Special English. I'm Doug
Johnson.
VOICE TWO:
And I'm Gwen Outen. Today we visit
Mount Vernon, the home of the first president of the United States,
George Washington.
(MUSIC)
VOICE ONE:
George Washington lived at Mount Vernon in Virginia for more than
forty-five years. The big wooden house is twenty-four kilometers
south of America's capital city named in his honor.
George Washington was born in
seventeen-thirty-two. Before he became president, he commanded the
troops who won the American Revolution against Britain. He helped
create the United States of America. Some historians say the nation
would not exist if George Washington had never lived.
Washington helped choose where to build the new capital city and
a house for the president. Yet he is the only president who never
lived in the White House. It was completed after he left office. He
lived in New York and later Philadelphia while president. But Mount
Vernon was always important to him.
Today it remains an important place in history for a lot of
people who visit Washington, D.C., and nearby areas.
VOICE TWO
George Washington helped design Mount Vernon. He died there in
seventeen-ninety-nine. The property seems not too much different
today. But there are big plans for the two-hundred hectares of
present-day Mount Vernon. The goal is to make the hero of long ago
more meaningful to the people of today.
The group that operates Mount Vernon sought the plans. The Mount
Vernon Ladies' Association noted studies showing that young people
know little about George Washington. Several years ago, the
association decided to try to make him more real to visitors. The
new building project resulted from that decision.
Eighty-five million dollars in gifts have been promised for the
expansion. The money is creating a center to welcome visitors to
Mount Vernon. An education center and an underground museum also are
being built.
At the education center, visitors will be able to use interactive
devices to see information and images. A new library will contain
electronic versions of Washington's papers and letters. The
University of Virginia has those papers. The university is helping
to produce the online collection.
VOICE ONE:
Mount Vernon director James Rees says three life-size statues of
Washington will stand in the education center. One will represent
him as a young explorer and land recorder. Another will show
Washington as commander of the Continental Army during the
revolution against England. A third statue will represent him as
president. He led the new United States from seventeen-eighty-nine
to seventeen-ninety-seven.
Production will begin soon on a short movie about Washington.
Visitors will see it in a new Mount Vernon theater. People will be
introduced to George Washington as a man of action as well as a
landowner and farmer. Visitors will also see a new exhibit of
Washington and his soldiers crossing the Delaware River.
The exhibit will show America's colonial commander on his way to
winning a surprise victory in New Jersey. The Battle of Trenton was
one of the turning points of the American Revolution. The
presentation will seem very real. Man-made snow will even fall on
visitors.
(MUSIC)
VOICE TWO:
Many things at Mount Vernon will remain the same after the
additions. Guides will still wear clothing of Washington's time.
They will tell visitors about his daily life. And they will explain
his service to America.
George Washington spent many years away from his home. In
seventeen-seventy-five, he took command of the Continental Army of
the American colonies. After the victory, some people wanted him to
be president for life. Or even king. But Washington said Americans
had fought for freedom from such rulers.
He was elected president two times without opposition. He was
offered a third term. But he refused. He wanted to return to the
life he had led at Mount Vernon before the war.
VOICE ONE:
And that is what he did. George Washington returned to Mount
Vernon. During those last years, he led the life of a rich farmer.
He directed the work of five farms.
He and his wife Martha often
invited friends for meals in the dining room at Mount Vernon. The
Washingtons also provided sleeping rooms and food for travelers.
Very few hotels existed then. So George and Martha Washington
offered a place to stay for about six-hundred visitors a year. Many
were strangers.
VOICE TWO:
But George Washington was able to enjoy retirement at Mount
Vernon for less than three years. In seventeen-ninety-nine, the
former president became sick. Modern doctors believe he died of a
severe infection. He was sixty-seven years old.
Citizens mourned. The United States had declared its independence
on July fourth, seventeen-seventy-six. The country was still very
young. People felt a terrible loss at the death of their
revolutionary war hero and first president.
More than seven-hundred speakers throughout the country honored
him. Towns and villages held funeral marches. Businesses were closed
for days. Bells rang and rang.
((BRIDGE: MOURNFUL BELLS: CDP 5575, TRACK ONE, BEGINNING 0:00))
VOICE ONE:
Now we continue with our visit to Mount Vernon. The property
contains the family home and smaller buildings. Visitors also see
farming areas and nature paths. A green hillside leads down to the
Potomac River. A guide suggests you start in the main house. It is
three floors high. George Washington was responsible for much of the
design.
His office is on the ground level. It contains many of his books.
This is the room where George Washington planned the farm activities
on his land. It is also where he wrote to other leaders. One writer
called this room "the center of political intelligence for the new
world."
Another guide leads you up the steps to the second and third
floors of the main house. Mount Vernon contains eight sleeping
rooms. George and Martha Washington needed all these for their
visitors. Above the bedrooms is a cupola, a small structure with
windows on all sides. Washington designed this so hot summer air
would escape from inside the house.
VOICE TWO:
More than three-hundred African slaves lived and worked at Mount
Vernon. Slaves and some paid workers operated George Washington's
five farms. Together, the farms covered more than one-thousand
hectares. Other slaves built houses and furniture. Still others
cooked and performed housekeeping duties. Visitors can see the
burial places of slaves at Mount Vernon.
Even in George Washington's time, there was great debate about
slavery. Washington came to disapprove of slavery as he grew older.
He was the only one of the men known as the Founding Fathers of the
country to free his slaves. He ordered that his slaves be freed
after he and his wife died. Older slaves received payments for years
after that.
Much is said about George Washington the hero. But there is also
the argument today that not enough is said about George Washington
the slave owner.
(MUSIC)
VOICE ONE:
After George and Martha Washington died, Mount Vernon was given
to other family members. By the eighteen-fifties, the person who
owned it did not have enough money to keep it in good condition. He
offered to sell Mount Vernon to Virginia or to the federal
government. Both said no.
That is when the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association rescued the
home. The group bought the property with money it collected. The
Mount Vernon Ladies' Association has made a number of changes over
the years. Many visitors praise the organization for keeping the
historical spirit of Mount Vernon while improving the property.
Now, however, some people question if that spirit will survive
the current changes. They say Mount Vernon could seem too modern.
Others disagree. They want people to think of George Washington as
more than just a name in a history book.
(MUSIC)
VOICE TWO:
Our program was written by Jerilyn Watson and produced by Caty
Weaver. I'm Gwen Outen.
VOICE ONE:
And I'm Doug Johnson. You can visit Mount Vernon on the Internet
at mountvernon.org. And join us again next week for THIS IS AMERICA
in VOA Special English.