Object Details
- General
- The Washington title to Mount Vernon dates from the original land grant (known as Little Hunting Creek) of 1674 to John Washington. Augustine Washington acquired the property in 1726. The land was then deeded to his son, Lawrence, and renamed Mount Vernon in 1743. The title passed to George Washington, Lawrence's half brother, in 1761. The house and gardens were repeatedly changed over the course of ownership. The rectangular upper garden was established in 1763 to mirror the garden to the south, which was laid out in 1760. The design followed popular European landscape trends. As design trends changed from the formal to naturalistic, so, too, did Mount Vernon change. The upper garden was expanded and changed in 1785 to a shield shape. The gardens became pleasure gardens as well as utilitarian. After the estate was bought by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, restoration attempts began to bring the estate back to the time of George Washington. The Museum is open to the public. Persons associated with the property include: John Washington (former owner, 1674); Augustine Washington (former owner, 1726); Lawrence Washington (former owner, 1743); George Washington (former owner, 1761-1799); Bushrod Washington (former owner); John A. Washington, Jr. (former owner, ?-1858); and Mt. Vernon Ladies Association of the Union (owners, 1858-present).
- Owner
- Washington, George, 1732-1799
- Place
- United States of America -- Virginia -- Fairfax County -- Mount Vernon
- Mount Vernon (Mount Vernon, Virginia)
- Topic
- Gardens -- Virginia -- Mount Vernon
- Owner
- Washington, George, 1732-1799
- See more items in
- Historic gardens Stereograph collection
- Historic gardens Stereograph collection / Gardens and Landscapes / United States / Virginia
- Archival Repository
- Archives of American Gardens
- Identifier
- AAG.STR, File VA001
- Type
- Archival materials
- Collection Citation
- Smithsonian Institution, Archives of American Gardens, Historic Gardens Stereograph Collection.
- Collection Rights
- Archives of American Gardens encourages the use of its archival materials for non-commercial, educational and personal use under the fair use provision of U.S. copyright law. Use or copyright restrictions may exist. It is incumbent upon the researcher to ascertain copyright status and assume responsibility for usage. All requests for duplication and use must be submitted in writing and approved by Archives of American Gardens. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
- Bibliography
- Garden has been featured in Alice B. Lockwood, ed., Gardens of Colony and State (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1934), pp. 55-65. Garden has been featured in Guy Lowell, ed., American Gardens (Boston: Bates & Guild Company, 1902).Garden has been featured in "Virginia Gardens," Landscape Architecture Vol. 28 No. 2 (January 1938), p. 61. Garden has been featured in "The Garden of Mount Vernon," in Better Homes and Gardens America's Gardens (New York: Meredith Press, 1964), p. 14. Garden has been featured in Martin Filler, "George Washington's Garden."Garden has been featured in Merrill Folsom, Great American Mansions (New York: Hastings House), pp. 77-84. Garden has been featured in "The Gardens and Grounds of Mount Vernon, Virginia," John Cordis Baker, ed., American Country Homes and Their Gardens (Philadelphia: House & Garden, 1906), pp. 62-68. Garden has been featured in Elizabeth Kellam de Forest, The Gardens & Grounds at Mount Vernon (The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union, 1982).
- Collection Restrictions
- Access to original archival materials by appointment only. Researcher must submit request for appointment in writing. Certain items may be restricted and not available to researchers. Please direct reference inquiries to the Archives of American Gardens: aag@si.edu.
- Record ID
- ebl-1530043209653-1530043209823-0
