Mount Vernon Revisited

The Mount Vernon community in Fairfax County, Virginia, draws its name from George Washington's home overlooking the Potomac River. Washington acquired the house and plantation in 1754 and lived there in peace and war until his 1799 death. Since then, however, the area's 340-year history has gained breadth and texture beyond Washington's personal heritage. In the 1840s and 1850s, forty Quaker families moved to Mount Vernon and revitalized area agriculture and commerce. The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association bought the mansion and 200 acres from Washington's great-grandnephew in 1858 and continues to preserve the historic landmark to this day. The development of Route 1 and the George Washington Memorial Parkway in the 20th century contributed to today's economic development and growth in the Mount Vernon area. Neighborhoods and sites along the Potomac River are rife with history, including landmarks like the Woodlawn Plantation, Gum Springs, Pohick Church, Fort Belvoir, and Gunston Hall.

Jessie Biele is a former editor for Mount Vernon Patch. She holds a master of arts in public communication from American University. Michael K. Bohn is a nationally syndicated writer and widely read expert on Mount Vernon-area history. Image sources include the Fairfax County Public Library, the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, Woodlawn Plantation, and Fort Belvoir.