This side of Mount Vernon faces west (the camera is looking south.) In the summer it would be a marvelous place to start the day, and, with the open air arched passageways on either side, the river breezes would pretty much keep it comfortable all day long. It would really be quite something to live here even now!
This riverside view I suspect is what most people see and consider to be the front. I suppose it depends on whether you arrive by land or by "sea." And, yes, ocean-going vessels could come this far upriver because it is still tidal waters (meaning the level of the river rises and falls daily with the ocean tides.) The high piazza provides shade for the second floor windows and encourages excellent breezes from the river to flow through both upstairs and downstairs passages. The shutters downstairs are solid wood (for safety and to block winter winds off of the Potomac), but Washington had louvered wooden blinds to provide privacy yet allow ventilation during summer months. These things and the draft caused by the cupola would have this place cool as a cucumber!
Anyone traveling north to south or south to north were welcomed at Mount Vernon for overnight stays or several nights at a time. It's said that 2/3rds of the time Mount Vernon housed guests - total strangers a lot of the time. Can you IMAGINE!?!
In the photo, on the left, notice the gentleman in the powder blue knee-length coat. He's a costumed interpreter behaving and speaking totally in character. Any questions asked will be answered as though it was still the late 1700's. How fun!
No comments:
Post a Comment