Saturday, September 8, 2012
Gunston Hall
Well, whether you, dear reader, like it or not, we are continuing with your American history lesson. Today’s lesson is about one of the forgotten figures of our past and his home. Gunston Hall the home of George Mason, is a National Historic Landmark owned by the Commonwealth of Virginia and administered by the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America. Built in 1755-1760, Gunston Hall was a tobacco and wheat plantation of more than 5500 acres and sits on the banks for the Potomac River not far from our nation’s capital.
While most of us have not heard of George Mason, I am sure all of us have heard and/or read his words. During the period of our Revolution, George Mason was a senior statesman and one of the era’s most influential political figures. He authored the Virginia Declaration of Rights. It seems that Thomas Jefferson “lifted” much of the wording from this document when he wrote America’s Declaration of Independence.
View from second floor of Gunston Hall. During George Mason’s time all this would be formal Knot gardens. The distant tree line is the shore of the Potomac River.
A view of the Knot gardens from the arched portico.
- Built in 1755-1760, Gunston Hall is a wonderful example of Georgian architecture. Both the exterior and interior exhibit perfect symmetry
A view of Gunston Hall from the Knot garden. Unfortunately many of the boxwoods are dying from old age.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
Meriam and Tiffany (her niece) has been researching some of her Vestal lineage and has encountered a stumbling block with one particular ancestor. Knowing that DAR has an extensive geneological library, she spend a couple of days at the DAR Museum and Library in Washington, DC. This very impressive building is located next to the White House (can you imagine the value of this property!!) Not ony does this building house a wonderful library, it contains 31 magnificant period rooms, each depicting early interiors and furnishing from various state.
Note: I apologize for the quality of photographs of DAR. I did not take my DSLR camera into the City so used my iPhone instead.
Meriam at the library desk in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) library.
A view of the Texas Room. This room is modeled from a early German home in Center Texas. Note the green paint is what Meriam used from some of the stenciling in our house in Jefferson
Meriam deep in the library stacks researching her Vestal lineage.
The children’s room, complete is wonderful dolls, doll houses and tea sets. Just the thing for young girls