And your timing was impeccable: I was at Mount Vernon yesterday showing a new friend around. I had promised to do that when we first met.
Although he was born in Israel, he has been living in Ohio for 15 years, is a naturalized American citizen, and is fascinated with the Revolution. When I first met him several months ago, he had just finished 1776 and was looking forward to touring Mt Vernon with me and the wife when he was back in town.
This we did yesterday, and although a 60-something in age, he was like a kid taking in the sights and history of the General's home.
Mt Vernon around 1853, the year the Mount Vernon Ladies Association bought the property from John Augustin Washington III, a great grand nephew of the General. Notice the timbers which supported the sagging portico.
JA Washington III grew tired of all the people coming to Mt Vernon asking to be shown around, and finally sold it.
He was an aide-de-camp to General Lee, and was shot and killed by a bushwacker while on scouting duty in 1861.