ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, United States — A row of Windsor chairs lines the patio outside the main building of Mount Vernon, the historic home of George Washington, in Alexandria, Virginia. The chairs face out towards the estate's expansive grounds and the Potomac River beyond.


Photograph by David Coleman. Mount Vernon, located in Alexandria, Virginia, was the plantation home of George Washington, the first President of the United States. The estate, situated along the banks of the Potomac River, is a National Historic Landmark that offers visitors a glimpse into 18th-century plantation life and the personal world of America's most prominent Founding Father. The image captures a quintessential scene from Mount Vernon's famous west front, where a row of Windsor chairs lines the patio. These chairs, characteristic of colonial American furniture, invite visitors to sit and admire the panoramic view of the lawn sloping down to the Potomac River. This vista remains largely unchanged since Washington's time, offering a connection to the landscape he knew and loved. Windsor chairs, with their distinctive spindle backs and solid wood seats, were popular in colonial America for their durability and comfort. Their presence at Mount Vernon reflects both historical accuracy and the estate's commitment to providing an immersive experience for visitors. The estate, meticulously restored and maintained by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association since 1858, includes the iconic mansion, numerous outbuildings, beautiful gardens, and a working farm. The patio area serves as a transitional space between the mansion's formal rooms and the natural beauty of the grounds, embodying Washington's vision of Mount Vernon as both a functional farm and a place of refined leisure. Mount Vernon welcomes over a million visitors annually, offering guided tours, educational programs, and special events that bring American history to life. Its proximity to Washington, makes it a popular destination for tourists and history enthusiasts alike.


Size: 7360px × 4912px
Location: Mount Vernon, Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Photo credit: © David Coleman | Have Camera Will Travel / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: ., 18th, 18th-century, agricultural, agriculture, alexandria, american, architectural, architecture, building, century, colonial, county, cultural, destination, distillery, edifice, edifices, educational, era, estate, fairfax, family, farm, farmhouse, farming, field, founding, fred, gardens, george, gristmill, heritage, history, home, homestead, landmarks, leader, library, monument, mount, mt, national, northern, outbuildings, outings, pioneer, plantation, potomac, practices, presidents, programs, residence, revolution, revolutionary, river, shoreline, site, smith, tomb, trips, va, vernon, views, virginia, war, washington, washingtons