Picture above: Ferry Farm, circa 1900-1920. Right: Lithograph of George Washington and Lafayette in a meeting at Mount Vernon. Both courtesy Library of Congress.

Washington's Homes Then

And it's a good thing they stepped to the plate and took on this task. Mount Vernon, the most known of the three homes, was in great disrepair in the 1850's when the Mount Vernon Ladies Association came in, bought the home for $200,000 and began to restore and open it to the public. For Ferry Farm and Kenmore, the George Washington Foundation has been maintaining, discovering, and presenting the story of Washington's family since 1922 when they purchased Kenmore, adding Ferry Farm, Washington's boyhood home from the age of 6 to 20, in 1996.

Mount Vernon - Over 80 million people have walked these grounds since the Association opened it to the public. At its largest, the plantation had 8,000 acres and hosted not only Washington's family it its residence, but guests like Lafayette.

Ferry Farm - Owned by Washington's father, Augustine, Ferry Farm was one of several the family lived in during Washington's boyhood. George would grow up on this farm from the age of 6 to 20. It was closer to the Accokeek Furnace where his father was a partner. Ferry Farm was home to the many stories of George Washington's youth, including the story of the cherry tree and stone throwing across the Rappahannock River. He would inherit it after his father died, although it was taken care of by his mother, Mary, until George was an adult.

Kenmore Plantation - Although at its current size, it's hard to imagine the plantation aspect of Kenmore today, when it was built in the 1770's, it included over 1,000 acres. Over 80 people worked the plantation at that time. It was originally owned by Washington's sister.

Photo above: Kenmore Plantation, Fredericksburg, Virginia. Courtesy Wikipedia Commons. Below: Current photo of Mount Vernon. Courtesy Wikipedia Commons.

Washington's Homes Now

The life of Washington's family is intertwined in these homes, and although Mount Vernon is the best known and attended of them all, a visit to Ferry Farm, as well as Kenmore, adds to the understanding of where George Washington came from, and where his life revolved during the years of his childhood, the Revolutionary War, his Presidency, and afterwards. A visit to all three can give an added scope to the man, who, almost reluctantly, led a nation to victory, oversaw the decade of establishing a governoment, and served as its first commander in chief and chief executive officer, then gave way when his time and term was done.

Mount Vernon - The ladies have been doing a wonderful job of interpreting the site of Washington's mansion at Mount Vernon, adding all the time to its footprint and interpretation. The recent addition to the state of the art Visitor Center, the opening of the Distillery and Gristmill, and the upcoming addition of a George Washington Presidential Library on the grounds are just a few of the many things you will see when you visit.

Kenmore Plantation - The George Washington Foundation's first site, this mansion of George Washington's sister, Betty Washington Lewis and her husband Fielding Lewis, show a great example of the pre-Revolutionary home and life. It is located in Fredericksburg and includes Crowninshield Museum, a 45 minute tour of the home, and self-guided tour of the grounds.

Ferry Farm - Saved from development in 1996, this 80 acre farm of George Washington's childhood was located at an important site in Fredericksburg, overlooking the Rappahannock River and the ferry that transported travelers from one side to the city. There is a visitor center, self-guided grounds tour, and the 2008 discovered archeological site of the actual home that once stood there, and now a reconstructed home to tour on that very site.

Accokeek Furnace - Owned by Augustine Washington, this Stafford County iron works is also owned by the same foundation that runs Ferry Farm and Kenmore Plantation.

Minute Walk in History - Ferry Farm

Take a late fall walk around the boyhood home of George Washington, Ferry Farm, across the Rappahannock River from Fredericksburg, Virginia. A visitor center awaits, plus the grounds to the river, and a recently reconstructed home that the Washington's family lived in under his parents Augustine and Mary. Last picture in the video of George and Martha Washington dancing would not have happened at Ferry Farm, but foreshadows their days at Mount Vernon.