Washington D.C’s Greatest Homes
Monuments stand as a remembrance of those who did something heroic within their lives. Whether they served in the armed forces, presided over the country or stood up for the rights of citizens, D.C is steeped in these testaments to the pillars of the community.
Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello House is a unique construction that was designed by one of the founding fathers of our nation. The house and grounds make for a wonderful day out for the whole family and the interior of the house and its guided tours offer a new facet of life in these times.
This fully restored home is where Jefferson spent his later days once his duties were completed. Travelling through the house, visitors see his architectural inspirations in every room and the grounds make for an excellent walk through the area.
Arlington House is another of the residences of another notable character in the country’s history, Robert E. Lee. This home was constructed in 1803 and has been subject to many restorations and preservations to keep it as true to the time as possible.
The 1,100 acre land is where the house sits and the surrounding grounds make up a huge part of this area. This was built under the watchful eye of George Washington Parke Curtis, a step grandson of George Washington and passed down through the generations to Robert E. Lee.
These houses were both built to the exacting specifications of their owners and visitors can take a journey through time to witness the architectural influences of each era. Some rooms have a more European flair and others are all American but their styles blend well together to make an overall home.
No examinations of the homes of this city would be complete without a mention of the Mount Vernon home once occupied by George Washington. The first president finished this home back in 1778 and continued to improve the standing of the home and ground in later years.
All of the rooms in the house have been restored to reflect the way they would have been during George and Martha’s residence here. Visitors can take a look at the study where Washington crafted some of his most famous works.
A lesser known connection between Mount Vernon and Arlington House is that Robert E. Lee’s father sent some of the plant cuttings that were used to populate the grounds with flora. In 1799 the body of George Washington was interred in this house in a family crypt. This is where his wife Martha also rests and the family crypt was expanded to fit all of the notable Washingtons buried there. After an unsuccessful attempt to steal the president’s body occurred in Mount Vernon the tomb received a more secure housing to discourage further thefts.
All of these houses are wonders to behold and you can see every one of them with Gray Line. Their histories and owners are all well worth learning about and their tour guides will be happy to teach you all about it.