Mount Vernon near Alexandria in Fairfax County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
George Washington's Landscape Design
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 25, 2021
1. George Washington's Landscape Design Marker
"The whole plantation, the garden, and the rest prove well that a man born with the natural taste may guess a beauty without having seen the model. The General has never left America but it seems as if he had copied the best samples of the grand old homesteads of England."
John Niemcewicz, a Polish guest at Mount Vernon, June 1798
Mount Vernon's gardens and ground were a masterful mix of the formal and naturalistic design styles originating in England. In this transitional form, Washington borrowed strict symmetry and simple geometric lines from the earlier school while taking advantage of the natural beauty of the American landscape. There is an overall order to the wilderness areas, vistas, groves, and curving walkways that reflects Washington's sense of balance and design.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Architecture. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #01 George Washington series list. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1798.
Location. 38° 42.531′ N, 77° 5.232′ W. Marker is near Alexandria, Virginia, in Fairfax County. It is in Mount Vernon.
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Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Upper Garden (within shouting distance of this marker); Bowling Green (within shouting distance of this marker); Wood That Looks Like Stone (within shouting distance of this marker); Botanical Garden (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line);
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), September 25, 2021
2. George Washington's Landscape Design Marker
Additional keywords. landscape architecture
Credits. This page was last revised on January 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 27, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 279 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 27, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
