LearningfromtheLawn

ThegardensgiveusoneperspectiveofhowWashingtonusedhisland:togrowcrops,toplantexoticflowers,andtoshowoffhiswealthandpowerindifferentways.Wecanalsolearnaboutthehistoryofaplacebystudyingthelandwithabroaderview.TakeWashington’sbowlinggreen,for example.


Youmightwonderwhatabowlinggreenis.It’sanareaofcloselymowedgrass.TheoneatMountVernonlookslikeahugefrontlawn.Thatmaynotseemlikeabigdeal.Manyhouseshavelawns.Yet,inthe18th century,landwasexpensiveandprecious.Mostpeoplegavetheirlandapurposemostoftenforfarmingandfewpeoplekeptlargeareasofornamental grass.


Washington,however,chosetomaintainatidylawnratherthancultivateitwithcrops.Thissentamessage.Itshowedvisitorsthathehadmorethanenoughlandandmoney.Somuchsothathecouldsetasidesomelandjustforshow.Hisusageofthislandisyetanotherexampleofnatureactingasaprimarysourcetogiveuscluesaboutaperson,aplace,andaperiodin time.

Ifyoulookmoreclosely,thebowlinggreenatMountVernontellsussomethingelse.Thinkaboutallthatgrass.Today,someonewouldusealawnmowertokeepitneatandtrim.ButinWashington’stime,therewerenolawnmowers.So,whowasresponsibleforkeepingit tidy?


ThatjobfelltoWashington’senslavedlaborers.Theyusedaheavyrollertotrimandflattenthegrass,andthenusedabladetocutit.Draggingthisacrossthebowlinggreenrequiredalotofphysical labor.

MountVernon'sbowlinggreenisalarge,manicured lawn.

aviewofMountVernonfrom above

LearningfromtheLand

WhenIvisitedMountVernon,Ilookedcloselyatthegardensandlearnedaboutthehistoryoftheplacethroughthem.Yet,thegardensareonlyastartingpoint!Icouldalsolookattheforest,thefields,theorchards,andtheriverthatmakeupWashington’sestatetogetcluesaboutits history.

Primarysourcescomeinmanyforms.Nowyouknowhownatureandthenaturallandscapecanbeusedtoglanceintothepast.TheteamatMt.Vernonisstillhardatwork,searchingforcluesaboutthepast.Ilookforwardtohearingabouttheir discoveries.