This week I had the opportunity to experience my first virtual tour. I toured Mount Vernon which was the home of President George Washington. The website www.mountvernon.org provides viewers an in depth 360 degree tour of Washington’s Virginian plantation home. Viewers are able to see the layout of Mount Vernon and its natural features. The best aspect of the virtual tour is seeing the inside of Washington’s mansion.

While I was touring the mansion of President Washington, I was able to learn details and history of the house. There are buttons on ideas or parts of Mount Vernon that provide information to viewers once clicked on. I learned that the house was original a one and one half story house built by President Washington’s father, Augustine in 1735. Over the course of his life, President Washington constructed and expanded the house to symbolize a wealthy Virginia lifestyle.

Another interesting aspect of the house I learned was that the house is made of wood. From the naked eye, the walls of Mount Vernon look like they are made of stone. but they are not. President Washington used a practiced called rustication that made the wooden walls look like stone. This was just one aspect of house that Washington had direct influence on. From the walls to the ceilings and floors of Mount Vernon, President Washington taste of design was installed.

In the tour, each room or scenery of Mount Vernon has videos of curators who give the history of that part of the mansion. Many items like the Argand candle lambs and Washington’s iron chest are present in Mount Vernon today and can be seen in the tour. Additional information on how the features of the house have been preserved are revealed in the videos too.

My first virtual tour experience was great and I cannot wait to “visit” more historical sites around the world. I highly recommend checking out Mount Vernon tour here and let me know what you think of it!

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