Mt Vernon-Revolutionary War Encampment 2025
I was surprised that it's been two years since my last visit to the Revolutionary War encampment at Mount Vernon, George Washington's home. It is one of my favorite sites to explore. It's also the most extended one-day trip I can handle now, with a 1 1/2-hour morning drive, but due to Washington, D.C. traffic, my drive home is much longer. Part of my trip includes the scenic Baltimore–Washington Parkway (2 lanes, no trucks allowed), a route that is just over 30 miles long and dissects my path through Washington, DC. The parkway is more relaxing, and I get an excellent view of the Potomac River and Washington Monument when I am almost there. It was a cloudy morning with a mild temperature. Since my last visit, the site has undergone numerous major restorations. You will notice that some areas are under renovation, as shown in this photo.
Below is an update of the significant changes; this is from Mt Vernon's website-
Mansion Revitalization Project
George Washington is famously known as the Father of Our Country, and rightfully so. His legacy is deeply intertwined with his contributions to the nation and his participation in slavery. His decision to free his enslaved workers upon his death was significant, but it does not erase the reality of his role in perpetuating the system. His uniqueness comes from his ability to shape the country while grappling with moral contradictions.
Washington's decision to relinquish power is considered one of the most significant acts of statesmanship in American history and was a shock to the world at the time. He did this twice: he resigned as Commander-in-Chief after the Treaty of Paris ended the American Revolutionary War and after refusing to Seek a Third Presidential Term.
Some folks today want to strip him of his accomplishments because he was an enslaver. That was common practice for southern plantation owners, as well as in the northern states, during that time. You can't compare the standards of yesteryear to acceptable behavior today. Without George Washington, we would not have won our independence from Great Britain.
Below is a photo of George Washington speaking to the crowd with the Marquis de Lafayette. They shared a deep and enduring friendship that played a significant role throughout the American Revolution. They shared a relationship that was described by many as akin to that of a father and son.
Here is my favorite photo of the day. Many times, to get that fantastic shot, it's a matter of luck and being in the right place at the right time. Shortly after arriving, I started circulating towards the American and British camps, arriving a little after 9 AM. I knew where to go since I've attended this event numerous times. In front of the mansion on both sides of the lawn were sutlers (vendors). I spotted the baker, or my nose did. He had a portable oven and was starting to bake his bread for the day. On the side of his oven, I spotted these loaves of bread stacked on a table. It looked delicious. For me, fresh bread with butter is just the best!
One rule of composition in photography is to incorporate patterns. That's what I did here, and I'm glad I took this shot when I did. Later in the day, the baker had a sandwich board outside his entrance, informing us that all the bread was gone and to return tomorrow for a new batch.
I'm known for capturing many unique cannon blast photos. My shots are like snowflakes; no two are the same. This photo might be the only one where the cannon appears to be shooting directly at me. That is never a good idea for safety reasons. But it was about 100 yards away from me and pointed at a slight angle.
Additionally, in post-processing, I cropped the image significantly. I like how the blast is almost a circle, with the orange flame outlining it like a photo frame. It's unusual—I can't remember having another cannon blast quite like this one!
I want rich and bold colors in my photos. When post-processing them in On1 software, I almost always boost the color and vibrance. This photo immediately caught my attention due to the complementary colors, red and green, which evoke passion and vitality. Complementary colors are pairs of colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. Some other popular color combinations are blue and orange, yellow and purple, cyan and red, and lastly, green and magenta.
This photo, taken near the end of the reenactment, shows the Continental Line after it has swept the British troops off the field. I cropped in close to focus on the flag. It's a good shot, and the colors pop!
Click here for the Mt Vernon-Revolutionary War Encampment 2025 Photo Gallery.
Thank you for reading! Blog #89 will be posted on June 15, 2025. Be safe & well!
Huzzah,
Ken Bohrer
