Stock Photo - George Washington's House at Mount Vernon, Virginia, USA, c1820-1839. This plantation on the banks of the Potomac River was inherited by George Washington from his sister-in-law in 1759. Washington had the house rebuilt as it appears today and operated the estate as five separate farms. After the War of Independence he returned to Mount Vernon and resided there for a considerable amount of time during his two terms as President. After Washington's death the fortunes of the estate declined until, in 1860 it was acquired by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union, who restored it. Today Mount Vernon is a popular tourist attraction. Plate 39 from Le Costume Ancien et Moderne, by Jules Ferrario.