Episode Notes

This week in 1858… John Augustine Washington III paced the halls of Mount Vernon. What was he going to do with this place? The house was falling apart around him. And historical tourism income was not enough to keep up the house.

The next evening, a steam ship chugged up the Potomac. Passenger Louisa Cunningham gazed at Mount Vernon as it slipped by. She was horrified by what she saw and resolved to do something about it.