Gunston Hall

May 12, 2012

We hiked from the campground to Gunston Hall, the home of George Mason. Mason was a neighbor of George Washington, but his home was much more opulent than Washinton's Mount Vernon. He brought craftsmen over from Europe as indentured servants to carve the woodwork in Gunston Hall which is incredibly elaborate.

Mason wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights. This document was the first in America to call for freedom of the press, freedom of religion, and the right to a fair and speedy trial. Jefferson drew heavily on it when he drafted the Declaration of Independence. Mason was one of the signers of the Declaration and was a delegate to the constitutional convention where he was one of the most vocal debaters. Objecting to the amount of power being given to the federal government and the Convention’s unwillingness to abolish the slave trade, Mason refused to sign the Constitution. Mason’s refusal to support the new Constitution destroyed his friendship with Washington, who later referred to Mason as his former friend. But Mason's objections would later became part of the constituion when James Madison wrote the Bill of Rights. Mason referred to slavery as "a poison." But, unlike Washington, he didn't free his slaves when he died. They were willed to his nine children.

We spent the remainder of the day doing laundry, cleaning the RV, and snuggling with the dog.