There are more than a dozen outbuildings on the estate that have been maintained in their original look and function. The family utilized slave labor to complete many of the tasks required to keep the estate running and each building had a specific purpose. Each building is set up as it was in Washington’s times. The majority of the buildings cannot be entered but can be viewed from the outside through doorways. An informative display at the entry explains what the building was used for.
The Blacksmith Shop at Mount Vernon is a reconstruction of the original and is fully functioning, offering visitors the opportunity to watch a blacksmith in action. Washington had 4 separate blacksmiths over the years (3 of them slaves) who performed such essential work as making nails and repairing pots and pans. The boys enjoyed watching the blacksmith demonstration; blacksmith shops we have been to at other historical sites were too smoky to watch but this one seemed to have the proper ventilation to make the demonstration worthwhile.
Boys being boys, the outbuilding they found the most interesting was called “The Necessary”. I have to admit that I found the name highly amusing as well. The Necessary is the outhouse and was indeed necessary because indoor plumbing did not exist in Washington’s days.
The outbuildings are wonderfully restored and maintained. The information provided at each building gives a great explanation of its use. The buildings and their contents provide a great visual for the kids to really imagine what things were like when George Washington lived there – right down to where he went to the bathroom! I recommend really taking the time to explore the outbuildings and read about each one.