Enchanted by Mount Vernon

In this intimate exploration of America's most beloved historic home, Jordan Poole takes us behind the velvet ropes of Mount Vernon to reveal the living, breathing essence of a place that is more than just a museum-it is the soul of a nation.As the former Manager of Restoration, Poole discovered that George Washington's estate possesses a unique power to collapse time, creating a space where history and imagination converge. From secret messages hidden beneath layers of paint to midnight encounters with the echoes of the past, his experiences reveal Mount Vernon as a liminal space where the veil between centuries grows tantalizingly thin.Each chapter unfolds like a room in the great house itself, offering glimpses into both the documented history and the spiritual presence that lingers in its hallowed spaces. We follow Poole as he uncovers Civil War graffiti in the Seed House, deciphers a mysterious "Nathan's House" inscription that connects to Black history, and experiences an unexplainable encounter with Washington's signature cologne-Caswell-Massey's Number Six.With lyrical prose and keen insight, Poole weaves together stories of those who built, preserved, and continue to care for this American treasure. In doing so, he invites us to experience Mount Vernon not just as Washington's home, but as America's home-a place where our national identity continues to be shaped and renewed with each generation.