Imagine an angry gardener. He sought revenge and inadvertently set in motion the creation of what you see now: the George and Martha Washington Tomb. It stands as the final resting place for America’s first president and his wife. This is more than just a tomb. It’s a story etched in marble and brick.
George Washington’s will expressed a clear desire. He wanted a new tomb built of brick. It needed to be larger than the existing family vault. He wanted it located near his fruit garden. However, his wishes weren’t immediately followed.
Upon Washington’s death, Congress proposed a grand marble monument. It would be erected in the U.S. Capitol building. His remains would be interred there. Martha Washington agreed and a crypt was provided under the Capitol dome. But the project stalled and was never completed.
The old family vault at Mount Vernon wasn’t in good shape. It was deteriorating. Then came the attempted grave robbery in 1830. An angry gardener, recently fired, tried to steal what he thought was Washington’s skull. He failed. He grabbed the skull of a relative instead.
This act spurred Washington’s executors into action. They moved George and Martha’s bodies. They also moved the bodies of other family members. They were moved from the old vault to this present enclosure. This happened in 1831.
Look closely at the marble sarcophagus. It houses Washington’s remains. John Struthers of Philadelphia carved it in 1837. The original leaden casket was removed and placed within this marble shell. Martha’s sarcophagus is similar. It is more plainly sculpted.
Notice the marble obelisks. They stand in front of the George and Martha Washington Tomb. They commemorate Bushrod Washington. He was the president’s nephew. Also remembered are John Augustine Washington II and III. They were great-nephews. All were proprietors of Mount Vernon. Their remains also rest within the inner vault. Twenty-three other family members are entombed here as well.
To the side, memorials mark the graves. They belong to Washington’s step-granddaughter Eleanor Nelly Parke Custis Lewis. Her youngest daughter, Mary Eliza Angela Lewis Conrad, is also here. And Mary Eliza’s infant daughter, Angela, rests here too.
The George and Martha Washington Tomb you see today is largely unchanged. It has stood since its opening in 1831. Taller trees now surround it. Consider this: without that angry gardener, would Washington’s wishes have ever been truly fulfilled? This tomb stands as a testament to a nation’s respect. It also serves as a reminder that even acts of malice can shape history.