George Washington's White House

Now that we have a new president-elect, we're hearing everything from what he plans to do first to expert opinions on just which dog he should choose for his children when they all move to the White House.

It seems like a thrilling concept to me - to be preparing for your upcoming move to the White House.  It's not exactly a starter home.  And I have a feeling the new first family is appropriately excited.

But I'm not sure it would compare to the love our first president felt for his home.  George Washington, although the man to first sign the orders for the building of the White House, never actually lived in it.  You probably know the name of his famous home, Mt. Vernon.

It's "beautifully situated", he had said.  And from what I understand it was often busy with guests just as it is often used for important events today.  Mt. Vernon was the first presidential mansion.  And unlike the White House, it remained in one family much longer than a term.

Mr. Vernon is not far from the nation's capital and makes a nice addition to Washington D.C. educational tours.  In the White House students may find a bit more marble and fine art than in Washington's home.  But Mt. Vernon was dearly loved by its president and his family for decades and is a beloved American landmark today.