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The Property of the Nation: George Washington’s Tomb, Mount Vernon, and the Memory of the First President
George Washington Prize
George Washington was an affluent slave owner who believed that republicanism and social hierarchy were vital to the young country’s survival. And yet, he remains largely free of the “elitist” label affixed to his contemporaries, as Washington evolved in public memory during the nineteenth century into a man of the common people, the father of democracy. This memory, we learn in The Property of the Nation , was a deliberately constructed image, shaped and reshaped over time, generally in service of one cause or another. Matthew R. Costello traces this process through the story of Washington’s tomb, whose history and popularity reflect the building of a memory of America’s first president—of, by, and for the American people.
Washington’s resting place at his beloved Mount Vernon estate was at times as contested as his iconic image; and in Costello’s telling, the many attempts to move the first president’s bodily remains offer greater insight to the issue of memory and hero worship in early America. While describing the efforts of politicians, business owners, artists, and storytellers to define, influence, and profit from the memory of Washington at Mount Vernon, this book’s main focus is the memory-making process that took place among American citizens. As public access to the tomb increased over time, more and more ordinary Americans were drawn to Mount Vernon, and their participation in this nationalistic ritual helped further democratize Washington in the popular imagination. Shifting our attention from official days of commemoration and publicly orchestrated events to spontaneous visits by citizens, Costello’s book clearly demonstrates in compelling detail how the memory of George Washington slowly but surely became The Property of the Nation .
George Washington was an affluent slave owner who believed that republicanism and social hierarchy were vital to the young country’s survival. And yet, he remains largely free of the “elitist” label affixed to his contemporaries, as Washington evolved in public memory during the nineteenth century into a man of the common people, the father of democracy. This memory, we learn in The Property of the Nation , was a deliberately constructed image, shaped and reshaped over time, generally in service of one cause or another. Matthew R. Costello traces this process through the story of Washington’s tomb, whose history and popularity reflect the building of a memory of America’s first president—of, by, and for the American people.
Washington’s resting place at his beloved Mount Vernon estate was at times as contested as his iconic image; and in Costello’s telling, the many attempts to move the first president’s bodily remains offer greater insight to the issue of memory and hero worship in early America. While describing the efforts of politicians, business owners, artists, and storytellers to define, influence, and profit from the memory of Washington at Mount Vernon, this book’s main focus is the memory-making process that took place among American citizens. As public access to the tomb increased over time, more and more ordinary Americans were drawn to Mount Vernon, and their participation in this nationalistic ritual helped further democratize Washington in the popular imagination. Shifting our attention from official days of commemoration and publicly orchestrated events to spontaneous visits by citizens, Costello’s book clearly demonstrates in compelling detail how the memory of George Washington slowly but surely became The Property of the Nation .
- GenresHistory
352 pages, Paperback
Published December 3, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 20, 2023
Having written about Ulysses S. Grant's Tomb and how its story relates to Grant's legacy, I was especially interested in reading this book. I was not disappointed! Kudos to Mathew Costello for his excellent (and important) work that tells the fascinating story of George Washington's grave at Mount Vernon (primarily covering the years before the home was purchased for preservation in 1858) and the elastic memory of our first president evolved over the early years of the republic through the Civil War. The book is extensively researched & sourced, well-written & organized, and directly places the story of Washington's tomb & his memory in context with the turbulent history of America's formative years.
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January 19, 2023Who knew the evolution and debates over the remains of George Washington provided such a fascinating social history and commentary of early American history.
October 14, 2022
One of the best history books I have read. Incredibly interesting understanding and a take on George Washington not often explored — his memory and how the United States and the citizens grappled with his memory after his death. Amazing information to use in my thesis as well!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews