And that includes mine, as I have yet to visit Mount Vernon , the plantation house of George Washington, first President of the United States, and his wife Martha Washington. The estate is located on the banks of the Potomac River in Fairfax County, Virginia, near Alexandria, across from Prince George's County, Maryland. The mansion, which is undoubtedly the centerpiece of the estate, is made of wood in a loose Palladian style, and was gradually constructed by George Washington between 1758 and 1778. It occupies the site of a one and a half story farmhouse built by George Washington's father Augustine in 1735. When Augustin moved his family to the property in 1735, it was known as Little Hunting Creek Plantation. In the early 1740s, during the War of Jenkins' Ear, Lawrence Washington, George Washington’s eldest half-brother, served as a militia officer at the Battle of Cartagena. Lawrence inherited the Little Hunting Creek Plantation in 1743 and changed the name to ...

Most people know very little about James Monroe (1758-1831) other than the fact that he was one of the first presidents of the United States, if that. A recent discovery proves that the fifth commander in chief lived in much higher style than historians and history geeks previously thought. Indeed, the modest residence once touted as Highland, Monroe's estate near Charlottesville, Virginia, is now being classified as a mere guest house. So where did Monroe live? It turns out that the well-preserved foundation of what is being described as a "free standing and sizeable house" was discovered in the front yard of what was believed to be Highland for so many years. Archaeologists unearthed stone foundations, charred planks, a a chimney, and a wealth of artifacts, suggesting that a fire in the mid-19th century destroyed a considerably large and imposing structure. Tree rings visible on the wood in the house that still stands indicates it was cut down around 181...

Ever heard of Montpelier? Neither had I -- at least not until a couple of years ago. It happens to be the plantation house where James Madison (1751-1836), 4th President of the United States and father of the U.S. Constitution, and First Lady Dolley Madison (1768-1849) lived. They didn't live there full-time, of course, until Madison completed his second term in 1817. Located near Orange, Virginia, the estate is comprised of a mansion, historic buildings, exhibits, garden, forest trails and archaeological sites. The origins of the name Montpelier are dubious at best, but the first recorded use of the name is traced back to a letter written in 1781. Madison liked the French spelling of the word -- Montpellier -- which translates to "Mount of the Pilgrim." Madison had a staff of roughly 100 enslaved African Americans at Montpelier who served in a variety of roles, from cooks to carpenters. It was declared a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Reg...