WATER AND WATERFRONTS 165 



As an example, let us take the events as they have evolved concern- 

 ing the most famous of our national shrines, Mount Vernon, the 

 home of our first President, George Washington. 



A decade ago, we set out to protect the visual environment of 

 Mount Vernon, America's No. 1 historical shrine. 



Up to that time, preservation was primarily in private hands. 

 For example, a century ago, Mount Vernon itself was offered to both 

 the Federal Government and the State of Virginia for preservation. 

 Both refused. 



A frail woman, Ann Pamela Cunningham, undertook the task, 

 created the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union. This 

 private group purchased and still preserves this national shrine. 



Miss Cunningham's parting injunction was, "Let one spot in this 

 grand country of ours be saved from change. Upon you rests this 

 duty." 



In 1955 the Maryland shore opposite Mount Vernon was threat- 

 ened with the wave of expansion from the District of Columbia. 



An oil tank farm was projected for the shoreline in the center 

 of the view that thrills millions of visitors each year. 



As Vice Regent from Ohio of the Mount Vernon Ladies' As- 

 sociation, I accepted Miss Cunningham's charge, and I used some 

 funds which had come to me by inheritance to acquire the property 

 to preserve it. 



This was just the beginning. During the next few years, additional 

 land was acquired by the Accokeek Foundation, and others came 

 to our aid. 



Then the unthinking local agency, armed with the power of 

 eminent domain, determined to condemn the land we sought to 

 preserve to use for a sewage treatment plant and its attendant de- 

 velopment. 



No private entity could withstand that threat. We had to seek 

 government help. 



No help was available from local or State governments. This 

 forced the Congress to counter the local threat. In 1 96 1 the area was 

 delineated as a national park, based on lands to be donated by the 

 foundations along the riverfront, and donations by private owners 

 of science easements on a much greater area. 



Skeptics in government predicted freely that no scenic easements 

 by the average citizens would ever be donated. They stated outright 



