Mason Neck, Va. –– Some expert spellers took a break Monday to tour George Mason’s historic home.
Gunston Hall on the Mason Neck Peninsula served as a respite for spellers participating in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee in the Washington area.
“We had more than 1,000 participants here yesterday who toured George Mason’s home, tasted 18th-century recipes in the (sweltering) hearth kitchen, played organized games, sang karaoke, line-danced, moon-bounced, and did a good bit of perspiring in the 90 + degree heat,” said Gunston Hall spokeswoman Susan Blankenship.
During one of the demonstrations on Monday, a cook at the mansion showed two children and their father how to cook a fish by placing it on board and placing it near a fire.
The spelling bee is aired nationally on the networks of ESPN, and they, along with other national cable news outlets were on hand with the spellers as they toured the historic estate.
The spellers will spend the next four days in the area focused on winning the bee, but while at Gunston Hall they were invited to tour the mansion, play games, hike trails and participate in other activities on the 550-acre estate.
