Leaving Alexandria the route crosses Hunting Creek to Fort Hunt, thence to the entrance gates of Mount Vernon. FEATURES OF THE HIGHWAY DESCRIBED The making of surveys, preparation of plans, and supervision of construction have all been done by the Bureau of Public Roads of the United States Department of Agriculture, and Gilmore D. Clarke, Consulting Landscape Architect. [Illustration: MOUNT VERNON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY--BRIDGE OVER BOUNDARY CHANNEL] The location selected for the highway required the construction of fills across approximately 2³⁄₄ miles of open water, which was accomplished by pumping gravel and sand from the Potomac River. The highway throughout its entire length, with the exception of the section through Alexandria, has been designed to provide for a free flow of traffic over a surface with a minimum width of 40 feet, and where there is any volume of cross traffic it passes either under or over the highway. Except through the city of Alexandria, the highway follows closely the shore of the Potomac River for the greater portion of the distance. This situation affords beautiful vistas of Washington and the Potomac River, which, in combination with the landscaping and development of the project itself, make this highway a fitting tribute to the memory of George Washington. [Illustration: CHRIST CHURCH, ALEXANDRIA, VA.] Below Alexandria the highway has been widened at points of outstanding beauty, so that motorists can stop for a few minutes to enjoy the view. The bridges in general are of reinforced-concrete arches, faced with native stone laid in random bond. Special attention has been given to harmonizing their lines with the general plan of development. [Illustration: MOUNT VERNON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY--UNDERPASS AT HIGHWAY BRIDGE] The intersection of the memorial highway with U. S. Highway No. 1 near the beginning of the project has been so designed that a large volume of traffic can flow from one highway to the other without crossing the center line of either route. A large parking area at Mount Vernon that will accommodate the thousands of visitors to this national shrine has been provided, and a concession building of colonial design has been erected to provide for their comfort. [Illustration: MOUNT VERNON MEMORIAL HIGHWAY--BRIDGE OVER HUNTING CREEK] MOUNT VERNON Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington the greater part of his life, is situated along the historic Potomac, 14.7 miles south of the city of Washington, which he was instrumental in founding, though referring to it as the Federal City. [Illustration: GEORGE WASHINGTON FROM THE HOUDON BUST, MODELED FROM LIFE AT MOUNT VERNON IN 1785]