Ossabaw Island Hogs (Historical Marker)

Here follows the inscription written on this trailside historical marker:

Ossabaw Island Hogs
In the summer of 1799, George Washington noted that while he had "a large stock of Hogs—the precise number is uknown." Identifying the number of hogs on the estate was difficult because many were allowed to run free and graze in the surrounding woodlands where they ate roots, chestnuts, acorns, walnuts, and wild herbs.

Today, Mount Vernon is home to Ossabaw Island hogs, a rare and endangered breed similar to the ones that roamed the estate in the 18th century. We believe that these animals are descendants of Spanish pigs brought to the Americas more than 400 years ago. Mount Vernon participates in an active breeding program to support the Ossabaw Island hogs' survival.