As the United States’ 250th birthday approaches, the home of one of its most iconic founders has reopened for a new generation of discovery. Last month, George Washington’s mansion at his Mount Vernon estate in Virginia unveiled the results of a $40 million restoration project that began in 2023. The ribbon cutting marked the first time that the entire first and second floors of the property have been fully to the public since January 2024.
“This restoration represents the most important historic preservation project in America today, and it was made possible by extraordinary talent—architects, engineers, curators, preservationists, carpenters, masons, electricians, and so many other experts,” said Doug Bradburn, president and CEO of George Washington’s Mount Vernon, in a prepared statement. “We are proud to share their work with the nation. More than 100 million people have visited Mount Vernon, and we believe every American should experience it. You wouldn’t visit Rome without seeing the Colosseum, and you shouldn’t come to Washington, D.C., without visiting Mount Vernon.”
The restoration was privately funded and focused not only on bringing the mansion back to its original glory but also to stabilize and preserve it for generations to come. Primary tasks included the design and installation of a new heating and cooling system, improving drainage in the cellar, repair work to framing and masonry, and restoring the Washington bedchamber to its 1790s appearance. While the first and second floors have reopened, the cellar is due to reopen this fall.
Restoration work also revealed new discoveries, such as a collection of 35 glass bottles dating back to the 18th century. An ivory-handled silver fork was found in Martha Washington’s closet, likely from the 1760s or 1770s. The closet is adjacent to the Washingtons’ bedchamber, indicating it was used to store previous silver and utensils, furthering understanding of how the Washingtons lived.
“You cannot understand the founding of the United States without understanding George Washington. And you cannot understand George Washington without Mount Vernon,” said Bradburn. “This was his home, the place he cared for most, shaped by his own architectural vision and landscape design. When visitors walk through the Mansion, they step directly into Washington’s world. The more authentically we preserve and restore this site, the better we help the American people understand the man who held our fragile nation together and ensured its new experiment in self-government would endure.”
For more, visit mountvernon.org.
Main Image: Mount Vernon restoration ribbon cutting; Credit: Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association
