Mount Vernon Ladies Association Of The Union

TO PRESERVE, RESTORE, AND MANAGE THE ESTATE OF GEORGE WASHINGTON AND EDUCATE VISTORS ABOUT HIS LIFE.

EDUCATION:DURING A TUMULTUOUS YEAR FOR EDUCATION NATIONWIDE, MOUNT VERNON PROVIDED STEADY SUPPORT FOR STRONG AND RENEWED CIVIC EDUCATION INITIATIVES TO ENSURE GEORGE WASHINGTON WAS A PART OF CIVIL DISCUSSIONS IN CLASSROOMS EVERYWHERE. WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HELP TEACHERS AND SCHOLARS USE HISTORY AND THE LEGACY OF GEORGE WASHINGTON TO MAKE SENSE OF THE CIVIC LANDSCAPE THEY NAVIGATE WITH THEIR STUDENTS AND WITH THE PUBLIC.AFTER A QUICK PIVOT IN 2020 TO SUPPORT VIRTUAL CLASSROOMS, OUR DIGITAL DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAM AND RESOURCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE BE WASHINGTON INTERACTIVE GAME CONTINUE TO GROW IN POPULARITY AND RELEVANCE TO CIVICS AND HISTORY CLASSROOMS. THE WHISKEY REBELLION SCENARIO REMAINS OUR MOST POPULAR, ONE EASILY ADAPTED TO CIVIC DISCUSSIONS IN THE CLASSROOM AS IT DEFTLY (WITH HISTORICAL CONTEXT) INTRODUCES THE CAREFUL BALANCE THAT MUST BE STRUCK BETWEEN NATIONAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS TO ACHIEVE THE ARTFUL BALANCE OF FEDERALISM. WE INTRODUCED A NEW ORIENTATION FILM THAT OUTLINES THE BREADTH OF OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE DURING A VISIT TO MOUNT VERNON. THIS NINE-MINUTE FILM PLAYS ON A CONTINUOUS LOOP TO ENSURE VISITORS LEAVE WITH THE CONFIDENCE TO EXPLORE OUR EXPANSIVE GROUNDS ON THEIR OWN. THE FILM INTRODUCES VIEWERS TO ACTIVITIES ON THE FARM AND WHARF, THE UNIQUE NATURE OF OUR GARDENS, AND THE MULTITUDE OF STORIES TOLD IN THE MUSEUM. WE ALSO ADDED A FREE AUDIO TOUR WITH ADMISSION, WHICH INCLUDES HOURS OF CONTENT, ON HANDHELD DEVICES THAT IS UPDATED WITH SEASONAL CONTENT. AUDIO TOUR CONTENT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON MOUNT VERNON'S MOBILE WEBSITE, WHICH HAS BUILT-IN ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES, LIKE TEXT TRANSCRIPTION FOR EACH STOP, ENSURING GREATER ACCESS TO LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERY USER.WE WORKED WITH THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA ON THE VIRGINIA DECLARATION OF LEARNING INITIATIVE, SERVING AS THE LEAD INSTITUTION AND HOSTING SITE IN 2021. MOUNT VERNON USED ITS REMARKABLE MATERIAL CULTURE COLLECTION AS A TOOL FOR INSTRUCTING CIVICS ALONGSIDE PARTNER INSTITUTIONS TO MERGE THE BEST OF OUR TRADITIONAL TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM WITH AN INTERDISCIPLINARY APPROACH ACROSS THE STATE WITH LIBRARIANS, ART TEACHERS, AND HISTORY EDUCATORS. OUR WORK WAS NOT LIMITED TO THE LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD. WE RETOOLED OUR TEACHER FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM TO CENTER THE TEACHER-CREATED MATERIALS ON GEORGE WASHINGTON'S CIVIC CONTRIBUTIONS. EACH OF THE NINE LESSONS CO-CREATED BY THESE FIVE FELLOWS ELEVATED THE LEADERSHIP CONTRIBUTIONS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON, WITH INSPIRATION FOR STUDENTS TO ENGAGE IN THE COMPLEXITIES OF OUR NATION'S HISTORY. TOPICS INCLUDED FORMING THE CABINET, WASHINGTON'S CHARACTER STRENGTHS AND HIS DECISION TO BECOME A PATRIOT, MEMORIALIZING WASHINGTON, NATIVE AMERICAN POLICY, WASHINGTON AS A SLAVE OWNER, AND THE LEGACY OF THE MOUNT VERNON LADIES' ASSOCIATION.

HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND COLLECTIONS:IN 2021, THE ARCHITECTURE TEAM COMPLETED PAINT REMOVAL, REPAIRS, DOCUMENTATION, PAINTING, AND SAND-CASTING OF THE MANSION'S NORTH AND SOUTH ENDSTHE SECOND PHASE OF A THREE-PHASE PROJECT. ON BOTH ENDS, THE TEAM FOUND SAMPLES OF ORIGINAL PAINT, FURTHER CORROBORATING THE STONE COLOR OF THE ORIGINAL EXTERIOR. IN ADDITION, THE SOUTH END RESTORATION REVEALED EVIDENCE THAT THE TWO WINDOWS OF THE WASHINGTONS' BEDCHAMBER HAD BEEN RAISED SLIGHTLY WHEN BUSHROD WASHINGTON ADDED A TWO-STORY PORCH IN THE EARLY 19TH CENTURY; THESE WERE CAREFULLY RESTORED AND RETURNED TO THEIR ORIGINAL LOCATIONS, COMPLETE WITH PRECISE REPRODUCTIONS OF THE ORIGINAL WOODEN SASH PULLIES. THE ASSOCIATION WAS AFFORDED AN EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF GEORGE AND MARTHA WASHINGTON OWNED OBJECTS REMAINING IN PRIVATE HANDS. AT A TRYING MOMENT, MANY OF MOUNT VERNON'S CLOSEST FRIENDS RALLIED TOGETHER TO SECURE THIS LANDMARK ACQUISITION. NEARLY 100 OBJECTS IN THIS COLLECTION REPRESENT A REMARKABLE ARRAY OF TREASURED POSSESSIONS, FROM JEWELRY AND CLOTHING TO PRESIDENTIAL PORCELAINS AND FRAGILE GLASSWARE. THE ASSEMBLAGE COMES TO MOUNT VERNON WITH IMPECCABLE PROVENANCE, DESCENDING TO THE SELLER THROUGH THE PETER FAMILY OF TUDOR PLACE IN GEORGETOWN. MARTHA PARKE CUSTIS PETER, MARTHA WASHINGTON'S GRANDDAUGHTER, AND HER HUSBAND, THOMAS PETER, ACQUIRED MOST OF THE OBJECTS EITHER AS GIFTS FROM THE WASHINGTONS OR AT A SERIES OF SALES AFTER MRS. WASHINGTON'S DEATH.MOUNT VERNON ACQUIRED A GROUND PENETRATING RADAR UNIT (GPR), A DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY THAT ALLOWS ARCHAEOLOGISTS TO "SEE" SUB-SURFACE FEATURES WITHOUT DISTURBING THEM. INITIAL GPR SURVEYS HAVE REVEALED A WEALTH OF NEW INFORMATION ABOUT THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPEINCLUDING AN EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF DRAINS THAT CONVEYED RAINWATER FROM THE MANSION DOWNSPOUTS TO THE DUNG REPOSITORY, INGENIOUSLY SUPPORTING THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOST. NOTABLE FINDINGS OF IN-GROUND SURVEYS INCLUDE A 1775 GEORGE III HALF-PENNY AND A FRAGMENTARY 1713 JOHN CUSTIS WINE SEALPRESUMABLY FROM A BOTTLE BROUGHT HERE BY MARTHA DANDRIDGE CUSTIS WHEN SHE ARRIVED AS A BRIDE IN 1759.