Curator's Choice Gift Guide

For the first time, every one of Washington's known swords is presented in brilliant color with the story of each weapon told in vivid detail from the colonial era to the present day. 268 photographs, works of art and historical images provide a rare and intimate portrait of these powerful symbols of early American leadership.

By Erik Goldstein, Stuart C. Mowbray, and Brian Hendelson. ISBN: 978-1-931464-71-0. Copyright 2016. Hardcover with 112 oversized glossy pages including dictionary, selected bibliography, and scores of color and black and white images. 

$49.99

This handmade ornament is one of the unique products of St. Nicolas, a British company which has worked with a small Christian charity in Thailand and India for 25 years helping disadvantaged rural women work in their own community by sewing decorations at home. The ornament echoes Emanuel Leutze's iconic painting of George Washington crossing across the Delaware River on December 25, 1776 for a surprise attack on the enemy troops at Trenton.

Gold colored embroidery accents Washington's blue and gold commander-in-chief uniform and red cape. The ornament, with gold hanging thread, is approximately 5 ¼" x 4".

$16.95

This necktie design is inspired by the shell-patterned needlepoint cushions that Martha Washington carefully cross-stitched over a period of 36 years. Six of these cushions are in Mount Vernon's collection.

This 100% silk tie has golden shells on a medium blue background. Tie is 3 1/2" wide.

On Sale: $29.99

This charming necklace is a modern interpretation of one of Lady Washington's garnet necklaces, which is a part of the Mount Vernon Collection. The original necklace was purchased in 1759 and contains semi-precious stones, ranging in color from deep pinks to purplish-reds. Mrs. Washington's fondness for garnets is evident from the number of necklaces, earrings, pins, hair ornaments, and rings she assembled for herself and her daughter, Patsy. Properly faceted and set, garnets out-sparkled even more costly precious gems such as diamonds.

The modern interpretation of Martha Washington's necklace is made with 5-6mm garnet-colored crystal squares set in brass connectors. The garnet-colored glass clusters are handmade with 24K gold clay and the box clasp is gold filled. The necklace measures approximately 16". Handmade exclusively for Mount Vernon by a Virginia artisan. Made in the USA.

$185.00

George Washington's reputation as an avid farmer was well known. Foreign governments, friend admirers, even strangers supplied him with a steady stream of seeds, slips, bulbs, and cuttings from all over the world. William Washington, a relative living in South Carolina, sent southern magnolia that adapted beautifully to Mount Vernon.

Rosy purple magnolia blossoms resembling those of the Chinese Magnolia, cherry blossoms, and a sprig show all around the mug. The fine porcelain mug is approximately 4" tall and 3" in diameter at the slightly flared lip.
Hand decorated in Virginia.

$12.95

George Washington, America's first spymaster, considered the accumulation of secret intelligence one of the most important weapons in winning the war. In his term as Washington's Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson devised a cylindrical cypher wheel, an ingenious and secure method to encode and decode messages.

Mount Vernon's all wood version of the secret decoder wheel features 12 cylinders which can relay a 12 letter message. Instructions included.

Cypher wheel is approximately 6" x 2 ½". For ages 5 and up, but not recommended for children under 3.

$22.95

The Mount Vernon estate, which totaled nearly 8,000 acres at its completion, was divided into five farms named Mansion, River, Muddy Hole, Dogue, and Union.

Using the finest archival materials available today, the 18th-century map of George Washington's Five Farms has been carefully reproduced on canvas and hand-mounted on wood stretchers in gallery-wrap style. The 9" x 12", ready-to-hang print will resist fading for 100 years. Made in the USA.

$25.95