Shaping Stone Blocks

As part of Mount Vernon’s ongoing Mansion Revitalization Project, masons from Dominion Traditional Builders are helping to restore the cellar’s passage walls. Their work is a vital step in preserving George Washington’s home and ensuring that future generations can experience the Mansion as closely as possible to how it appeared in Washington’s time.

Preservation

Mansion Revitalization Project

Mount Vernon has embarked on a landmark preservation project to ensure the Mansion's structural integrity for generations to come.

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Sandstone blocks are delivered to Mount Vernon, ready to be shaped and then installed in the Mansion’s cellar. (MVLA)

A key aspect of this restoration effort involves shaping new stone blocks to replace several eroded original stones along the cellar passage wall. Over many years, humidity in the cellar has damaged some original materials, particularly soft Aquia sandstone blocks used in the original foundations.

Before beginning stone restoration, the Preservation team conducted masonry probes to understand the extent of deterioration within the cellar. This allowed the team to determine whether particular stones required replacement or if a stone veneer was a viable restoration option.

For stones that required replacement, masons carefully selected and shaped stones to blend seamlessly with the existing structure, ensuring historical integrity is maintained.

Over the years, fluctuations in humidity levels within the cellar have damaged the original sandstone walls. Evidence of that deterioration can be seen in the accumulation of sand at the base of the wall. (MVLA)

Masons are shaping stones to restore several eroded walls in the cellar's passage. One such wall is visible on the left of this image. (MVLA)

The work being done on the cellar passage walls not only preserves the Mansion’s aesthetic but also enhances its structural stability. For Mount Vernon, these tasks are essential components of a larger mission: protecting the home of America’s first president for generations to come.