A Fashionable Blue and White Bed
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
The focal point of the newly-refurnished Blue Room will be a bedstead draped in blue-printed cotton, based on the documentary references to a bed the Washingtons acquired in 1759 that was likely representative of the bed in the Blue Room. While the original bed and hangings no longer survive, the original descriptions of them provide sufficient ...
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Revolutionary War Reenacting
Wednesday, July 05, 2017
For the last three years, we have hosted hundreds of reenactors for Revolutionary War Weekend. This year, one of our staff members adorned 18th-century clothing and immersed himself in the reenactor's experience. Our staff member camped with the First Virginia Regiment, who gave insight into their military equipment and why they enjoy reenacting...
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High Fashion for the Blue Room: French Wallpaper
Wednesday, July 05, 2017
The wallpaper applied to the walls in the Blue Room was painstakingly researched and selected by the curatorial team. Three key considerations guided the team’s choice of reproduction wallpaper: date, country of origin, and color. In order to best represent the Washingtons’ choice for this space, we considered the evidence for each factor. Unfor...
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New in the Mansion's Little Parlor
Friday, June 30, 2017
In the 1790s, while in New York and Philadelphia with her grandparents, Eleanor (Nelly) Park Custis received an exceptional education that included drawing lessons with British landscape artist William Groombridge. Throughout her life, she continued to paint and Mount Vernon has several reproductions of Nelly's original watercolors. In the Litt...
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Fireworks in the 18th Century
Thursday, June 29, 2017
In the 18th century, the Washingtons watched fireworks on several occasions throughout their lives, often to celebrate a historic moment. On the evening of George Washington's first inauguration in 1789, for example, the skies in New York City were filled with fireworks. Boston merchant John May reported that the fireworks “on the bowling gree...
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Paint and Wallpaper Application
Thursday, June 22, 2017
Once the Architecture team completed the repair work in the Blue Room, the decorative wall and woodwork finishes could be applied. The most dramatic transformation of the restoration was the application of the period-appropriate wallpaper and paint. All of the woodwork in the room was first primed with shellac—a technique used during the 18th ce...
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Unseen Collections Revealed!
Thursday, June 22, 2017
We recently launched a new vlog series to show a side of Mount Vernon rarely seen by the public. The first episode explores Mount Vernon's hidden treasures with our collections team. The collections staff oversees the 10,000 objects in the fine and decorative arts collection. The items in the collection that aren't on display in the Mansion or m...
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Traditional 18th Century Sheep Shearing
Tuesday, June 20, 2017
Sheep were an important commodity to George Washington at Mount Vernon, and our livestock team keeps the history alive of their role to this day. They raise and breed Hog Island sheep, a breed similar to those Washington kept. Wool keeps sheep warm during the winter, but it was sheared to make clothes and blankets in the colonies. Today, Mount ...
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How to Make 18th-Century "Common Patties"
Tuesday, June 13, 2017
"Common Patties" were a meat pastry commonly eaten in colonial America. Learn how to make them at home!INGREDIENTSGround beef or veal2 slices of baconPastry dough1 bunch Parsley1 bunch ThymeSalt to tastePepper to tasteGrated nutmeg to tasteDIRECTIONS1. Take some ground meat (veal, beef etc.) and some boiled ham or bacon chopped very fine, season...
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5 Father's Day Gifts You Can Only Find at Mount Vernon
Tuesday, June 06, 2017
Having a hard time finding a gift for dad? Here are some unique gift ideas you can find at the Shops at Mount Vernon.
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Preservation
Mansion Revitalization Project
Mount Vernon has embarked on a landmark preservation project to ensure the Mansion's structural integrity for generations to come.