Architecture

The Architecture team, consisting of historians, conservators, preservation specialists, and carpenters, leads the investigation and restoration of the estate’s physical fabric including the historic buildings and structures across the estate.

The team analyzes documentary and physical evidence in tandem. The goal is to represent the architectural landscape at George Washington's estate consistent with its 1799 appearance, conserving and protecting existing 18th-century architectural elements, and creating a thorough archival record for future generations. As each project progresses, theories and documentation are continually revised to reflect the ongoing synthesis of evidence. The team also either executes the hands-on preservation or restoration work or oversees the execution of work done by contracted specialists.

Preservation

Preservation in Action

Mount Vernon is one of the best-documented examples of an estate from early America.

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Mansion Exterior Restoration

For Mount Vernon's preservation staff to restore the west front of the Mansion scaffolding was erected. During the project, up to 28 layers of paint and sand were removed and all of the architectural elements were accessed and conserved. Once repairs were completed, the siding was repainted and sanded.

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Paint Analysis

All of the rooms in the Mansion have been painted over and over since Washington's life. So, how do we know what color to paint each room?

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Washington's Red Roof

One of the most recognizable features at Mount Vernon is the iconic red roof of the Mansion, but the shingles were not always red.

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Expansion of Mount Vernon's Mansion

In 1754, George Washington began residing at Mount Vernon, a 3,000-acre estate and a house that approximated 3,500 square feet. By his death, Washington’s Mount Vernon consisted of about 7,600 acres and a nearly 11,000-square-foot Mansion.

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Historic Structures of Mount Vernon

There are four different types of standing historic structures under the care of Mount Vernon's Architectural Preservation staff. Each helps tell the story of life at Mount Vernon.

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Dispatches from Dodge

Over the years, the Preservation team has found several hidden messages throughout the Mansion from Mount Vernon’s longest-serving superintendent, Harrison Howell Dodge.

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