Mount Vernon through Time

Arrangements for the first restoration efforts in 1859 were halted by the nation’s political climate. From 1861 to 1865, the American Civil War raged near and around Mount Vernon. However, the estate remained open to visitors. 

On April 6, 1917, the United States officially declared war on Germany and entered World War I, which had been raging across the Atlantic Ocean since the summer of 1914. The war was felt across the country, including at George Washington’s Mount Vernon.

The MVLA was at the forefront of an explosion of all-female organizations in the 19th century. Women’s groups promoting issues such as abolition, temperance, child welfare, and historic preservation gave members an intellectual outlet, leadership experience, and increasingly public roles in society. Yet these women lacked one powerful tool—the right to vote.

World War II had a significant impact on Mount Vernon. Although the bombing of Washington's home was deemed "a very remote possibility", the MVLA hired additional guards and constructed a subterranean storage structure for the most important artifacts in the collection.

During Washington's life, he used Mount Vernon as a neutral site to help Virginia and Maryland discuss their common waterways. In the many decades since, presidents have hosted national and international events at Mount Vernon.

Fortunately, the founding Ladies of the MVLA had the foresight to save, store, and organize their own institutional documents, along with Washington’s, and set a precedent for future generations.

Sarah Johnson returned to Mount Vernon to work for the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association. During her long employment with the MVLA, she earned the high respect of many Vice Regents and fellow employees. Mary Carver Leiter, Vice Regent of Illinois (1885–1913), purchased the wedding dress for Johnson’s marriage to William Robinson in 1888.

One of the most perplexing issues regarding historic preservation is whether or not to install modern utility systems. After much discussion, the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association allowed Thomas Edison's firm to "electrify" the Mansion.

While touring Mount Vernon, Henry Ford was surprised and disappointed to discover that the estate was ill-prepared to fight its greatest enemy: fire. When he returned home, he directed his staff to send Mount Vernon its first fire engine.

Fire protection and prevention has been a major focus of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association since the organization took possession of George Washington’s estate in 1860.

Mount Vernon's ephemera collection contains items such as printed invitations, children’s books, and advertisements that call to mind Washington’s lasting influence on pop culture and society.

Since George Washington's death in 1799, there have been stories of mysterious activities and spectral sightings at Mount Vernon. Some are so old, that they too are historic.

George Washington's Mount Vernon worked with Mark Hersch to produce a set of photos that meld historic images from our collection with modern images taken from the same vantage point.

The Mount Vernon estate is a featured location in National Treasure: Book of Secrets, a blockbuster, action-adventure film released by Disney.

The east lawn of George Washington's home was transformed into a Hollywood set for a day in July 1994. The Pelican Brief, based on the best-selling John Grisham novel, features scenes filmed at Mount Vernon.