While excavating Washington’s cellar during the Mansion Revitalization Project, Mount Vernon’s archaeologists unearthed 35 glass bottles, mostly containing preserved cherries.
As part of Mount Vernon’s three-year Mansion Revitalization Project, archaeologists working in the cellar of the Mansion have unearthed an astounding 35 glass bottles from the 18th century in five storage pits. Of the 35 bottles, 29 are intact and contain perfectly preserved cherries and berries, likely gooseberries or currants. The contents of each bottle have been carefully extracted, are under refrigeration at Mount Vernon, and will undergo scientific analysis. The bottles are slowly drying in the Mount Vernon archaeology lab and will be sent off-site for conservation.
The bottle shapes are characteristic of styles from the 1740s – 1750s and were recovered from five pits where they may have been forgotten. This discovery follows a recent find in the cellar of two intact European-manufactured 18th-century glass bottles containing liquid, cherries, and pits.
Preservation
Mansion Revitalization Project
Mount Vernon has embarked on a landmark preservation project to ensure the Mansion's structural integrity for generations to come.
Washington's Cellar
In George Washington’s time, the cellar was used for a variety of functions, including the storage of supplies and foodstuffs.
Of the 35 bottles, 29 are intact and contain perfectly preserved cherries and berries, likely gooseberries or currants.
Mansion Revitalization Project
In 2023, Mount Vernon launched the Mansion Revitalization Project to ensure the long-term health of George Washington’s home. As is standard before any major construction at Mount Vernon, archaeological investigations have preceded all parts of the project that involve breaking ground.
“Never in our wildest dreams did we imagine this spectacular archaeological discovery,” said Mount Vernon President & CEO Doug Bradburn. “We were ecstatic last month to uncover two fully intact 18th-century bottles containing biological matter. Now we know those bottles were just the beginning of this blockbuster discovery. To our knowledge, this is an unprecedented find, and nothing of this scale and significance has ever been excavated in North America. We now possess a bounty of artifacts and matter to analyze that may provide a powerful glimpse into the origins of our nation, and we are crossing our fingers that the cherry pits discovered will be viable for future germination. It’s so appropriate that these bottles have been unearthed shortly before the 250th anniversary of the United States,” Bradburn said.
“These artifacts likely haven’t seen the light of day since before the American Revolution, perhaps forgotten when George Washington departed Mount Vernon to take command of the Continental Army. This means the bottles are extremely fragile and require the utmost care. The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association was America's first historic preservation organization, so it’s only fitting that such a remarkable discovery was made here at Mount Vernon. We are fortunate to have top archaeologists and historic preservation experts on staff who know how to effectively manage, analyze, and care for this extraordinary discovery.
“This historic discovery comes at the beginning of our transformational $40 million Mansion Revitalization Project to strengthen and restore the home of the nation’s first president so that it will be stronger than ever when we celebrate America’s 250th birthday in 2026. This historic preservation project is Mount Vernon’s birthday gift to America,” Bradburn added.
Mount Vernon Principal Archaeologist Jason Boroughs said, “These extraordinary discoveries continue to astonish us. These perfectly preserved fruits picked and prepared more than 250 years ago provide an incredibly rare opportunity to contribute to our knowledge of the 18th-century environment, plantation foodways, and the origins of American cuisine. The bottles and contents are a testament to the knowledge and skill of the enslaved people who managed the food preparations from tree to table, including Doll, the cook brought to Mount Vernon by Martha Washington in 1759 and charged with oversight of the estate’s kitchen.”
Mount Vernon’s Archaeology team watches with anticipation as project archaeologist Nick Beard removes the first bottle from the ground. (MVLA)
Mount Vernon Principal Archaeologist Jason Boroughs removes soil from one of the 35 glass bottles discovered in Washington's cellar. (MVLA)
Explore a 3D Model of 14 Bottles During Excavation
Drag and zoom to take a closer look.
Model by George Brown / MVLA
"To our knowledge, this is an unprecedented find, and nothing of this scale and significance has ever been excavated in North America ... It’s so appropriate that these bottles have been unearthed shortly before the 250th anniversary of the United States."
- Douglas Bradburn, Mount Vernon President & CEO
The Excavation Process
Watch Mount Vernon's Archaeology team work to excavate 18th-century bottles from George Washington's cellar.
Analyzing the Bottles' Contents
Mount Vernon has partnered with the United States Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to analyze the contents of these historic bottles, composed of materials and foodstuffs that are likely 250 years old. While only a small quantity of the samples have been analyzed to date, the findings are significant even at this early stage:
- 54 cherry pits and 23 stems have been identified thus far, suggesting that the bottles were likely full of cherries before bottling. Cherry pulp is also present.
- Microscopy suggests that the cherries may have been harvested by snipping from trees with shears. The stems were neatly cut and purposefully left attached to the fruit before bottling.
- The cherries likely are of a tart variety, which has a more acidic composition that may have aided in preservation.
- The cherries are likely candidates for DNA extraction, which could be compared against a database of heirloom varieties to determine the precise species.
- The pits are undergoing an examination to determine if any are viable for germination.
(MVLA)
Cherry Bottles
Take an inside look at the excavation of two fascinating bottles in the cellar.
Recipe: Cherry Bounce
Among the few recipes known to have been used by the Washington family is this one for Cherry Bounce, a brandy-based cherry drink popular in the 18th century and known to have been enjoyed by George Washington.
Stay Tuned
As more is learned about this significant discovery, stay in the know by following Mount Vernon on social media and signing up for our preservation email newsletter.
An In-Depth Look
As Mount Vernon's Mansion Revitalization Project proceeds into 2026, take a deep dive into the various aspects of this landmark preservation project.
Learn more