One of the most elaborately finished rooms in the house, the front parlor served as the primary entertaining space in the Mansion for most of the Washingtons’ lives.
The room's origins date back to the initial construction period of the house, thus speaking not only to George Washington's life but also to the broader evolution of the house and estate. Through fine architectural features, artwork, and furnishings, the room was a means by which the Washingtons reinforced their elevated social status as a couple, as well as George Washington’s prominence in the social and political landscape.
Nearly every important politician and dignitary who visited the Washingtons was entertained in this space, from the Marquis de Lafayette to Thomas Jefferson. The space was primarily identified with the lady of the house, and here Martha Washington presided over the tea table and showed off her family through the many portraits that she had commissioned and had hung on the walls.
Restoration Project
The recently completed restoration of the front parlor was inspired by the discovery of new information – an 18th-century document that dramatically changed our understanding of the room’s furnishings.
Objects in the Room
The front parlor and its furnishings are a complex compilation of objects that evolved over more than forty years of the Washingtons’ marriage.
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Form and Function
The architecture of a room, particularly its form and finishes, can provide a great deal of information about the function of the space within a building.
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History of the Front Parlor
George and Martha Washington spent much of their time in this lavish room. It was a site of formal entertainment, featuring fine furnishings and architectural elements, as well as the Washingtons' portraiture collection.
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Changes through Time
Since the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association purchased Mount Vernon, the organization has worked to restore each room to how it was during Washington's life. Over the years, a number of changes have occurred in the front parlor.
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Expansion of Mount Vernon's Mansion
The front parlor was part of the original house built for Washington’s father, Augustine Washington in the 1730s.