The cornerstones for the Ford Orientation Center and the Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center are composed of Virginia Aquia sandstone that was removed from the White House during a major renovation of the building dating back to the administration of President Harry Truman.  Between 1949 and 1952 the entire interior of the White House was gutted and a new building was constructed within the old walls. 

As much of the original building materials were salvaged as was feasible, including 95,000 bricks and several tons of stone that was donated to Mount Vernon.  The White House materials are a perfect match with those that had been used by George Washington in constructing the many buildings at Mount Vernon.  In 1950-51 most of the brick and some of the stone were used in reconstructing Washington’s greenhouse, built in 1784-87 and destroyed by fire in 1835.  Over the years, many of the remaining pieces of White House stone have been used to make repairs to the Mansion piazza and steps.

Based on surviving 18th-century inscriptions, the design of the 2006 date was inscribed by Patrick Sanders of Corinthian Stoneworks & Design in Glenn Dale, Maryland. 

Mr. Sanders has over 20 years of experience carving and designing architectural and art stone pieces.  His notable projects include creating stone pieces for the completion of the Washington National Cathedral, supplying finished cut stone for the restoration of the East Wing steps of the White House and portions of the Washington Monument’s recent restorations, replacing carvings of a church damaged by the Oklahoma City bombing, and restoring the front entry staircase of the Gadsby’s Tavern in Alexandria.

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For more information please contact Emily Coleman Dibella at 703-799-8607 or edibella@mountvernon.org.