Mount Vernon: Margaret Kuhn 703-799-5203 or

Duron: Marcy Quill 301-902-3366

Alexandria, VA – September 30, 2003 -- For the first time in its 150-year history, the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association has granted the exclusive rights to manufacture paint in the historic colors of Mount Vernon to Duron Paints, one of the nation’s largest architectural paint manufacturers.

The move by the Association comes after an important period of restoration and discovery. In the 1980s, the Association commissioned a scientific study of the centuries- old paint that covers the mansion’s interior. In some rooms, experts had to work their way through up to 26 layers of paint to reach the original hues selected by Washington.

“Our scientific discoveries, in combination with what we know from George Washington’s many diaries and letters, reveal a more colorful and vibrant Mount Vernon than we imagined,” said Dennis Pogue, Associate Director for Preservation “Though our search for authenticity is never-ending, we believe now we can offer the public the opportunity to purchase authentic Mount Vernon estate colors for their own homes.”

The palette named Estate of Colours™ includes nearly 30 colors exactly as they appear in the mansion and 90 more inspired by the 500-acre plantation and period artifacts.

“Duron is privileged to hold this exclusive licensing agreement to create the Estate of Colours™ palette for the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association,” said Gary Saiter, Duron’s director of marketing and e-commerce. “We’ve been in business for more than 50 years near Mount Vernon, and have been involved in many historic projects, including manufacturing paint especially for the White House.”

The licensing agreement calls for Duron to produce the historic collection under the Mount Vernon label for sale in select company-owned Duron Paints & Wallcoverings stores and independent dealer outlets in the mid-Atlantic region. Distribution of

Estate of Colours™ paint is scheduled for the fall of 2003. Duron joins other prestigious Mount Vernon licensees including Hickory Chair Company, Wildwood Lamps, Brunschwig & Fils and York Wallcoverings, to name a few.

Based in Beltsville, Maryland, Duron manufactures architectural and light industrial coatings and sells paints, sundries and wallcoverings at more than 250 Duron Paints & Wallcoverings stores, service centers and 160 authorized Duron Paints distributors, east of the Mississippi.

The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, the oldest national historic preservation organization in the United States, has continuously owned and operated Mount Vernon since 1858. It is under the trusteeship of the Association that Mount Vernon has been authentically restored to its original appearance.

For more information on the Estate of Colours™ collection, visit www.duron.com and click on Estate of Colours™.