Please note: Photography is prohibited in the Leader's Smile Gallery of the Education Center.
The Mars Family and Foundation Gallery
Reconstructing George Washington
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| The Entrance to the Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center |
As visitors enter the Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center lobby, they face a decision point. To the right is the entrance of the Museum, fronted by the Houdon bust of Washington made in 1785. The Education Center is on the left, fronted by an eight-foot-high concave sculpture of Washington.
White alabaster in appearance, the sculpture is lit with special effects to make the head appear to be a normal, convex, three-dimensional object, protruding outward. Washington’s gaze appears to follow visitors as they pass by.
If the Houdon bust is the literal Washington preserved forever in unyielding terra cotta, the larger-than-life head symbolizes the intangible Washington, intriguing and alive.
Visitors walk around the sculpture to enter the first gallery; a “forensic lab” reminiscent of the popular television program “CSI,” with vials, books, pictures, facsimiles of various rejected castings of body parts, pin-up boards, stainless steel work surfaces, resilient tile flooring, etc.
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| The "Forensic Lab" |
- The scientist’s computer screen displays one stage of the forensic process morphing into the next.
- A video screen hangs from the ceiling showing the “Forensic Reconstruction of George Washington,” a History Channel film describing the scientific process undertaken to create the forensically correct George Washington figures.
The Mary Morton Parsons Foundation Gallery
Young Virginian
The first stop in the journey through George Washington’s life is the Young Virginian Gallery, where a series of multimedia exhibits and artifacts offer glimpses into Washington’s childhood, family, and early ambitions and hardships. An animated George Washington moving along a timeline of significant events from his early years is projected on a wall.
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| A highlight of the gallery is a life-size wax figure of George Washington at 19 years of age. |
This gallery showcases the first life-size model of Washington and depicts him as a 19-year-old surveyor among three dimensional trees. Forest sounds and moving animals set the stage for 18th-century western Virginia, where visitors see Washington’s original surveying tools and learn how to conduct a survey themselves.
- Display case with Washington family artifacts: Washington Family Bible (flyleaf record of George’s and other family members’ births), Christening Goblet (said to have been used at George’s christening).
- Silhouette of Washington’s childhood home which burned down when he was ten years old.
- Replica period writing table with an interactive “Rules of Civility” canvas flip book.
- The surveyor deck is fronted by a railing with interactive elements on how to conduct a survey.
- Display case containing period survey tools including a compass owned by Washington and one of his surveys, pins, chains, tripod, drafting instruments.
The Richard King Mellon Foundation Gallery
Upstart Colonial Officer
Whereas the forest of the Young Virginian Gallery is pleasant and bright, the light in this gallery changes dramatically to create the impression of the dark and foreboding wilderness Washington faced during the French and Indian War. This gallery illuminates Washington’s entrance onto the world stage.
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| Fort Necessity and the French and Indian War |
The Mary Hillman Jennings Foundation Gallery
Gentleman Planter/Revolutionary
As visitors exit the previous gallery they encounter a painting of George Washington as architect of Mount Vernon. The focus of the gallery is Washington’s domestic life including his marriage to Martha Dandridge Custis, the role of religion, and his term in the Virginia House of Burgesses.
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| The Revolutionary Gallery examines how Washington reacted to taxes imposed by Great Britain. |
A reproduction of Martha Washington’s wedding dress and shoes are on display along with a selection of her jewelry.
- A reproduction of the Washington family box pew from Pohick Church serves as seating for visitors as they watch a History Channel film about the role religion played in Washington’s life. Religious artifacts such as Washington’s Bible are on display.
- Objects from Washington’s term in the House of Burgesses and his membership in the Freemasons as well as interactive displays relating to how Washington and his fellow colonists reacted to taxes imposed by Great Britain serve to lay the groundwork for the inevitable Revolutionary War. The gallery transitions to the examination of how Washington and other colonists reacted to the restrictive colonial policies of Great Britain. Visitors pass through a British flag emblazoned with the word, “Enough!”
- Interactive area with hands-on reproductions of taxed goods such as teapots, sugar cones, powder kegs, and bolts of fabric.
- A liberty pole is foreground to images of discontent that led to the Revolution; the tax man being tarred and feathered, for example.
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| Melody Sawyer Richardson Theater |
Melody Sawyer Richardson Theater
A 40-Year Romance
Visitors enter what appears to be a tastefully decorated sitting room or parlor with a fireplace, portraits, and Windsor chairs set up in rows. It is actually a theater which shows a History Channel film highlighting the courtship and marriage of the Washingtons along with major events during their 40-year romance, as told from Martha Washington’s perspective and narrated by Tony award winning actress Glenn Close.
The Gordon V. and Helen C. Smith Foundation Gallery
First in War
Upon entering the gallery, visitors immediately become aware of the tremendous challenges that the newly-appointed Commander-in-Chief faced in leading his ragtag citizen army. Visitors peering through cut-out American soldiers are confronted by the overwhelming force of the British Army.
- A reconstructed hut depicts the life of a soldier at Valley Forge. Visitors see the form of a soldier lying on a cot and hear his moans. A History Channel video of Von Steuben drilling his troops is displayed on a continuous loop in the window of the hut.
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| George Washington at Valley Forge |
An interactive railing in front of the hut invites visitors to push buttons to highlight objects that relate to the challenges Washington faced as Commander-in-Chief.
- The second forensic figure of George Washington is portrayed astride his horse, Blueskin, while addressing his troops at Valley Forge.
- Map of the major battles of the Revolutionary War. Visitors press different buttons to see British victories, American victories, battles Washington fought in, etc.
- Exhibit area along the two converging walls in the north end of the gallery. The exhibit features a variety of Revolutionary War era weapons: American Colonial, French, Spanish, Hessian, Indian, and British. The display is arranged so that the weapons belonging to opposing sides of the war are facing each other, emphasizing the drama and global nature of the conflict.
- Façade of 18th-century tavern. A History Channel video on Washington and his innovative use of spies and espionage during the Revolution is shown in the tavern doorway. During certain times of the year, a docent will demonstrate Washington’s espionage techniques.
- Display case featuring several objects related to the Marquis de Lafayette and the French contribution: a carving of the Bastille made from a stone from the French prison, salt server and salver procured by Lafayette and purchased by Washington.
Elizabeth and David Bruce Smith Theater
General Washington, Commander-in-Chief
Destined to be a highlight of the Education Center, the Revolutionary War Theater presents a fast-paced depiction of three military engagements: Boston, Trenton, and Yorktown. Representing the progression of the War, this immersive experience uses a combination of concise narration, changing battle maps, and visual effects to create a “strategy and tactics” show which evokes a visceral feeling of real conditions and events. For example, when the audience hears a cannon fire their seats rumble, and smoke drifts through the theater. While the troops cross the Delaware River, snow falls from overhead and dissipates just before landing on visitors.
Douglas and Eleanor Seaman Gallery
Citizen Soldier
After watching Washington’s war campaign in the Revolutionary War Theater, visitors exit into a classically-styled gallery entitled Citizen Soldier. Visitors see a full-size figure of “King Washington” that transforms via Pepper’s Ghost technology into the figure of Washington as a farmer and private citizen, communicating the message that Washington, unlike other historic military figures pictured nearby in the gallery, admirably stepped away from power and returned to private life after successfully leading a revolution.
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States Gallery
Visionary Entrepreneur
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| Model of George Washington's Gristmill |
Exiting from Citizen Soldier visitors see a large mural of Mount Vernon and once again, after the war, follow Washington home to learn about his life as a landowner, experimental farmer, and businessman. “New” creations, such as a Rotherham plow (represented by a reproduction), the development of the mule, and the concept of crop rotation show Washington’s agrarian pursuits.
- A scale model of the gristmill Washington built on his property includes interactive technology that allows visitors to push buttons to animate the milling process inside the model.
- An 18th-century still used to distill whiskey is on loan from Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History, Behring Center.
- Display case with Washington’s ledger/farm book.
- Visitors can smell and touch milled flour, and smell whiskey and a barrel of fish.
- Exhibit backdrop of underwater tableau: cutaway view of fish-harvesting on the Potomac. A hull of a wooden boat with two slave figures shown reaching into the water to pull up herring caught in the netting.
- A model of the canal around Great Falls illustrates Washington’s belief that the future of the nation rested on the ability to connect the East Coast with the western frontier.
- A brief History Channel video depicts how a lock system operates.
J. Hap and Geren Fauth Gallery
The Dilemma of Slavery
Opposite the Visionary Entrepreneur, visitors see another gallery threshold; this one is more humble and less welcoming. As visitors enter the gallery, they hear an audio poem of individual slaves’ names and the tasks they carried out at Mount Vernon.
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| A History Channel segment focuses on Washington and slavery. |
Portraits of three slaves accompanied by interpretive text introduce visitors to the personal stories of some of the enslaved people who worked at Mount Vernon.
- A display case of tools used by Mount Vernon slaves includes: A-level, axe, barrel strap, clippers, chisel, cobbler’s hammer, etc. (specific objects associated with known slaves at Mount Vernon).
- History Channel video focuses on Washington and slavery. Film will feature Mount Vernon slave descendants and scholars. An interactive rail allows visitors to select questions and hear responses from both scholars’ and descendents’ perspectives. The questions available for selection are: Was George Washington good to his slaves? What was it like to be a slave at Mount Vernon? Why did George Washington wait until after his death to free his slaves?
- The back wall is covered by a large image by J. B. Stearns depicting Washington and his slaves.
- The evolution of Washington’s views on slavery is illustrated by a timeline that reveals his increasing awareness that slavery was incompatible with the ideals of the republic.
- A table containing the rations given to slaves at Mount Vernon -- a year’s supply of clothing and a day’s ration of food – is an interactive component of this gallery.
Donald and Nancy de Laski Gallery
A Leader’s Smile
Entering the gallery, visitors are immediately drawn to the extraordinarily personal and evocative artifact at its center -- George Washington’s dentures.
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| George Washington's dentures. |
- An oversized image of Washington by Gilbert Stuart marks the entrance to this gallery. One of Washington’s best-known portraits, it portrays the apparent discomfort of his mouth and helped propel the legend of his wooden teeth to fame. A faint outline graphically imposed around Washington’s mouth draws the visitors’ attention to the leader’s uncomfortable smile.
- Central cylindrical glass display case containing Washington’s dentures, mounted to allow viewing from all sides.
- Stretching across the circular walls of the gallery, a timeline details Washington’s dental agonies from the loss of his first two teeth during his French and Indian War days to his last set of dentures in 1798. Circling the gallery to explore this painful history, visitors will get an understanding of the harshness of Washington’s time and the constant pain that underscored every event in his life.
- A display case inset into the wall along the timeline shows the cleaning implements Washington used in vain to try to save his teeth.
- A History Channel video describes the process of making Washington’s dentures.
The Charlotte and Walter Kohler Charitable Trust Gallery
Indispensable American
As visitors enter this gallery space they pass under an archway consisting of large three-dimensional cutouts of the 13 original states. The states appear to be leaping out of an oversized graphic image of the Articles of Confederation which is failing to hold the states together. On computer monitors near a painting of Washington presiding over the Constitutional Convention, visitors can “touch” participants at the Convention to learn more about the individuals who shaped the Constitution and the issues and areas of contention surrounding this monumental document.
The Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation Gallery
The People’s President
Next, visitors approach the first inauguration. They see the third and final forensically correct cast figure of Washington in 1789 at the age of 57, standing on a replica of the Federal Hall balcony, taking the oath of office.
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| Washington is sworn in as the first President of the United States of America. |
- Visitors have a chance to “step into Washington’s shoes” by taking the oath of office with him. Visitors place their hands on a reproduction of the Bible upon which Washington took the oath of office. Following prompts they recite the Presidential oath of office. Upon completion, visitors lift their hand and hear the roar of crowds cheering.
- Current political cartoonists were enlisted to draw cartoons about major issues during the Washington’s presidency, including Indian affairs, Whiskey Rebellion, National Bank, Pomp and Circumstance, and Jay Treaty.
- Interactive cabinet about Washington’s Presidential Cabinet. Visitors open the doors of the cabinet to learn more about the four members of Washington’s Cabinet (Secretary of War – Henry Knox, Secretary of State – Thomas Jefferson, Attorney General – Edmund Randolph, Secretary of Treasury – Alexander Hamilton).
- Two History Channel videos are in this gallery. The first highlights the precedents Washington set as First President of the United States. The second is a montage of senators reading Washington’s Farewell Address.
- Touchable relief model shows the heart of modern day Washington, D.C. On the railing in front of the model is a graphic of L’Enfant’s original plan. On the back wall, a satellite photograph and a bird’s-eye view photograph of modern day Washington, D.C. are displayed. Exhibit is meant to show that Washington’s vision for the capital city has been realized in modern times.
Richard and Adelia Simplot Gallery
Private Citizen
The mood is somber and reverential in this gallery which details Washington’s final hours. Visitors see 18th-century medical devices similar to those that were used on Washington during his quick and fatal illness. An early-American bier and reproduction of Washington’s coffin are surrounded by display cases with objects that commemorate Washington’s life and death. Martha Washington, who in her grief sought refuge in a garret chamber on the third floor of the Mansion, is shown burning their letters in an effort to keep their correspondence private.
- A timeline of the hours between the onset of Washington’s illness and his untimely death includes an inset case containing period pieces representing the medical treatments performed on Washington in attempts to save his life: teacup and saucer, lancet, ointment pot, blood-letting bowl, and medicine chest.
- Recreation of the bedroom into which Martha Washington retreated upon the death of her husband (Garrett chamber). The room evokes the grief Martha felt after the death of her husband of forty years.
- A display case of objects showcases items that commemorated Washington’s life and death.
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| Gay Hart Gaines Theater |
The Gay Hart Gaines Legacy Theater
The Grand Finale
This theater presents a film montage featuring quotes from prominent Americans about Washington alternating with well-known American symbols and touchstones. The exhibit is meant to inspire visitors to reflect on Washington’s legacy and his contribution to our history and culture.
The Johnston-Lemon Group Gallery
Saving Mount Vernon
All visitors to Mount Vernon pass through this gallery, which is part of a walkway from the Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center to the exit. It features the dramatic story of the founding of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association and how its members rescued Mount Vernon and set the standard for historic preservation in America. Mount Vernon has been owned and operated by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association since 1858.
The Annenberg Foundation Classroom
Distance Learning Center
This area of the Education Center connects communities to Mount Vernon through a series of virtual programs and teacher workshops focusing on Washington’s inspiring example as a leader of character. Mount Vernon has partnered with local Fairfax County Public Schools, whose students are scheduled to participate in the Distance Learning Center during the grand opening on October 27, 2006.
William Randolph Hearst Foundation
Phoebe Apperson Hearst Learning Center
In what serves as a virtual presidential library devoted to Washington’s life and times, visitors have access to Washington’s voluminous correspondence, materials about Washington, website guides, bibliographies, lesson plans and other learning materials in the Phoebe Apperson Hearst Learning Center.
The Anne and James F. Crumpacker Family
Hands-on History
Geared toward Mount Vernon’s youngest visitors (ages three to eight), the Hands-on History area allows children to learn the same themes and ideas presented in the galleries by dressing in 18th-century clothing, putting on stage plays, reading books, exploring activity boxes, and learning about Washington’s farm animals.
