Immersive “George Washington: A Revolutionary Life” Exhibition Debuts as Mount Vernon’s “Birthday Gift to America” for the Nation’s 250th
Mount Vernon, VA, May 28, 2026 — George Washington’s Mount Vernon invites members of the media to an exclusive preview and ribbon cutting of its fully reimagined Education Center, debuting the landmark exhibition “George Washington: A Revolutionary Life” on Thursday, June 11, 2026.
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, this exhibition is at the center of the national conversation about leadership, democracy, and identity, offering a powerful, visual way to understand the founding era through Washington’s life and decisions. This transformative experience is Mount Vernon’s “birthday gift to America,” a $20 million investment in civic education, supported by philanthropic funding and designed to bring the story of George Washington to life for a new generation.
The Education Center now features rare and original objects from George and Martha Washington, more than ever before displayed, including:
George Washington’s camp bed used during the American Revolution, displayed alongside the spyglass and silver cups he used while strategizing with generals in military camps and on the battlefield.
Washington’s dentures — the only complete surviving set — featuring a lead base with a combination of human teeth and animal bone, revealing the realities of eighteenth-century dental practices and dispelling the myth that his dentures were made of wood.
Rare cherry bottles excavated during the Mansion Revitalization project from Mount Vernon’s historic cellar in 2024. The bottles, buried before the Revolutionary War, once preserved cherries and berries for the Washington household.
Archaeological artifacts connected to the lives of enslaved people at Mount Vernon, including objects tied to work assignments, foodways, commerce, and community across the estate’s five farms.
Objects from Washington’s presidential households in New York and Philadelphia, including the “Uncommon” swivel chair he used in his office and pieces from the first presidential porcelain service.
Mourning objects created after Washington’s death, including a silver replica of his casket and memorial items containing relics such as locks of his hair or fragments of his original coffin.
Revolutionary-era documents and manuscripts connected to America’s founding and George Washington’s vision for the new nation, including a rare ratification copy of the Constitution discovered in 2022 at the former home of North Carolina Governor Samuel Johnston; the Bible used by the congregation of Pohick Church during the Revolutionary War, with prayers for King George III crossed out as a symbolic break from the Church of England; and a 1757 letter from a young George Washington expressing frustrations over British treatment of American officers during the French and Indian War.
The event also will feature remarks by Doug Bradburn, Mount Vernon President and CEO, Carly Fiorina, VA250 Honorary National Honorary Chair, and Anne Neal Petri, 24th Regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association.
Access advance photos and a map of the Education Center, which can be used with attribution to the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association.
EVENT DETAILS
What: Exclusive Media Preview – “George Washington: A Revolutionary Life” New Education Center
When: Thursday, June 11, 2026 | 11:00 AM. Press can begin setup at 10:00 AM
Where: George Washington’s Mount Vernon | 3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway | Mount Vernon, Virginia 22121
This exclusive preview offers early access, compelling visuals, and timely storylines tied to America 250, including:
A major new national cultural investment debuting during the Semiquincentennial
Fresh angles on leadership, democracy, and civic education
Highly visual, immersive experiences ideal for broadcast, digital, and feature storytelling
MEDIA RSVP
Credentialed media should RSVP to Lauren Herba at [email protected] by Tuesday, June 9.
MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS & VISUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Exclusive tour of a 21,000-square-foot, fully reimagined Education Center
First look at “George Washington: A Revolutionary Life” exhibition
Access to nine galleries and six immersive media environments
Filming and photography inside newly unveiled exhibition spaces
Appearance by Mount Vernon’s George Washington character interpreter
Interviews with more than a dozen Mount Vernon experts and historians including:
Doug Bradburn, President and CEO
Jason Boroughs, Principal Archaeologist
Lindsay Chervinsky, Executive Director of the George Washington Presidential Library
Adam Erby, Executive Director of Historic Preservation and Collections
Amanda Isaac, Chief Curator of Fine and Decorative Arts
Jonathan Kavalier, Executive Director of Gardens & Landscapes
Allison Wickens, Vice President for Education
ADDITIONAL EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS
A dramatic Great Hall connecting Washington’s defining leadership moments to modern civic life
Immersive experiences including a 4D theater, digital storytelling environments, and interactive galleries that place visitors inside Washington’s world
Opportunities to “overhear” conversations from the founding era through innovative media installations
A rotating display of founding-era documents, connecting visitors directly to the birth of the nation
Rare and original objects from George and Martha Washington, the most ever on display
Hands-on learning spaces and interactive exhibits designed for today’s students and families, including the Sanda and Jeremiah Lambert Hands-On-History Center, where children and caregivers can explore replica artifacts, participate in hands-on activities, and discover how Washington grew from a curious young person into a leader who shaped the nation.
The new Education Center builds on a series of major investments at Mount Vernon, including the $40 million Mansion Revitalization Project and ongoing enhancements to the estate’s historic gardens and grounds. Together, these efforts ensure that Mount Vernon remains the premier destination for understanding the American founding, along with the character and leadership of George Washington.
Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, is owned and operated by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, the oldest national historic preservation organization in the United States. The estate is open to visitors and includes the Mansion, a museum and education center, gardens, tombs, a working farm, a functioning distillery, and a gristmill, as well as the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon. Learn more at www.mountvernon.org.
