Ductwork Removal from the Cellar

The Preservation and Project Management teams reached an important milestone by overseeing the removal of the existing ductwork in the Mansion cellar.

The removal of this ductwork will make way for its replacement with a more efficient HVAC (heating/ventilation/air conditioning) system, which will provide climate control in the cellar for the first time in its history and allow for more precise environmental control in individual rooms of the Mansion. The new HVAC ductwork will be relocated underground and out of sight, facilitating improved stewardship and interpretation of this historic space.

In the meantime, a temporary flexible ductwork has been installed, allowing Mount Vernon’s Preservation team to conduct maintenance on the cellar’s west wall—an area that has not been accessible since 1998. The flexible ductwork also allows the Archaeology team to excavate next to the west wall.