Protecting the Vaughan Mantelpiece
Friday, April 05, 2024
In 1784, George Washington wrote to family and friends in search of a marble surround suitable for his "New Room." In response, Samuel Vaughan, a recent émigré, presented this mantelpiece depicting pastoral life that originated from his home in Essex, England. Ever since Washington installed the mantelpiece in 1786, it has served as the centerpi...
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Custis Wine Bottle Seal
Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Archaeologists excavating in the Mansion cellar discovered a wine bottle seal stamped “IOHN CUSTIS 1713”—the third such seal to be discovered in the cellar. John Custis was the father of Daniel Parke Custis, Martha Washington’s first husband. Learn More About the Custis Family Mount Vernon archaeologists have now excavated a total of five of t...
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Evidence of a Dry Well Hoist
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
While performing excavations in the Mansion cellar, the Archaeological team uncovered evidence of two historic postholes, found in proximity to the dry well located directly beneath the New Room. A large cylindrical pit, the 22-foot-deep dry well was built to maintain a consistent temperature throughout the year, allowing for the storage of ice ...
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Archaeology in the Cellar
Wednesday, March 06, 2024
Archaeology Technician Grace S. uses a Munsell Color book to document the colors of the soil in the Mansion cellar. The late-1770s drain is visible on the left. If you haven’t seen the Archaeology team outside recently, that’s because they have moved inside! As part of the ongoing multi-year Mansion Revitalization Project, the team is currentl...
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The Copper and Slate Puzzle
Tuesday, March 05, 2024
At Mount Vernon, the Architecture and Archaeology teams often work together to solve puzzles. While excavating the North Grove (in preparation for the Mansion Revitalization Project), archaeologists found a significant number of copper sheets and slate fragments. The slate fragment pictured above has a nail hole, which is characteristic of roofi...
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Layers of History
Monday, March 04, 2024
As the Archaeology team continued excavations north of the piazza (in preparation for the Mansion Revitalization Project), they uncovered a fascinating record of the Mansion’s evolution over time. This “stratigraphic sequence” (seen below) details the construction history of the Mansion and adjacent landscape—including the addition of the New Ro...
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Dry Well Assessment
Monday, February 19, 2024
In 1785, George Washington had a dry well built in the Mansion cellar. A large cylindrical pit, the 22-foot-deep dry well was intended to maintain a consistent temperature throughout the year to allow for the storage of ice harvested from the Potomac River by enslaved workers.This dry well, however, ultimately proved unsatisfactory to Washington...
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Found on the Ground
Thursday, February 08, 2024
While processing artifacts recovered from the North Grove excavation (in preparation for the Mansion Revitalization Project), archaeological lab analysts made an interesting discovery: a piece of 18th-century window glass etched with a cursive "N," excavated about 15 feet northwest of the New Room's Venetian window. Notably, other signatures etc...
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Ready, Set, Gown
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Staff and volunteers attempt to create a garment in two days. Can they stitch in time? Mount Vernon’s historical costumer, Kathrin Breitt Brown, and journeywoman mantua maker, Brooke Welborn of the Burnley & Trowbridge Co., created two 18th-century gowns during two “Gown in a Weekend” public events held in the spring of 2023. From draping and cu...
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Christmas with the Washingtons
Tuesday, December 13, 2022
As it does every year, Mount Vernon’s team has brought some wintertime changes to the Mansion to mark the holiday season. Christmas was primarily a religious holiday in 18th-century Virginia, but then, as now, it was also a festive occasion marked by visits between friends and relatives, parties, and public assemblies. The Washingtons' holiday s...
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Preservation
Mansion Revitalization Project
Mount Vernon has embarked on a landmark preservation project to ensure the Mansion's structural integrity for generations to come.