Preservation work never ends. Each year, the Mansion, outbuildings, and grounds are exposed to the extremes of weather and the wear put on them by more than one million visitors. Mount Vernon’s preservation team works hard to combat deterioration and to restore and preserve George Washington’s home to how it appeared at the time of his death in 1799.
Our structures must be kept weather tight, so our preservation team is vigilant in maintaining the siding—including the iconic rusticated siding of the Mansion—and keeping wooden roof shingles in good repair. The structures must be painted, and to keep them looking authentic, we hand paint them using traditional 18th century methods.
The preservation team also maintains and repairs doors, locks, windows, and shutters; and in addition to all this work on the buildings, there is more than a mile of fencing to keep up. Without your support, this work would not be possible.