NEWS
Brenda Parker, Coordinator for African American Interpretation and Special Projects during the cemetary ceremony of Lives, Loves, Loss (photo by Dan Chung)
New Programming and Tours
Hidden Stories
The public program “Lives, Loves, and Loss” introduced visitors to two enslaved families whose lives can be mapped across the historic area and cemetery. Guests learned about the biographies of Hercules, Alice, Boatswain, and Myrtilla through a guided tour, printed self-guided map, family activity, and cemetery ceremony. Each participating family had the opportunity to design and place a temporary marker at one of the grave shafts.
Creatures Featured
Mount Vernon welcomed 2,700 guests to the estate on April 24 for its Animal Family Day program. On the 12-acre field, young visitors collected take-home craft kits and learned about Mount Vernon’s heritage breeding program, the animals on the estate in the 18th century, and the enslaved people who cared for them. The 12-acre field also played host to a program about bees and a storytime featuring the book George Washington and the General’s Dog. Another highlight was the “Meet & Greet” with staff who introduced visitors to Paula (the hog, or pig), Spud and Knox (the oxen, a type of cattle), and the many horses and sheep that make up the farm.
Garden Party
Launched in May, the one-hour “Founding Flowers” specialty tour explores the practical landscape design of the Mansion House Farm, including historical context for the upper garden’s plants and a deeper exploration of the horticulture team’s work throughout the year.
Now Streaming
In case you missed them, here are a few recently aired livestreams selected by Julie Almacy, director of public affairs. Tune in at your convenience
Rolling Down the River
Mount Vernon famously provides breathtaking views of the Potomac River. But how did George Washington navigate the waters around his properties? Dean Norton, director of horticulture, and himself a boat owner, tells all in this fascinating deep dive. (for Mount Vernon members, March 15)
Under the Tent
Mount Vernon partners with Museum of the American Revolution for a peek into George Washington’s sleeping and office tent, one of the most remarkable objects owned by the Philadelphia museum. The tent served as Washington’s headquarters throughout much of the Revolutionary War, and in 2013, the museum set out to create a working reproduction to better understand the General’s experience. Tyler Putman, Ph.D., the museum’s gallery interpretation manager, and Adam T. Erby, Mount Vernon’s curator of fine and decorative art, explore the original object and its re-creation. The program features many items from Mount Vernon’s collection and their comparable replicas. (for Mount Vernon members, April 26)
Untold Tale
Bestselling author and combat historian Patrick O’Donnell is the guest for the Ford Evening Book Talk as he celebrates the launch of his new book, The Indispensables: The Diverse Soldier-Marines Who Shaped the Country, Formed the Navy, and Rowed Washington Across the Delaware. It’s a gripping story of the role of the Marblehead Regiment of Massachusetts during the Revolutionary War. (May 17)
Continuing Conversation
Experts reflect on Mount Vernon’s landmark Lives Bound Together exhibition. The conversation includes the process of curating the material and information, as well as the continuing research and efforts to elevate the stories of the enslaved population at Mount Vernon and beyond. The program (pictured above) is moderated by Mount Vernon’s African American interpretation coordinator Brenda Parker and features Mount Vernon’s associate curator and exhibition lead Jessie MacLeod, National Park Service curator Kimberly Robinson, and descendant community representative from the Syphax family Stephen Hammond. The recently closed exhibition was on view at Mount Vernon from October 1, 2016 to July 11, 2021. Virtual tours are available at
lbt.mountvernon.org. (June 15)
Visit mountvernon.org/livestream to attend Mount Vernon conversations live. To view previously recorded conversations, scroll down to “past livestreams.” Some livestreams are exclusively for members; learn more and become a member at mountvernon.org/memberperks.