In March, the museum galleries of the Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center reopened with a new permanent exhibition exploring the history of Mount Vernon and the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association (MVLA). Along with an immersive look at George Washington’s biography in the adjacent Education Center’s galleries, visitors now have a detailed portrait of Mount Vernon’s other star: the place itself.

Mount Vernon: The Story of an American Icon features three major sections. “Making Mount Vernon: The Work of Many Hands” traces the evolution of the landscape, from seasonal Native settlements 10,000 years ago, to John Washington’s 1674 land patent, to George Washington’s dramatic overhaul of the house and grounds. “Treasured Possessions: The Material World of the Washington Family” showcases the fine and decorative arts owned by George and Martha Washington. Visitors can immerse themselves in this remarkable collection of artifacts, gaining greater understanding of how the Washingtons used objects to fashion their identities. “Saving Mount Vernon: The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association of the Union” explores the trailblazing work of the MVLA, including Ann Pamela Cunningham’s visionary campaign to purchase the property and the Association’s stewardship and leadership in historic preservation over the past 160 years. In addition, the Gilder Lehrman Gallery offers space for changing displays; the inaugural exhibit features new acquisitions and rarely seen documents.

On permanent display are more than 350 objects from Mount Vernon’s collection, with highlights such as George Washington’s swords and spyglass, Martha Washington’s garnet jewelry, and an extraordinary porcelain portrait of the General. The display also features little-seen artifacts, including the cupola’s original spire, a handmade brick with the finger impressions of its maker, and fragments of Native American stone tools. The exhibition also reunites original Mount Vernon objects through landmark loans. From Washington and Lee University comes the 1772 portrait of George Washington by Charles Willson Peale, along with the portraits of Martha Washington and her children, which hung beside it in the Mansion’s Front Parlor. Numerous pieces of Custis silver still owned by family members join silver from Mount Vernon’s collection.

Throughout, visitors “meet” the individuals who shaped Mount Vernon over time, including Washington and Custis family members, enslaved and hired laborers, and Vice Regents of the MVLA. Interactive touchscreens encourage visitors to engage more deeply with the objects and history, providing opportunities to “play” the harpsichord, rotate artifacts 360 degrees, and see views of the Mansion interior from the mid-19th century to today.

According to Douglas Bradburn, Mount Vernon’s president and CEO, “This exhibit showcases our remarkable collection, while grounding visitors in the history of this extraordinary place—the first pilgrimage site of the American nation, the birthplace of historic preservation, and a crucial destination for connecting with the foundations of the country.” 

Photos by Thalia Romero (below)