George Washington's Mansion Restoration Work To Impact Visitor Access

MOUNT VERNON, VA — Visitors will have limited access to parts of George Washington's mansion during upcoming restoration work.

George Washington's Mount Vernon will limit access to the mansion for restoration work starting in early 2024. Work will include designing and installing new HVAC, improving drainage around the cellar and repairing parts of the mansion's framing and masonry.

In the first phase during the first half of 2024, the new room and cellar will be closed. All other areas of the mansion will be open.

In the next phase during the second half of 2024, the new room, servants' hall and kitchen will be the only areas open.

In the third phase in 2025, the new room, George Washington's study, servants' hall and kitchen will be open, and other areas will be closed.

In the final phase from late 2025 to early 2026, the cellar will be the only area closed. All other areas of the mansion will be open.

The restoration work will prompt an enclosed area north of the mansion throughout the entire project. Paths of tours through the mansion will change depending on the phase of the project underway.

The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, which has overseen George Washington's Mount Vernon since 1860, has grappled with a need to restore the mansion with increasing visitor traffic. According to the organization, the home was intended as a private home but now faces wear and tear from heavy visitor traffic. The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association restored the mansion and outbuildings in the decades since acquiring it, but those repairs are now over a century old.

The project started in 2023 with an underground utility bunker being expanded to accommodate a new HVAC system. Before work began, archaeologists started excavating the area to search for artifacts. Findings included arrowheads and spear points from pre-Colombian times, 18th century ceramic table wares, "large cent" coins from 1798 and 1817, and objects tied to Mount Vernon tourism. Excavations continue and will precede any construction activities.