THE MOUNT VERNON LADIES' ASSOCIATION

Historic preservation and collections: in 2024, the preservation team continued its landmark initiative to preserve george washington's home for generations of future visitors. Preparations for this multi-year "mansion revitalization" project included the expansion of the underground bunker to house improved mechanical systems; the removal of 1990s-era ductwork; and the assessment and stabilization of the cellar's dry well, a 1785 architectural feature. The archaeology team excavated all rooms of the mansion cellar, in preparation for installing new underground ductwork; they also conducted a field school at the site of george washington's union farm, identifying likely evidence of two wells, garden plots, and domestic structures of the enslaved community on this outlying farm. The architecture team completed the exterior restoration of the mansion's east front; refreshed its first-floor bedchamber; completed framing and roof repairs of the mansion's north colonnade and framing and siding repairs of the wash house; and constructed a poultry coop. The fine and decorative arts (fda) team completed the acquisition of the peter presidential collection, including nearly 100 original washington items, and reinstalled the mansion's little parlor and the wash house, the latter interpreting work done by enslaved laundresses dolshy and vina. The fda team also installed a new exhibit of washington and mount vernon commemoratives in the washington presidential library and conserved and rehoused additional original washington textiles.