Most of George Washington’s Mount Vernon will close for about eight months, starting November 1, The Washington Post reports, as the Alexandria estate undergoes its largest rehab project in more than 150 years.
The work started last year as part of a $30 million multiyear restoration effort. It includes resecuring the home to its foundation. Termites ate away the wood connecting the mansion to the foundation.
According to Mount Vernon’s Mansion Revitalization Project page, in November most rooms will be “off-view.” The grounds will remain open.
In a video, Mount Vernon President and CEO Douglas Bradburn talked about the work. “Since 1860, this place has been preserved with multiple historic structures that were never intended to last. And we get millions of visitors coming through here, and we want to make sure that your children’s children’s children will be able to experience this place in the same way we get to today,” he said.
The complicated repairs are more comprehensive than previous piecemeal efforts. In the video, Bradburn said they involve restoring Mount Vernon’s cellar, repairing 18th-century masonry, and replacing carpentry with original compatible materials, some of which came from the property.
Masons from Dominion Traditional Builders have been working to restore the passage walls in Mount Vernon’s cellar. The effort entails shaping new stone blocks to replace ones damaged over the years by humidity, a Mount Vernon blog said.
Bradburn said a state-of-the-art HVAC system will be installed and drainage around the first president’s home improved. The goal is for the work to be finished in 2026.
Feature image by Orhan Çam/stock.adobe.com
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