George Washington’s Mount Vernon

The home of America’s first president, George Washington’s Mount Vernon estate is one of the country’s most popular historic sites.

Site History

George Washington’s father began building the mansion at Mount Vernon in 1734. George Washington took over the estate in 1754 and enlarged the mansion over the next half decade. In the fall of 1784, the Marquis de Lafayette visited Mount Vernon, the home of his close friend and ally. A significant figure in French heritage, Lafayette played an important role in the history of the United States. Long after Lafayette’s visit, the Washington family continued to associate the room he stayed in with the hero of the American Revolutionary War. In this respect, the room became the first space in America to celebrate Lafayette’s memory and, by extension, that of the Franco-American Alliance. The comparatively modest Small Room dates to the initial construction of the house, though its current state reflects significant changes.

About the Project

Numerous restorations of the Lafayette Room and Small Room have taken place since the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association opened the estate to the public in 1860, with the most recent restoration completed some 30 years ago. The grant from French Heritage Society will cover the costs associated with the selection of period-appropriate wallpaper, the commission of the creation of reproduction wallpaper and the hanging of the wallpaper. This extensive restoration of the Lafayette Room and Small Room is part of Mount Vernon’s effort to emphasize the Franco-American relationship and ensure that the second floor of the mansion is preserved and interpreted to reflect the latest research into its appearance in 1799, the last year of Washington’s life.

Mount Vernon Today

A touchstone of American civic and national identity, Washington’s home is one of the most visited historic sites in the United States. It welcomes more than a million annual visitors, including some 350,000 students. The mansion comprises 21 rooms, which have been beautifully interpreted for the benefit of the public.