As the century turned, the young country mourned. George Washington had died on Dec. 14, 1799. The United States had lost its Revolutionary War general, its first president, the “Father of His Country.” Although Washington’s death was an epochal event, word of his passing spread slowly.
By the time letters relaying the news reached Philadelphia, then the national capital, it was too late for President John Adams and legislators to attend Washington’s funeral, which was held three days after his death.
As word of mouth, letters and articles spread the sad news through the fledgling country, Americans grieved. So unprecedented was such a dramatic event that people even questioned the First Family, the Adamses, on the proper way to dress and mourn. The army was ordered to wear black armbands for 30 days, mock funerals were held, and more than 700 eulogies were presented. Mourning extended through February 1800.
Now, on the eve of another new century, George Washington’s life and death will again be commemorated. The nationwide George Washington Bicentennial, honoring the 200th anniversary of his death, will be launched on President’s Day, Feb. 15, one week prior to the 267th anniversary of Washington’s birth.
Here at Mt. Vernon, Washington’s beloved private retreat on the Virginia shores of the Potomac River, special events, programs and exhibitions will celebrate this bicentennial. Visitors will see restorations, a renovated museum, an emotional multimedia program. Above all, they will have the rare opportunity to see the most authentic presentation of Mt. Vernon in 200 years.
Mt. Vernon’s calendar of special events will begin with the traditional Feb. 15 laying of the presidential wreath at Washington’s tomb and the accompanying pageantry of the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps and the Commander in Chief’s Guard.
This day will also mark the opening of “Mt. Vernon as It Was: One Hundred Objects from the World and Times of Washington.” This extraordinary collection will offer visitors a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Mt. Vernon resembling as never before the private retreat that Washington knew at his death.
There were fewer than 10 items left behind when the Mt. Vernon Ladies’ Association, the private non-profit group that owns and operates the estate, purchased the mansion and 200 acres from the Washington family in 1858. The association’s collection now includes more than 15,000 18th Century objects, but only 30 percent of these, such as the leather chair Washington used during his presidency, actually belonged to Washington. For this exhibit the Mt. Vernon Ladies’ Association undertook a lengthy treasure hunt to find rare items located in private and public collections throughout the world. These come to Mt. Vernon this year as gifts, loans or purchases or from Mt. Vernon’s own collections. This exhibition will run through Feb. 21, 2000.
Items returning to Mt. Vernon include a Chinese export porcelain punch bowl, blue and white Canton china, a gaming table and the earliest known piece of Mt. Vernon furniture, a circa-1740 bedstead.
George and Martha’s second-floor bedroom, where the first president died, will be a 100 percent accurate reflection of the 1799 inventory of the home conducted by the executors. Among the items borrowed for this re-creation are a Chippendale easy chair and footstool from the National Museum of American History and a double chest of drawers from Tudor Place, the home of Martha Washington’s granddaughter. After her husband’s death, Martha never again used this bedroom.
From Dec. 11 to 14, marking the 200th anniversary of Washington’s death, the bedchamber will be prepared to reflect the dramatic events of these days in accordance with detailed historic records.
Various restoration projects have been undertaken in preparation for this big year. The completely renovated museum at Mt. Vernon will feature a special exhibit on Washington’s last decade of life. Washington lived in the first capitals, New York, then Philadelphia, thus being the only president who never lived in the White House. This exhibit will include some objects from his Philadelphia office, such as the fireplace mantel and carpet.
Washington’s Farewell Address, annotated by Vice President John Adams, has been borrowed from the National Park Service Adams National Historic Park. Washington’s rarely exhibited 29-page last will and testament, owned by the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse, will also be on display. The Alexandria-Washington Masonic Lodge is lending Washington’s Masonic medal and a Masonic apron worn at his funeral.
Installation of an air conditioning and climate control system in the mansion will help regulate temperature and humidity extremes, thus protecting furnishings and enabling the exhibition of items, such as decorative inlays, from Mt. Vernon’s archives and the borrowing of other items that couldn’t tolerate the previous temperature fluctuations.
The Old Tomb, which served the Washington family for almost 80 years, has been restored. Washington himself ordered the construction of a studier tomb in his last will and testament. This tomb, now the resting place of George and Martha Washington and other family members, was built in 1831.
The servants’ hall, the mansion’s north dependency, is one of Mt. Vernon’s last original structures to be restored and opened to the public. It was used for accommodating the servants who accompanied the many visitors to Mt. Vernon (the Washingtons hosted 423 guests in 1785). Half of the structure is furnished as it was in the 18th Century. The other half is used as an orientation space for the mansion, focusing on Washington’s architectural talents.
Landscaping of the Bowling Green, that large expanse of sloping lawn leading up to the mansion, has been restored. Twelve of the original trees planted by Washington and his men still survive along the perimeter, their deep shade making plant survival difficult. In fall, 1998, the Bowling Green’s borders were reinvigorated when hundreds of native shade-loving trees and shrubs were planted.
New programs will offer visitors sharper insights into Washington’s life.
Historical characters, in period dress, will give personal narrations about Washington’s life and times. Visitors might encounter James Madison telling how Washington helped steer America toward the Constitutional Convention or Christopher Sheels, the slave who served as Washington’s personal servant, describing the scene at Washington’s deathbed.
“Washington Is No More,” a dramatic, atmospheric “mood theater” multimedia presentation, will capture the emotion of the last days of Washington’s life. A costumed guide dressed in period mourning garb will usher guests into the hushed and darkened theater. The gentle distant sounds of drumbeats will begin the show, setting a somber mood for the journey back to the sad times of the first president’s final days and the mourning that followed. The show focuses on how it felt for Americans to lose their most singular hero. The eight-minute show is based on the detailed description of Washington’s final hours penned by Tobias Lear, his trusted friend and secretary.
As he had requested, Washington lay in state in the mansion’s dining room for three days prior to his funeral. Martha Washington did not attend her husband’s funeral. She stayed in the mansion, tending to her granddaughter Nelly Custis Lewis, who had given birth to Frances Parke Lewis on Nov. 27, just over two weeks prior to Washington’s death.
“The Death and Funeral Procession of Washington,” a 45-minute walking tour retracing the steps of the funeral procession and giving details of that momentous event, will be offered twice daily. Visitors will peer into the Old Tomb, Washington’s original resting place, then participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the New Tomb, his final resting place.
Every day from April 1 through Oct. 31, visitors may participate in the reading of Washington’s “Prayer for His Country” and public wreath-laying at George and Martha Washington’s Tomb at 10 a.m.
George Washington’s military career will be honored on Oct. 16 and 17, the weekend prior to the anniversary of Washington’s victory at Yorktown. “George Washington: Citizen Soldier” is expected to be a huge event with musical performances, encampments, battle demonstrations by the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry, the Old Guard Fife & Drum Corps and the Commander in Chief’s Guard, Air Force flyovers, and cannon salutes from contemporary and historic military vessels anchored in the Potomac. Major military figures have been invited.
On Dec. 18, a re-enactment of Washington’s funeral will solemnly conclude the Washington Bicentennial. The narrated pageant will begin with the arrival of historically attired mourners. (Organizers are trying to find the descendants of the original mourners.) A procession of colonial cavalry and infantry, cannons, a riderless horse, solemn music, family and friends and Masons will follow Washington’s authentically reconstructed coffin, which pallbearers will carry from the dining room to the ceremony at the family vault. Here, the original Anglican and Masonic services and closing of the Old Tomb will be recreated.
On the eve of the Year 2000, this solemn and dramatic occasion will remind Americans of the void left by the death of George Washington when another new century was about to dawn.
IF YOU GO
INFORMATION
Mt. Vernon is open 9 a.m.-4 p.m. from November through February, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. March, September and October, and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. April through August. Adult admission is $8.
For information and a brochure of detailed listings of programs and events, call 703-780-2000; www.gwashington.1999.org and www.mountvernon.org.
ONLY IN 1999 EVENTS
The following events begin on Feb. 15 and run through Dec. 31. There is no charge beyond the basic Mt. Vernon admission fee:
“Washington Is No More,” the multimedia show on Washington’s final days.
“Washington’s Funeral Procession,” a new guided tour.
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
Feb. 13 and 14: Breakfast with George Washington: Sample Washington’s favorite breakfast, “hoecakes swimming in butter and honey,” Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon. Virginia’s Smallest Hometown Parade in America follows at 1:30 p.m.
Feb. 15: Annual free day to Mt. Vernon and the burial site. The wreath-laying ceremony is at 10 a.m., followed by patriotic music and military performances on the Bowling Green. This day kicks off the “Only in 1999” commemorative year.
Feb. 21: George Washington’s Birthnight Supper and Ball, with proceeds benefitting the Mt. Vernon Ladies’ Association. Mount Vernon Inn, 6 p.m., $100 per person. For information or to receive an invitation, call 703-799-8659.
April 2 through Aug. 28: “An American Celebration in Music,” musical review including multimedia presentation and a narration honoring Washington. The entire Mt. Vernon Estate, including tours and exhibitions, will be open during this program at regular admission price. Friday and Saturday evenings from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
April 3 through July 17: “An American Musical Revue: In Remembrance of George Washington,” with different groups performing every Saturday at noon.
Oct. 16 and 17: “George Washington: Citizen Soldier,” commemorating Washington’s career as a military leader.
Dec. 18: “The Funeral,” the accurate re-enactment of Washington’s funeral procession and service.
