Before & After ~ Mount Vernon.
One of the earliest house restorations in America was Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. America's first president died in 1799 and his beloved home eventually fell into an advanced state of neglect, as seen in this photo taken in 1858 (courtesy of the Mt. Vernon Ladies Assoc.).
The Mount Vernon Ladies Association was formed to save and preserve the house, purchasing it shortly before the outbreak of the Civil War. Following the war, restoration began and has never stopped. New research and analysis leads to more accurate information about the appearance and functioning of the plantation during Washington's lifetime and additional work is done based on new knowledge.
