George Washington's Estate to Get $85M Museum Complex

MOUNT VERNON, VA-George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens will become home to a new $85-million museum and orientation-center complex. Authorities of the 500-acre estate–which has been owned by the Mount Vernon Ladies Association since its founding in 1853–plan to officially announce the project at a special event on April 27.

The primary goal of this multi-million dollar endeavor is to close what Mount Vernon officials say is a widening “information gap” among the young and others regarding the life and labors of the first president of the United States. The project’s state-of-the-art orientation center, education center, and museum will be housed in a 50,000-sf space just 100,000 sf from the property’s mansion. The complex will include classrooms, at least two theatres and a total of 17 galleries, 15 of which will focus on the first president’s life and personality.