Three phases of a $40 million revitalization project at George Washington's historic mansion in Virginia have been completed, according to the Mount Vernon Ladies Association (MVLA), a nonprofit that manages the estate of America's first president.
In late November, the MVLA reopened all first and second-floor rooms in the historic mansion for the first time since January 2024. Its officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Dec. 10, 2025, to mark the milestone, according to Northern Virginia Magazine.
The extensive restoration project focused on the long-term health and structural stability of the building, located on the banks of the Potomac River south of Washington, D.C.
Visitors can now tour every room of the mansion over the holidays at one of many events including Christmas Illuminations and Mount Vernon by Candlelight.
Notably, the third and latest phase of the revitalization included the reopening of the Washingtons' bedchambers, which was "returned as closely as possible to its documented 1799 appearance," according to an MVLA news release. Enhancements also were made to the home's Central Passage, Little Parlor and Old Chamber.
The privately funded four-phase project began in 2023 and is expected to be completed by September 2026.
Restoration crews worked on several other projects at the iconic home such as refinishing the siding, the roof and floorboards.
The revitalization's goals include the installation of a new HVAC system, improving the drainage system and repairing the framing from moisture and termite issues. The last phase of the project will include the restoration of Washington's basement cellar to better maintain the structure's foundation.
The brick and stone foundation walls and chimney bases in the cellar provide the strong underpinning upon which the home stands, MVLA noted on its project website page. As with the framing, some necessary interventions, completed with modern materials, have proven to be unsympathetic to the original fabric of the house, slowly causing unintended damage.
Masonry repairs will include replacing modern Portland cement with a soft, lime mortar like that used in the mansion's original 18th century construction. The brick and stone used during that time were soft and they required a soft mortar due to the fact that when moisture infiltrates a masonry wall, it eats away at the softest part, ideally the mortar, which can be replaced much more easily than brick or stone.
However, when repairs were made in the home's cellar over the next two centuries, instead of using soft mortar, hard mortar containing water-resistant Portland cement was applied — a standard practice. Unfortunately, it proved to be far too hard for the soft brick and stone of 18th-century buildings. Its water-resistant properties forced moisture into the brick and stone, exacerbating degradation of these materials.
Another major problem cropped up at Mount Vernon that also needed modern repair methods.
As the mansion's first floor framing aged, it began to sag, a situation worsened by multiple generations of repairs. To shore up the sagging timbers, more than 30 brick piers were added in the cellar in the 19th and 20th centuries, significantly altering the appearance of the spaces.
Once the modern framing and masonry repairs have been completed, most of these piers will be removed. Those that are still needed will be replaced by less conspicuous supports, bringing the cellar closer to its 1799 appearance.
The Mount Vernon restoration project also revealed several archaeological surprises as well.
In 2022, crews began to prepare for the expansion of an underground utility bunker in the North Grove part of the property. While excavating the area, the archaeologists discovered artifacts like pre-Colombian arrowhead and spear points, two coins from 1798 and 1817 and a variety of American and European 18th-century ceramics.
During the restoration of the home's living quarters, the preservation team also discovered an 18th-century fork behind a wall.
Similarly, archaeologists uncovered 35 glass bottles in Washington's cellar. Twenty-nine of them were intact and sealed. The sealed bottles contained preserved cherries, gooseberries and currants.
Restoration crews worked on several other projects at the iconic home such as refinishing the siding, the roof and floorboards. The central passage, little parlor and old chamber appearances were enhanced to appear closer to the mansion's 18th-century roots.
