321F Fall 2026 The Rescue of Mount Vernon

Learn about how George Washington's home was purchased by women who wanted to preserve it, when neither the U.S. Congress nor the State of Virginia wanted the mansion. The Ladies of the Mount Vernon Association organized to purchase the mansion and property. The task was not easy, as many did not believe women were capable of managing and preserving the mansion. The women's mission was to restore George Washington's home to the time period when he lived there. During the Civil War, the mansion was opened to Union soldiers to visit. The women's efforts have made Mount Vernon one of the most visited historic sites in Virginia.

Mary Lipsey is a retired middle school American History teacher. She taught at Lake Braddock Secondary School for almost 30 years. She was a volunteer docent at the Smithsonian American History Museum and the National Archives. She has authored books on aviation and American women's history.