DAR to Lead Mount Vernon’s George Washington Birthday Celebration!

Sarah Miller Coulson, Regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association

As the Regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association I am delighted members of the Daughters of the American Revolution will be joining us to celebrate George Washington's 289^th birthday as part of a national streaming broadcast on Monday, February 22 at 7 p.m. ET.

The “Birthnight Supper and Ball” has been a Mount Vernon tradition for over 70 years-- a joyous celebration of George Washington’s birthday that brings us together, raises funds, and increases awareness of our beloved Mount Vernon. We are especially grateful to the DAR for its lead sponsorship this year as we celebrate nationwide on a digital platform.

Deeply aware that he was an extraordinary man, fellow citizens have celebrated George Washington’s birthday since the Revolutionary War. As commander of the Continental Army, General Washington led us to an improbable victory and secured our independence. Then he did something extraordinary in the eyes of the world: he relinquished power, resigned his command, and returned home to his cherished Mount Vernon. It was not long before he was called upon to serve the grateful fledging nation once again – first as President of the Constitutional Convention, and then as the first President of the United States.

Similarly, Mount Vernon was a popular site for visitors during the founding era. George and Martha Washington entertained a steady stream of guests until his death in 1799. But by the mid-19^th Century the estate had sadly fallen into disrepair. It took the improbable vision and leadership of Ann Pamela Cunningham to establish The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, the first historic preservation organization in America, to raise the funds to purchase Mount Vernon. Without interruption, the women of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association have now owned and operated George Washington’s Mount Vernon for over 160 years, welcoming more than 85 million visitors. We are a private organization that does not accept government funding, and depends on generous individuals, organizations, foundations, and corporations to help preserve George Washington’s home and educate the world about the life, leadership, and legacy of this great man.    

We invite you to visit Mount Vernon, and see where George Washington sat under his own vine and fig tree. We are proud of the continuous research and project work on the estate, and there is always something new and exciting to see. If you are unable to visit in person, we encourage you to take advantage of our extensive digital resources from our Washington Library book talks, to our ongoing historic preservation work. Additionally, we are pleased to offer DAR members access to our digital programming exclusive to Members of Mount Vernon, including in-depth, behind the scenes talks with Mount Vernon staff and conversations with prominent historians.

We are delighted our two organizations, guided by patriotic women aligned in preserving the history and importance of the founding of America, pause to celebrate Washington’s birthday, as we endeavor to create a bright future together.