Juretta and others:

I am very impressed with the new facilities at Mt. Vernon. 

Like many, I assume, I was a bit wary of the action hero/electronic wizardry approach but after sspending several hours touring the facilities and current installations I am  quite impressed.
The fake snow in the theatre and some scenes in the movies may be bit overly dramatic but anyone who is visiting Mt. Vernon for the first time will be very impressed. 

The galleries are a bit like those at Gunston Hall and Wolstenholme and the movies can easily be compared to those at the GW Birthplace and the initial visitor center at Carter's Grove/Wolstenholme. Incidentally, the latter movie is one of the best visitor center movies I have ever seen - well worth the visit.

Those who subscribe to this list are clearly interested in Virginia and colonial history. But the new facilities at Mt. Vernon will introduce GW to the bus loads of students and tourists who may know nothing about GW or Mt. Vernon while allowing those of us who are interested in more than the gift shop much needed elbow room to view many interesting artifacts from the MVLA collections. 

Ed


Ed Redmond
Geography & Map Reference Specialist
Geography and Map Division
Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20540-4651
(202) 707-8548
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-------------------------------------------
The views expressed in this message are solely mine 
and do not neccessarily represent those of the Library of Congress.


>>> [log in to unmask] 01/05/07 6:16 PM >>>
I haven't quite mustered the fortitude to visit Mount Vernon since it
opened its new visitors' center, complete with electronic wizardry and
wax models designed to portray the young, virile George Washington as
action hero.  Okay, so maybe I shouldn't be such a scholarly snob.

Has anyone on the list visited Mount Vernon since the new features were
unveiled this fall?  If so, what did you think?

--Jurretta J. Heckscher

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