Hi everyone, the wood that was painted over was the original wood, but not the period correct color. The panels in the central passage were painted with a faux wood grain about 30 years ago to make the panels appear to be mahogany. After conducting a paint analysis, we discovered what the original color was used in the central passage in 1799. The cream color that has been painted on is what would have appeared in Washington's time. Let us know if you have any questions!
Marisol Veliz it was the original wood. The faux mahogany was removed and the bare wood was exposed and repainted. Honestly it looks terrible and they should have left the original wood. The only good thing about painting it that lighter color is that it made it look more spacious. It’s atrocious but accurate to the time period. The good thing is that the paint can be removed again and the original wood is still under there somewhere.
My first visit to Mount Vernon was back in 1976. The mansion has come a long way since then and I'm glad that I still have the old pics and tour booklet to remind me of how much has been researched and recreated in the past forty-two years. The central passage was painted almost a turquoise color and had a tall case clock on the landing. I have several pieces in my house that may have been made by the same cabinet maker who George Washington used while in Philadelphia. They make a great conversation piece when friends are over.
The later wood graining made the passage look dark and small. It looks so open now. The high gloss of the paint would have allowed a single candle to light up the entire space.
Good on you for figuring out how it would’ve been decorated during Washington’s time. This is just like people throwing a fit over the HMS Victory being repainted to what it would’ve looked like at the Battle of Trafalgar, it will pass with time and education.
I just stumbled onto this channel and can hardly contain my excitement! I have been “obsessed” with Washington since I was a little girl (maybe it started because I was born in Washington D.C.? 😊). He inspired my love of history, and I would later go on to get an M.A. in American History and teach history at the Elementary level. I devour every biography of Washington that I can find, along with his Revolutionary counterparts! For Christmas my sister gave me a bracelet with latitude and longitude coordinates etched into the silver. They point the way to Mount Vernon! My sister said it was so I could always find my way “home.” I have been quite ill for the past several years and unable to travel. I live in Florida now, so a trip to Mount Vernon is a bit more involved. My daughter is 12 and has yet to set eyes on this amazing historic site. I long for the day when I am able to return to Mount Vernon with her, and show her my favorite places on the grounds. Then I want to sit on the back porch in rocking chairs with her, gaze out onto the Potomac, and dream of days of the past, and feel resolute in the knowledge that Mount Vernon will always symbolize the hope and pride every American should have in regard to our country. I can’t wait to watch the old episodes available, and to be notified when new ones arrive. Finally, the hall looks breathtaking! Thank you to all who work there for the painstaking job they do in every aspect of the mansion and grounds. I’m sure George and Martha are smiling somewhere! ❤️🇺🇸
In the 18th century, people were surrounded by natural wood colors, etc. It was a status thing to be able to paint your walls in a house. Also, they didn't have electric light, so everything was seen in natural sunlight or candle light. A cream colored, glossy finish would make the most of these kinds of light so people could see better than dark stained wood. I wouldn't choose it for myself, but I don't want to live at Mt. Vernon! I like when they restore things to original as it is interesting to see the way aesthetics change. BTW, I wonder if it's hunted?
Hi ltyr2002, we have recorded several ghost stories over the years. They are kept in the archive at the Washington Library. www.mountvernon.org/library/research-library/ One of the more famous ones can be found here: www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/the-man-the-myth/great-georges-ghost/
I went here last summer. I've gotta come back and see this. It makes me so happy that the preservation team can so accurately recreate this historic piece.
The fresh paint job is well done. Me and my family went to see Mount Vernon last May. Had a really nice time, as the hospitality was welcoming. Looking forward to the next video.
The beautiful woodgrain was an illusion, the paneling is pine painted to look like mahogany. The staircase is genuine black walnut and hasn't been painted.
I agree with you. Watching them paint over that wood was making me cringe. I liked the bare wood look, but I understand they did extensive research to decide that painted wood was accurate. That's fine.
This is very interesting -- but the background music is inappropriate for an 18th century themed subject. I agree with some of the other comments that the wood was beautiful before being painted. It is a fine balance between historical accuracy and maintaining beauty. Even if the paint color appeared in Washington's time, we do not know how long that color was maintained. Thank you for showing some of the work being done on the house.
Dianna, if you enjoyed this video please take a moment and watch the first one (link in the description). You will discover that we do know when the paint was altered and that the wood was always painted, even the look before was a painted faux woodgrain. Here's the link to the first video: czcams.com/video/cgiaqnxK1rc/video.html
Hi Janine, in the description there is a link to our previous VLOG where the director of architecture talks about how the walls were actually grained, and now the walls are the same color as they were in 1799.
It really gets on my nerves how it’s so hard for people to understand that y’all have research this to make sure that it’s the correct color and that it’s the way it was when Washington live there and it’s also so hard for them to understand that the wood isn’t even original! Gosh make sure you know what your talking about before you comment.
Q: If U R staff and team knew to paint over the wood then, conversely, how do you know the central passageway wasn't all wood / all wood color the way U had it B 4? For some reason the painting of wood seems counterintuitive to what would have been the norm for, 18th century America -- which I believe would have been to have many more wood interiors than, what we see today.
it could have been a little more informative... like why did they choose a high gloss paint? was that typical of that time period?.... i could imagine that the glossy surfaces reflected light better and made the interrior brighter... but now i'm just speculating, because you guys didn't include that info in the video. ... and what's up with the excavation in the basement? you took all the bricks out and only found some broken glass??? who's decision was that? why dig in that specific spot?
I think it looks much better. The faux wood grain made it look too dark and cramped. You can tell the fashion changed to paint wood work to make your house seem larger
Russell, the gloss will dull over time, it's a result of the oil based pain that was re-created in the same method that paint would have been made in Washington's time. The high sheen would have been when Washington would have first painted it.
People should understand that the fashion and preferred style of interior/exterior color, textiles, and furniture may not appeal to someone in the twenty-first century.
Hi Bette, actually that gap is done on purpose. In modern construction, the wood paneling would all be one single board. But these are actually made up of 5 different pieces of wood that are held together by joints. Some people would fill those gaps with a sealer but that then doesn't allow the wood to breathe and can deteriorate over time. Its important for us to preserve and maintain the original wood paneling so we leave this gap to allow the panels to breathe.
The whole room looks terrible! It's going to take forever to take that paint off. It looks like someone from a home improvement show came in and did a cheap flip! I don't care if it is historically accurate, it looks cheap and that's not how the home of our first president should look like.
That was how you preserved things. Jesus christ dairy farmers whitewashed barns with lime since the start ofthe country to keep insects out, don't you think they would have done the same for their homes? Little color would have been exactly what the higher classes would have done to differentiate themselves in their homes.
@@jeffposter6832 Maybe because I've lived in New England for 72 years and I've seen every Colonial structure in our 5 states. This is interior paneling and the Yankees thought it was a crime to paint wood. BTW, the Commandments tell us not to take the Lord's name in vain.
@@normanduke8855 oh your 72 years of ignorance beats out actual research? Thank God you know better than people who dedicate their lives to getting things right.
I wonder if Washington had any idea that his home would be preserved. I mean, he should have, right? Why didnt he keep detailed records and kinda address letters and instructions to future care takers?
Hi Jane, the wood was painted before as well as we mentioned in the previous video (link in the description). It was made to look like mahogany and had a faux wood grain painted on it. With the update we've done we've restored it to the proper color that it was in 1799 at the time of Washington's death.
Lionel, we would encourage you to watch the original video in the description. The "beautiful wood" was a painted faux wood grain treatment. The color you see is a result of paint analysis done using more modern equipment that was able to find greater details in the color and was able to date it back to Washington's lifetime.
That gloss is hideous! And it should have never been changed from the original! Takes away from that feeling of traveling thru time! I’m so sad I didn’t get to see it before they ruined it! ☹️
Hi Mount Vernon restorers! Thank You for everything you're doing & especially for making & sharing all of your excellent videos! Is there a possibility that the original finish was duller? Old books describe a process of thinning the final coat of paint with turpentine, which results in a slightly duller finish. (Early 20th century decorators' manuals, but such a simple process must've been used for centuries.) I haven't seen many 18th century paintings (of fashionable houses) with such reflective walls. The walls are usually much duller than the silk clothing of the people in the room. Was this high gloss finish reserved for entrance halls or was it, in fact, a common finish?
@ProfoundConfusion Below is a written response from our director of architecture! That’s a great question! It is interesting that the early 20th-century book on paint gives instruction on dulling down finish coats, as it shows a shift in fashion. Traditional linseed oil paints are glossy, and in 18th-century paint treatises, there are instructions on how to apply a coating of varnish to a finish coat if it isn’t glossy enough. There is an undated memorandum in Washington’s hand, which appears to be a passage from a treatise on paint, which includes instructions on getting “the gloss” on paint, and he takes part in a detailed discussion in 1787 about using varnish on top of paint (specifically in exterior uses, such as on a carriage) to create a gloss. The practice of using varnish on top of a finish coat has been identified in the Mansion through microscopic paint analysis. Clearly there were times in Washington’s day when it was desirable to have a glossy finish coat, as well as techniques in practice to achieve it if a particular mix of paint failed to attain the desired glossiness. Today, when we use traditional linseed oil paints, they are very glossy at first, and they dull down over time. So, we were interested in replicating that initial gloss along our visitor path, albeit with modern oil-based paints (due to their durability, and the ability to exactly match color when we need to do touch ups). This was our first use of it, and although we achieved the gloss we wanted (which was validated by Susan Buck, the prominent paint analyst), it does seem shocking when it is compared to modern flat paints, or early 20th-century “Williamsburg colors”, which were developed without accounting for the loss of gloss over the centuries. We have considered dulling it slightly to represent some of the natural dulling a traditional paint would have experienced after two years (with the idea that the passage would have been painted in 1797 and we depict 1799), but the jury is still out. For now we are content to leave it be to make the point that in Washington’s day, gloss was in vogue.
Molasses is used specifically for adhesion and really nothing else. It was a common ingredient for whitewashes in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
The prep and wood filler are not the high quality one would expect for a historic home, the high gloss is grotesque and looks like it was painted with a wide chip brush. I appreciate and advocate restoration to original, but this appears slap dash, like a flipper house.
Hi Susan, the "original" look was inaccurate. If you watch our first video (link in the description) you'll see that based on paint sample evidence the painted faux wood grain look that it previously was inaccurate to Washington's time. So we have revised it with this new proper paint color to make the space more historically authentic.
Hi CP, yes you are correct and some stabilization work has been done over the years. If you want to see what's done on a daily basis by our historic preservation and collections teams we've covered that in another video: czcams.com/video/L86joq11bKU/video.html
God Bless Those who care for and preserve my General's home, he was tested beyond endurance and the measure of his sacrifice and those who held loyal to the cause of liberty is still unfolding and impacting posterity.
Hi Theresa, actually the wood was always painted. The previous look was actually a painted faux woodgrain treatment. We mention this in the first video (link in the description).
We used a product called Simple Green with water first and then a denatured alcohol with water solution. The Simple Green cleans off the surface dirt and grim, and the alcohol solution cuts through anything remaining, including removing unwanted layers of latex paint.
Good Lord people! The wood was always painted! It was painted to look like mahogany, but it never was mahogany! The doors in almost all 18th century houses were painted to look like something other than Cypress or oak. For God's sake stop complaining about hostory!
Hi Michael, if you watch the first video (in the description) we note that the wood was painted even before with a faux wood grain treatment to make it look like it was mahogany. We also explain that the paint samples were dated to Washington's time which is why we restored the color to what you see today.
I am sure this video was interesting but I could only hear half of it because of the loud competing music that played. I found it most irritating when it drowned out the speakers.
The wood was always painted. It is a pine and was previously painted to look like a mahogany wood-grain. You can watch the first video here to see why we discovered it was the wrong interpretation of the space. czcams.com/video/cgiaqnxK1rc/video.html
sbnsbaker, if you watch the first video we explain that the wood was painted before. It was just painted to look like a faux wood grain. In the original video (in the description) we show the paint sample that was used to show the evidence that this is the proper color during Washington's time.
If they are constantly finding out what it was Supposed to look like when "Washington" Himself was around. Then why be batty about the discoveries when I first visited when I was 12 I felt like the current setup of what was first attempt to be accurate was a bit too Stuffie for the Washington's. Like literally the only thing I liked were the Curtains ......now after seeing all these proper restorations I am all , " GEORGE & MARTHA HAD GOOD FREAKING TASTES. HELLO NEW ROOM COME TO MOMMA!!" So yes I love the entryway now ... That faux graining was not doing it justice. Remember the building has to look like it's still in 1799 heck even 1776 ... Because it is a landmark, they do that for Monticello, HELL I AM PRETTY SURE THEY DO IT FOR THE ANNE FRANK HOUSE ... History is not always in Exposed wood. In fact can we fix up the Assembly Room too in Independence Hall because I noticed in the painting of the signing of the declaration those are the wrong Curtains, the carpet is missing, AND WHERE THE HELL ARE THE COLONIAL FLAGS !!!
I know that that's how it was painted originally but stil.. I don't like it.... real wood look more beautiful and rich . I can't believe when I was in Washington last year, I didn't go to his house....
Hi Chris, if you watch the first video (link in the description) we made the change because how it was painted before, with a faux wood grain, was actually historically inaccurate to Washington's time. As historians we are always researching and learning new things about Washington and Mount Vernon. In this case, higher quality digital microscopes were able to allow us to find more paint layers and we could date the paint back to the original color when Washington passed away in 1799. So sometimes we have to make changes if we want to make history correct.
You should watch the first video, it was always painted wood. The previous was a faux wood finish. The new paint is exactly as it was during Washington's time.
Absolutely horrible! I am related to George Washington, and feel personally gutted! I think he would have hated the generic, glossy garbage, that has covered all of that precious, priceless, antique wood! who gave you the go ahead to destroy a national monument like this? I am serious, such a tragedy!
Hi Cleveland, we mention in the previous video that the wood was always painted, the previous look was a faux wood grain look that was painted on the wood to make it look more like mahogany. In our investigation of paint layers we were able to trace back to this original color as it would have been painted during Washington's time. That's why the change was made, to keep it accurate.
You absolutely ruined it. A lot of hard work went into the art of making that wood look the way that it did, and all you did was slap some modern, glossy garbage over a national monument. :'( I have very deep roots in this country, and related to quite a few presidents. My family comes mainly from Virginia, and back then wood was vital to life. Our ancestors appreciated it, valued all the different types, and I am positive George would be as humiliated as I am to see what you have done to his home.
Look. Lots of people are related to Washington and any other president. This was done in a thoughtful, historically accurate way. You might want to check your attitude as you do not own Mt. Vernon or how it is remembered due to right of descent. There were plenty of garish trends in the 18th Century that our modern tastes do not find palatable, this does not make them any less real. I think that President Washington would find your lack of perspective more horrendous than his loving curated home being restored to how it would have looked at the time of his death in December 1799. Though, he might find your gentry attitude appealing?
Yes, if you watch the first video (link in the description) it explains in greater detail. The "beautiful wood" is actually a faux woodgrain paint treatment that through paint analysis we determined was not accurate to Washington's time.
Frank, the wood was always painted, the previous was a faux wood pattern painted as well to look like mahogany. If you watch the first video (link in the description) we go into detail of why we changed the paint based on a dated paint sample to this color that was determined to be true to how Washington had it in 1799.
Is this what people say messing with history lol now I know you gotta keep historic things clean and furnished but its kinda funny messing with history lol
Correct CP, and actually technology has helped us with making these decisions. With the higher powered digital microscopes we were able to find more paint layers than we were previously. It's due to this research that led us to make the change.
Hi everyone, the wood that was painted over was the original wood, but not the period correct color. The panels in the central passage were painted with a faux wood grain about 30 years ago to make the panels appear to be mahogany. After conducting a paint analysis, we discovered what the original color was used in the central passage in 1799. The cream color that has been painted on is what would have appeared in Washington's time. Let us know if you have any questions!
What happened to the original wood
Marisol Veliz it was the original wood. The faux mahogany was removed and the bare wood was exposed and repainted. Honestly it looks terrible and they should have left the original wood. The only good thing about painting it that lighter color is that it made it look more spacious. It’s atrocious but accurate to the time period. The good thing is that the paint can be removed again and the original wood is still under there somewhere.
Do you accept professional volunteers to do work at my. Vernon?
I wish i could remember what it looked liked when i visited as a child over 30 years ago. Such a shame
Mrs Washington....such a rich lady, suck poor taste
My first visit to Mount Vernon was back in 1976. The mansion has come a long way since then and I'm glad that I still have the old pics and tour booklet to remind me of how much has been researched and recreated in the past forty-two years. The central passage was painted almost a turquoise color and had a tall case clock on the landing. I have several pieces in my house that may have been made by the same cabinet maker who George Washington used while in Philadelphia. They make a great conversation piece when friends are over.
The later wood graining made the passage look dark and small. It looks so open now. The high gloss of the paint would have allowed a single candle to light up the entire space.
Good on you for figuring out how it would’ve been decorated during Washington’s time. This is just like people throwing a fit over the HMS Victory being repainted to what it would’ve looked like at the Battle of Trafalgar, it will pass with time and education.
I just stumbled onto this channel and can hardly contain my excitement! I have been “obsessed” with Washington since I was a little girl (maybe it started because I was born in Washington D.C.? 😊). He inspired my love of history, and I would later go on to get an M.A. in American History and teach history at the Elementary level. I devour every biography of Washington that I can find, along with his Revolutionary counterparts! For Christmas my sister gave me a bracelet with latitude and longitude coordinates etched into the silver. They point the way to Mount Vernon! My sister said it was so I could always find my way “home.” I have been quite ill for the past several years and unable to travel. I live in Florida now, so a trip to Mount Vernon is a bit more involved. My daughter is 12 and has yet to set eyes on this amazing historic site. I long for the day when I am able to return to Mount Vernon with her, and show her my favorite places on the grounds. Then I want to sit on the back porch in rocking chairs with her, gaze out onto the Potomac, and dream of days of the past, and feel resolute in the knowledge that Mount Vernon will always symbolize the hope and pride every American should have in regard to our country. I can’t wait to watch the old episodes available, and to be notified when new ones arrive. Finally, the hall looks breathtaking! Thank you to all who work there for the painstaking job they do in every aspect of the mansion and grounds. I’m sure George and Martha are smiling somewhere! ❤️🇺🇸
In the 18th century, people were surrounded by natural wood colors, etc. It was a status thing to be able to paint your walls in a house. Also, they didn't have electric light, so everything was seen in natural sunlight or candle light. A cream colored, glossy finish would make the most of these kinds of light so people could see better than dark stained wood.
I wouldn't choose it for myself, but I don't want to live at Mt. Vernon! I like when they restore things to original as it is interesting to see the way aesthetics change.
BTW, I wonder if it's hunted?
Hi ltyr2002, we have recorded several ghost stories over the years. They are kept in the archive at the Washington Library. www.mountvernon.org/library/research-library/ One of the more famous ones can be found here: www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/the-man-the-myth/great-georges-ghost/
Great video but the overpowering music makes it almost impossible for those of us with hearing loss to understand what’s being said.
Thank you for your feedback, we have passed this along to our team. Let us know in future videos if this is still an issue
Beautiful restoration! Thank you for taking such care of this national treasure.
I'm glad it's historically accurate, but that "cream" is a boring beige. Well, no one said Mr. Washington was an interior decorator.
Sherwin Williams didnt carry much variety in 1799. Its homemade paint...which is so cool in itself.
At least it’s not garish green like some of the other rooms there.
I love watching restoration and preservation.
I went here last summer. I've gotta come back and see this. It makes me so happy that the preservation team can so accurately recreate this historic piece.
The fresh paint job is well done. Me and my family went to see Mount Vernon last May. Had a really nice time, as the hospitality was welcoming. Looking forward to the next video.
Painting that beautiful wood may be historically accurate, but it is still sacrilege.
i AGREE
The beautiful woodgrain was an illusion, the paneling is pine painted to look like mahogany. The staircase is genuine black walnut and hasn't been painted.
Oh, that makes me feel better. Thanks!
I agree with you. Watching them paint over that wood was making me cringe. I liked the bare wood look, but I understand they did extensive research to decide that painted wood was accurate. That's fine.
Rebecca Putman i
I definitely agree!
Painted or not painted.... just be greatful that the house was saved for generations to enjoy and learn about the great general and president.
Beautiful woodwork look gone.
Such a dramatic change from how I knew the central passage. I worked at Mount Vernon in 1999.
This is very interesting -- but the background music is inappropriate for an 18th century themed subject.
I agree with some of the other comments that the wood was beautiful before being painted. It is a fine balance
between historical accuracy and maintaining beauty.
Even if the paint color appeared in Washington's time, we do not know how long that color was maintained.
Thank you for showing some of the work being done on the house.
Dianna, if you enjoyed this video please take a moment and watch the first one (link in the description). You will discover that we do know when the paint was altered and that the wood was always painted, even the look before was a painted faux woodgrain. Here's the link to the first video: czcams.com/video/cgiaqnxK1rc/video.html
Just awesome to see you folks painstakingly restore the mansion as close to his time as possible... Love it!
I'm shocked that the beautiful wood was painted....
Hi Janine, in the description there is a link to our previous VLOG where the director of architecture talks about how the walls were actually grained, and now the walls are the same color as they were in 1799.
It really gets on my nerves how it’s so hard for people to understand that y’all have research this to make sure that it’s the correct color and that it’s the way it was when Washington live there and it’s also so hard for them to understand that the wood isn’t even original! Gosh make sure you know what your talking about before you comment.
The quality of work is awful.
Awesome work. Can't wait to see it again
"Long live George Washington, I hear the people say! He's the first & greatest President of the USA!"🎵🎶♩🇺🇸
It looks great! And I love the glossy look of the paint!
Beautiful work, stunning results. Thank you for the historically correct restoration. 👍🏻❤️🇺🇸
Q: If U R staff and team knew to paint over the wood then, conversely, how do you know the central passageway wasn't all wood / all wood color the way U had it B 4?
For some reason the painting of wood seems counterintuitive to what would have been the norm for, 18th century America -- which I believe would have been to have many more wood interiors than, what we see today.
Being able to afford paint was a status symbol. If you look closely, the "wood" was a painted faux woodgrain, not real wood.
it could have been a little more informative... like why did they choose a high gloss paint? was that typical of that time period?.... i could imagine that the glossy surfaces reflected light better and made the interrior brighter... but now i'm just speculating, because you guys didn't include that info in the video.
... and what's up with the excavation in the basement? you took all the bricks out and only found some broken glass???
who's decision was that? why dig in that specific spot?
I just love these updates
Almost had a heart attack watching the trim being painted
I think it looks much better. The faux wood grain made it look too dark and cramped. You can tell the fashion changed to paint wood work to make your house seem larger
That high gloss is hideous, sorry.
Agree. It looks cheap.
Actually, it's stunning. We've become so accustom to bland paint finishes.
Very rich.
Russell, the gloss will dull over time, it's a result of the oil based pain that was re-created in the same method that paint would have been made in Washington's time. The high sheen would have been when Washington would have first painted it.
People should understand that the fashion and preferred style of interior/exterior color, textiles, and furniture may not appeal to someone in the twenty-first century.
Tell that to the high sheen coming off your big ass head
At 5:13. 5:14 bad paint spot at top left. It looks in other views too like a better prep was necessary
Hi Bette, actually that gap is done on purpose. In modern construction, the wood paneling would all be one single board. But these are actually made up of 5 different pieces of wood that are held together by joints. Some people would fill those gaps with a sealer but that then doesn't allow the wood to breathe and can deteriorate over time. Its important for us to preserve and maintain the original wood paneling so we leave this gap to allow the panels to breathe.
It looks gorgeous! I was a little concerned about painting the wood but see the benefits.
Awesome work 👍🏻
Great job!
I am so over people who think wood is meant to be bare. Painted wood was a status symbol. You want bare wood go visit Abraham Lincoln's log cabin.
Great job!! Very interesting!!!
The whole room looks terrible! It's going to take forever to take that paint off. It looks like someone from a home improvement show came in and did a cheap flip! I don't care if it is historically accurate, it looks cheap and that's not how the home of our first president should look like.
One day I want to visit George Washington’s Mount Vernon
It’s horrid!
Did you use period correct 18th century linseed oil based paints of modern petroleum based paints?
I absolutely hate that they covered all of that gorgeous wood. I understand wanting it to be period appropriate but good lord that’s ugly.
Worth noting as we indicate in the pinned comment, it was always painted, the previous iteration was just a faux woodgrain look.
absolutely fabulous you guys don a great job, im on the west coast look forward to seeing it 5 weeks from now
They made it ugly
I think it’s crazy awesome I just don’t like the fact you cleaned of George Washington’s fingerprints but I understand why
Can't believe all that wood was painted during Washington's lifetime.
I hope the person(s) who dreamed up this boondoggle chokes on a chicken bone.
@@normanduke8855 what makes you think you know better? Why wouldn't they paint? Everyone wanted to preserve their hard fought buildings in those days.
That was how you preserved things. Jesus christ dairy farmers whitewashed barns with lime since the start ofthe country to keep insects out, don't you think they would have done the same for their homes? Little color would have been exactly what the higher classes would have done to differentiate themselves in their homes.
@@jeffposter6832 Maybe because I've lived in New England for 72 years and I've seen every Colonial structure in our 5 states. This is interior paneling and the Yankees thought it was a crime to paint wood.
BTW, the Commandments tell us not to take the Lord's name in vain.
@@normanduke8855 oh your 72 years of ignorance beats out actual research? Thank God you know better than people who dedicate their lives to getting things right.
I personally think the wood graining was more interesting but it's better to be historically correct .
Beautifully amazing!
Like the background music choice.
I wonder if Washington had any idea that his home would be preserved. I mean, he should have, right? Why didnt he keep detailed records and kinda address letters and instructions to future care takers?
Very interesting thank you
When are you painting the dinning room?
I don't like painted wood, this makes me feel sad.
Hi Jane, the wood was painted before as well as we mentioned in the previous video (link in the description). It was made to look like mahogany and had a faux wood grain painted on it. With the update we've done we've restored it to the proper color that it was in 1799 at the time of Washington's death.
Thank you, for that information, but it still looked good with a faux wood paint. I'll check out your other video.
WoW looks like crap, Great job painting over that beautiful wood.
Lionel, we would encourage you to watch the original video in the description. The "beautiful wood" was a painted faux wood grain treatment. The color you see is a result of paint analysis done using more modern equipment that was able to find greater details in the color and was able to date it back to Washington's lifetime.
That gloss is hideous! And it should have never been changed from the original! Takes away from that feeling of traveling thru time! I’m so sad I didn’t get to see it before they ruined it! ☹️
The "original" was the gloss paint. It is a historic restoration.
Hi Mount Vernon restorers! Thank You for everything you're doing & especially for making & sharing all of your excellent videos!
Is there a possibility that the original finish was duller?
Old books describe a process of thinning the final coat of paint with turpentine, which results in a slightly duller finish. (Early 20th century decorators' manuals, but such a simple process must've been used for centuries.)
I haven't seen many 18th century paintings (of fashionable houses) with such reflective walls. The walls are usually much duller than the silk clothing of the people in the room. Was this high gloss finish reserved for entrance halls or was it, in fact, a common finish?
@ProfoundConfusion Below is a written response from our director of architecture!
That’s a great question! It is interesting that the early 20th-century book on paint gives instruction on dulling down finish coats, as it shows a shift in fashion. Traditional linseed oil paints are glossy, and in 18th-century paint treatises, there are instructions on how to apply a coating of varnish to a finish coat if it isn’t glossy enough. There is an undated memorandum in Washington’s hand, which appears to be a passage from a treatise on paint, which includes instructions on getting “the gloss” on paint, and he takes part in a detailed discussion in 1787 about using varnish on top of paint (specifically in exterior uses, such as on a carriage) to create a gloss. The practice of using varnish on top of a finish coat has been identified in the Mansion through microscopic paint analysis. Clearly there were times in Washington’s day when it was desirable to have a glossy finish coat, as well as techniques in practice to achieve it if a particular mix of paint failed to attain the desired glossiness. Today, when we use traditional linseed oil paints, they are very glossy at first, and they dull down over time. So, we were interested in replicating that initial gloss along our visitor path, albeit with modern oil-based paints (due to their durability, and the ability to exactly match color when we need to do touch ups). This was our first use of it, and although we achieved the gloss we wanted (which was validated by Susan Buck, the prominent paint analyst), it does seem shocking when it is compared to modern flat paints, or early 20th-century “Williamsburg colors”, which were developed without accounting for the loss of gloss over the centuries. We have considered dulling it slightly to represent some of the natural dulling a traditional paint would have experienced after two years (with the idea that the passage would have been painted in 1797 and we depict 1799), but the jury is still out. For now we are content to leave it be to make the point that in Washington’s day, gloss was in vogue.
Could you list the paint and varnish color names/brands? Thanks
The paint is a custom mix by our paint partner, Fine Paints of Europe. www.finepaintsofeurope.com
What is the purpose of adding molasses to the mix?
Sally Ann According to the guy mixing the ingredients, molasses helps adhesion.
Molasses is used specifically for adhesion and really nothing else. It was a common ingredient for whitewashes in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
It looks beautiful!
So wonderful!
The prep and wood filler are not the high quality one would expect for a historic home, the high gloss is grotesque and looks like it was painted with a wide chip brush. I appreciate and advocate restoration to original, but this appears slap dash, like a flipper house.
Why change it and paint over it? Preserve it's original look! You take away it's authentic historical originality! Terrible!
Hi Susan, the "original" look was inaccurate. If you watch our first video (link in the description) you'll see that based on paint sample evidence the painted faux wood grain look that it previously was inaccurate to Washington's time. So we have revised it with this new proper paint color to make the space more historically authentic.
It's like people don't even watch the video or listen to what you're saying during it. Good on you for replying to all these fools in a calm manner.
All those people walking through the mansion daily has to take a toll on the structure, given that the house is over 200 years old.
Hi CP, yes you are correct and some stabilization work has been done over the years. If you want to see what's done on a daily basis by our historic preservation and collections teams we've covered that in another video: czcams.com/video/L86joq11bKU/video.html
What a desecration!! Our National monuments are now in the hands of these twerps.
God Bless Those who care for and preserve my General's home, he was tested beyond endurance and the measure of his sacrifice and those who held loyal to the cause of liberty is still unfolding and impacting posterity.
Thanks for your channel
That’s a shame. I liked it better unpainted.
Hi Theresa, actually the wood was always painted. The previous look was actually a painted faux woodgrain treatment. We mention this in the first video (link in the description).
The paint is donated by Fine Paints of Europe? No American company was willing to donate?
Fine Paints of Europe is headquartered in Woodstock, Vermont.
What did you use to clean the wood before painting it?
We used a product called Simple Green with water first and then a denatured alcohol with water solution. The Simple Green cleans off the surface dirt and grim, and the alcohol solution cuts through anything remaining, including removing unwanted layers of latex paint.
Very beautiful
The man had taste
Good Lord people! The wood was always painted! It was painted to look like mahogany, but it never was mahogany! The doors in almost all 18th century houses were painted to look like something other than Cypress or oak. For God's sake stop complaining about hostory!
Painting beautiful wood is a CRIME!
Hi Michael, if you watch the first video (in the description) we note that the wood was painted even before with a faux wood grain treatment to make it look like it was mahogany. We also explain that the paint samples were dated to Washington's time which is why we restored the color to what you see today.
I am sure this video was interesting but I could only hear half of it because of the loud competing music that played. I found it most irritating when it drowned out the speakers.
Why would you paint over that beautiful wood?!
Paint protects wood from deterioration.
Should just put up Faux Wood Paneling, like we had in the 60's.
What was painted over was a faux finish wood graining.
Way too shiny
Why paint over that?! I know it’s not the original but seriously? It’s wood, it looks like the original or how it looked before-don’t change it!
I cant believe they painted over that nice wood, even while the Big man was living there.
The wood was always painted. It is a pine and was previously painted to look like a mahogany wood-grain. You can watch the first video here to see why we discovered it was the wrong interpretation of the space. czcams.com/video/cgiaqnxK1rc/video.html
Oh My Goodness!!!! Painting over all that beautiful woodwork!!!! Ahhhhhhh!!!!!! Horrible!!!!!!
sbnsbaker, if you watch the first video we explain that the wood was painted before. It was just painted to look like a faux wood grain. In the original video (in the description) we show the paint sample that was used to show the evidence that this is the proper color during Washington's time.
If they are constantly finding out what it was Supposed to look like when "Washington" Himself was around. Then why be batty about the discoveries when I first visited when I was 12 I felt like the current setup of what was first attempt to be accurate was a bit too Stuffie for the Washington's. Like literally the only thing I liked were the Curtains ......now after seeing all these proper restorations I am all , " GEORGE & MARTHA HAD GOOD FREAKING TASTES. HELLO NEW ROOM COME TO MOMMA!!" So yes I love the entryway now ... That faux graining was not doing it justice. Remember the building has to look like it's still in 1799 heck even 1776 ... Because it is a landmark, they do that for Monticello, HELL I AM PRETTY SURE THEY DO IT FOR THE ANNE FRANK HOUSE ... History is not always in Exposed wood.
In fact can we fix up the Assembly Room too in Independence Hall because I noticed in the painting of the signing of the declaration those are the wrong Curtains, the carpet is missing, AND WHERE THE HELL ARE THE COLONIAL FLAGS !!!
Seriously? My first visit in 1979..... How they can be sure that entryway was cream colored?!? I don’t like it anyway.
I know that that's how it was painted originally but stil.. I don't like it.... real wood look more beautiful and rich . I can't believe when I was in Washington last year, I didn't go to his house....
Is there a vlog on the dig in the basement?
Hi Marcia W, there is not, but we are planning on making future vlogs with the archaeology team.
Painting the wood finish with cream is desecration to me
I do not care what was original. It looks fakey
The music is an awful distraction; overrides voices!
Really?Your changing GEORGE WASHINGTONS HOUSE!Americas first president.You should’ve left it the same as it’s was before to keep history the same
Hi Chris, if you watch the first video (link in the description) we made the change because how it was painted before, with a faux wood grain, was actually historically inaccurate to Washington's time. As historians we are always researching and learning new things about Washington and Mount Vernon. In this case, higher quality digital microscopes were able to allow us to find more paint layers and we could date the paint back to the original color when Washington passed away in 1799. So sometimes we have to make changes if we want to make history correct.
Ohh....ok now I get it.Thx!
Painting wood, should be an executarble offense.
You should watch the first video, it was always painted wood. The previous was a faux wood finish. The new paint is exactly as it was during Washington's time.
Absolutely horrible! I am related to George Washington, and feel personally gutted! I think he would have hated the generic, glossy garbage, that has covered all of that precious, priceless, antique wood! who gave you the go ahead to destroy a national monument like this? I am serious, such a tragedy!
Hi Cleveland, we mention in the previous video that the wood was always painted, the previous look was a faux wood grain look that was painted on the wood to make it look more like mahogany. In our investigation of paint layers we were able to trace back to this original color as it would have been painted during Washington's time. That's why the change was made, to keep it accurate.
You absolutely ruined it. A lot of hard work went into the art of making that wood look the way that it did, and all you did was slap some modern, glossy garbage over a national monument. :'( I have very deep roots in this country, and related to quite a few presidents. My family comes mainly from Virginia, and back then wood was vital to life. Our ancestors appreciated it, valued all the different types, and I am positive George would be as humiliated as I am to see what you have done to his home.
Captain Thomas Hoverton Warner, and Elizabeth Southerton are my 11th great grandparents, and our common grandparents.
I'm related to Washington as well. But only through Martha. Since George had no children of his own.
Look. Lots of people are related to Washington and any other president. This was done in a thoughtful, historically accurate way. You might want to check your attitude as you do not own Mt. Vernon or how it is remembered due to right of descent. There were plenty of garish trends in the 18th Century that our modern tastes do not find palatable, this does not make them any less real. I think that President Washington would find your lack of perspective more horrendous than his loving curated home being restored to how it would have looked at the time of his death in December 1799. Though, he might find your gentry attitude appealing?
..is that really the original color? Not that beautiful wood?
Yes, if you watch the first video (link in the description) it explains in greater detail. The "beautiful wood" is actually a faux woodgrain paint treatment that through paint analysis we determined was not accurate to Washington's time.
You painted that wood over 😝👎🏽
Frank, the wood was always painted, the previous was a faux wood pattern painted as well to look like mahogany. If you watch the first video (link in the description) we go into detail of why we changed the paint based on a dated paint sample to this color that was determined to be true to how Washington had it in 1799.
no that is horrible.
❤💟💞
I hate painting over wood .
The wood was always painted with a faux wood grain. You can learn more about that in our first video: czcams.com/video/cgiaqnxK1rc/video.html
I still think it’s cool
bloody ghastly.... destroying history with a naff paint that was never used in the bloody main hall....
They test the layers of paint and find the one corresponding with the year ,1799. It is accurate to the time.
Hideous, think you got it all wrong
Go away Rick, you're just a hater.
i too a youtube commenter know more than actual historians
Loved the video but the music was
TERRIBLE.
Is this what people say messing with history lol now I know you gotta keep historic things clean and furnished but its kinda funny messing with history lol
Zyhir Harris
They were reverting it back to its original state though. So they’re really restoring and preserving history.
Correct CP, and actually technology has helped us with making these decisions. With the higher powered digital microscopes we were able to find more paint layers than we were previously. It's due to this research that led us to make the change.