Virginia: George Washington’s “Presidential Library” Taking Shape

The new $47 million library will open on Sept. 27, 2013 at Washington’s Mt. Vernon estate near Washington DC.

From the AP (via Politico):

The library will serve as a presidential library of sorts, with a few important distinctions from the dozen or so modern presidential libraries that operate under the auspices of the National Archives.
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For starters, Mount Vernon has prided itself on never accepting government funding, and makes a point to emphasize that this library is not affiliated with the federal government, as modern presidential libraries are.
The planned library is not intended for visits by the general public. It is designed as a scholarly destination and a conference center for groups that see a benefit from soaking in the estate’s historical vibe. Mount Vernon, which draws about a million visitors a year, has extensive exhibits open for public view, including a museum, orientation and education center that all opened in 2006, as well as the centerpiece mansion overlooking the Potomac River.
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Among the outstanding features of the library: a climate-controlled, oval-shaped vault that will house the estate’s rare books – basically the books that Washington himself owned and touched that the estate has been able to acquire.

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Learn More About the Library (via Mt. Vernon.org)

Filed under: Archives and Special Collections, Funding, Libraries, News