Millions of people visit George Washington's Virginia country estate, Mount Vernon, each year but few people actually know much about Washington the man. Now all this is changing with the opening this past October of the new Ford Orientation Center and Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center here. The new facilities are major components of a $110 million project to restore the ³Father of Our Country² to his rightful place of honor and distinction in America.

Located near the entrance, the new buildings at Mount Vernon house hundreds of significant artifacts and state-of-the-art exhibits that complement the historic home and gardens, enriching the visitor experience by illuminating fascinating chapters of Washington's life including early adulthood, military leadership, and the presidency.

By exploring 25 galleries and theaters, visitors will learn about Washington's exceptional life and accomplishments through interactive displays, a major movie, short films produced by The History Channel, and high-tech experiences. Three life-size models created by a forensic anthropologist and a team of interdisciplinary experts depict Washington as never before seen at three significant stages of his life. The model of Washington as a land surveying teenager serves to dispel the elder statesman icon and encourages people to think about him in a new way ‹ an incomparable American hero who evolved from a young man of modest means into our country's first and perhaps its greatest president.

A rich and comprehensive collection of objects will introduce Washington's world in a new state-of-the-art museum. Visitors get an unprecedented look at furnishings, china, silver, clothing, jewelry, Revolutionary War artifacts, rare books and manuscripts, and other personal effects of the Washington family. Many of these treasures are exhibited at Mount Vernon for the first time in the new museum. To ensure the Orientation Center and Museum and Education Center did not overwhelm or detract from the historic home, architects placed two thirds of the 66,700 sq. ft. complex under the four-acre pasture just inside Mount Vernon's main gate. The design guarantees the pastoral setting and views to and from the historic home are preserved. Traditional Hogg Island sheep, like those raised here 200 years ago, will graze in the pasture, providing a farm-like setting similar to the Mount Vernon of Washington's day.

With a comprehensive movie and exhibitions, the Ford Orientation Center will give visitors an overview of the Mount Vernon experience while dispelling the elder statesman icon and introducing the real George Washington a dynamic, fascinating hero – prior to touring the estate.

The Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center features 23 gallery and theater experiences---many of them with interactive technology---that illuminate the detailed story of Washington's life, including his military and presidential careers. These captivating chapters of Washington's life are not covered in any depth by the public tours of his estate, which focuses on life at Mount Vernon. The building also serves as Washington's presidential library with classroom space and computers that will provide access to more than 20,000 letters written by our first president during his lifetime. A rich and comprehensive collection of objects serve to introduce Washington's world in a new museum.

Visitors get an unprecedented look at furnishings, china, silver, clothing, jewelry, Revolutionary War artifacts, rare books and manuscripts, and other personal effects (including a pair of false teeth) of the Washington family.

Many of these treasures are exhibited at Mount Vernon for the first time.

Mount Vernon was the home of George and Martha Washington from the time of their marriage in 1759 until General Washington's death in 1799. During this period, the plantation grew from 2,000 acres to 8,000 and the mansion house from six rooms to twenty one. The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association acquired the country estate from the Washington family in 1858 and opened it to the public in 1860.

Since that time, nearly 80 million visitors have toured Washington's home.

Mount Vernon is independent of the government and no tax dollars are expended to support the 500-acre estate, its educational programs or activities. There are public tours of the historic home and the dozen outbuildings including the slave quarters, kitchen, stables, and greenhouse.

At the foot of a gentle hill facing the Potomac River is the tomb where George and Martha Washington are buried. Mount Vernon is open every day of the year including holidays.

Nearby Alexandria, Virginia, Washington's hometown is also rich in history.

Those planning to visit Mount Vernon should view www.funside.com and www.mountvernon.org. The newly opened National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC (located in the fully restored former U.S. Patent Office building) has a large gallery devoted to portraits of our first president. It includes Gilbert Stuart's famous Lansdowne Portrait (1796), painted from life and thought to be the most authentic likeness of Washington. See www.npg.si.edu.

In Banbury, England, there's another historic Washington home worth visiting. Acquired in 1539 by a George Washington's direct ancestor (seven generations), Sulgrave Manor is open to the public and is a fine example of a modest manor house of Shakespeare's time. See www.sulgravemanor.org.uk.