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Events

Object Lessons: Recent Discoveries from George Washington's Mount Vernon

Date & Time

Sat. Apr. 25, 2026 1:30 PM-2:30 PM
This event has passed

Location Bayou Bend

Call for Questions 713-639-7750

Email Your Questions [email protected]

Events

Object Lessons: Recent Discoveries from George Washington's Mount Vernon

Date & Time

Sat. Apr. 25, 2026 1:30 PM-2:30 PM
This event has passed

Location Bayou Bend

Although George and Martha Washington, their family members, and the people enslaved at Mount Vernon are among the most heavily studied personalities of the 18th century, new information and primary sources are discovered about them every year. These new findings come in the form of curatorial objects, archaeological discoveries, and newly unearthed documents. Each revelation adds texture and specificity to our knowledge of the past.
 
In this lecture, Adam T. Erby dives into four recent additions to Mount Vernon’s collections and the surprising stories each tells. The artifacts serve as primary sources and jumping-off points for an exploration of domestic life at Mount Vernon during the Washingtons' lifetimes. Erby discusses some of the surprising facets of life at Mount Vernon and the complicated stories of the men, women, and children who lived there.
 
Twice a year, Bayou Bend's Carol and Les Ballard Lecture Series presents renowned scholars who speak about important aspects of American decorative and fine arts.
 
Plan Your Visit
  • Admission is free.
  • The lecture takes place in the Kilroy Visitor and Education Center at Bayou Bend.
  • To participate in a virtual viewing via Zoom, register here.
  • For more information, or to reserve a seat, email [email protected] or call 713‑639‑7762.

About the Speaker
Adam T. Erby is the executive director for historic preservation and collections and the Martha Washington Chief Curator at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, where he oversees the institution’s historic structures, curatorial collections, historic interiors, special exhibitions, and conservation program. He recently curated the permanent exhibitions Mount Vernon: The Story of an American Icon and Lives Bound Together: Slavery at Mount Vernon. Erby is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the Winterthur Program in American Material Culture.

Call for Questions 713-639-7750

Email Your Questions [email protected]

Education programs at Bayou Bend receive generous funding from Houston Junior Woman's Club; Sharon G. Dies; Mary Lynn and Steve Marks; Susan Vaughan Foundation; Ralph H. and Ruth J. McCullough Foundation; Ms. Bobbie Nau; and additional generous donors.

The education programs also receive endowment income from funds provided by Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Ballard; Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Tate; and the James William Glanville and Nancy Hart Glanville Endowment.