Official announcements from Mount Vernon officials or conservation reports

Archaeologists Find 35 Bottles of 250-Year-Old Fruits at George Washington's Mount Vernon

Jun 15, 2024, 06:08 AM

Archaeologists have unearthed 35 glass bottles containing perfectly preserved cherries and berries from the 18th century in the cellar of George Washington's Mount Vernon mansion. The discovery was made in five storage pits, with 29 bottles still intact. Mount Vernon officials said Thursday that the fruits, likely including currants or gooseberries, have been extracted and are being refrigerated on-site for scientific analysis. The bottles, which date back more than 250 years to before the Revolutionary War, are currently drying out and will be sent away for conservation.