Be Washington: It’s Your Turn To Lead at Mount Vernon

Do you have what it takes to be a leader like George Washington? A new program at Mount Vernon provides a chance for you to test your skills to see if you have what it takes to make executive decisions like the first president.

“Be Washington,” opens on February 12th. The new exhibit combines 18th-century reenactments with 21st-century technology as participants test their ability to make decisions. The exhibit takes you on four challenges faced by Washington during the Revolutionary War and into his presidency including: battle strategies, military pay, America’s neutrality and a tax revolt.

My family and I were recently invited to be a few of the first guests to test out this amazingly educational and fun historic game. Ella is currently learning about the Revolutionary War in her 4th grade Virginia Studies class. She was excited to see if she could make better decisions than her little brother, Logan — a second grader.

Historic events unfold on a 30-foot movie screen while guests of the Mount Vernon exhibit are seated at touch-screen consoles and are able to watch the big screen story and select which advisers to consult and rate their advice. Ella and Logan had fun thinking about their options while feeling the pressure of the timer that was quickly running out. Just when they were both ready to make their decision, the touch-screen console alerted them that they had three more advisors they could consult before making the final call.

Each challenge offers a 17-minute segment and participants have 10 seconds to choose one of three actions to take. Washington faced some very critical decisions. He had to seek advice from trusted advisors and others to make executive decisions.  This exhibit offers a fun, innovative approach to feeling how it might have felt to “Be Washington.”

“Be Washington” opens February 12. Programs will run on a loop during regular Mount Vernon hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Included in admission price. $12 ages 6 to 11, $20 adults, age 5 and younger free.

*This exhibit is appropriate for ages 8 and over. 

For more information, visit: www.mountvernon.org.

{This post was sponsored by Mount Vernon.}