A Gala Dinner Dance Celebrates the Opening of George Washington’s Presidential Library

The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association on Thursday night celebrated the opening of the
new Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington at Mount Vernon.
The Champagne flowed, the lights of the house glowed, and at long last the library
President Washington only dreamed about was a reality. It is named in honor of Smith,
the chairman of the Reynolds Foundation, who got the funding underway with a contribution
of $38 million. The total amount raised came to $106 million.

The formal dinner dance began early, so that guests
could take shuttle buses across
the way to tour the new library, so spanking new it still
smells of fresh carpet,
new wood, and paint. (We had an earlier tour the week before.)

The building gleamed, especially as the sun set in the western sky, effortlessly transporting
guests back in time. Gazing at the Potomac it was moving to consider that this was
Washington’s view, too, and that thankfully it has not changed much in 200 years.
Looking back at the mansion, someone asked, “Isn’t it supposed to be white?” No. The
color it is now, a light brown, is its original color, discovered after much scraping
and research. The surface has an almost stucco-like feel but is actually a sand-based
paint, attractive in a humble, farmhouse way.

The women of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, which owns and preserves the estate,
were having their evening, and most seemed almost giddy as they led the other guests
from the lawn to a nearby tent dressed up with colorful tablecloths, candles, flowers,
and a stage set to replicate a library. A dance band played 20th-century music for
this 18th-century occasion.

In the invocation, we were told the library “would always be a beacon.”
Ann Bookout, the regent of the Ladies’ Association, praised Mount Vernon’s new president,
Curtis Viebranz, and his predecessor,
Jim Rees.
Gay Gaines, the vice regent, called the new building “the single most important library built
in this century.” She thanked those who had contributed at least $250,000 each, many
of whom were in the room, and others who gave lesser amounts, pausing periodically
for applause. “When a believer makes a commitment, a believer goes after it,” Gaines
said.

Dinner was served, including a crab, apple, and asparagus tart served on kale, braised
tenderloin with truffled pea risotto, baby carrots and haricots verts, and a dessert
of chocolate crunch cake with salted caramel ice cream. The still wines were from
Virginia, from the Trump Winery in Charlottesville and Barboursville Vineyards in
Barboursville, and the Champagne was Moët & Chandon from France.

The entertainment was threefold. First came an onstage performance by
Amy Grant and her husband,
Vince Gill. They were introduced as “that young couple,” prompting Grant to say, “I’m about
to have my 53rd birthday. I’m happy to be called a young couple.” Then performers
read portions of the Washington Papers on the piazza of the mansion, and the evening
was capped off by fireworks over the Potomac.

For those who believe George Washington’s ghost remains in Mount Vernon, the nation’s
first President was likely having a very fine time on Thursday night.