Imagine stepping into a place dedicated to understanding the complexities of a leader. That place is the Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington. It is located at Washington’s beloved home in Mount Vernon Virginia.
The Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington isn’t just any library. It’s a portal into the life and times of America’s first president. Privately funded and meticulously built by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association this library officially opened its doors on September 27 2013. The library is named for Fred W. Smith. He is the chairman of the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. This foundation donated 38 million dollars to the project.
Inside the Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington a treasure trove awaits. The 45000 square foot building houses thousands of books newspapers pamphlets and more. These resources delve into the world of George and Martha Washington. They cover topics like the American Revolution colonial America and even slavery.
But it’s not just about quantity. The Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington boasts special collections. Rare books documents and letters offer intimate glimpses into Washington’s life presidency and family. Imagine holding a book that once sat on Washington’s shelf. The library holds 103 books that were once part of George Washington’s collection.
The library also holds high-tech meeting rooms. Here lectures conferences and meetings bring history to life. A large oval vault safeguards a six-foot pewter bas relief of Washington’s bookplate. It depicts the Washington family crest.
Curious minds of all ages are welcome at the Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington. By appointment researchers and scholars can explore the library’s materials. These materials must be used within the building.
Kevin Butterfield shapes the direction of Washington’s presidential library as its executive director. Butterfield notes Washington’s dedication to knowledge. Washington’s library was full of volumes on politics and the law. Butterfield was surprised to find that Washington was very well read in the law.
Washington also had an appetite for fiction. One of the more curious volumes is a copy of Don Quixote.
The library also holds handwritten documents of life at Mount Vernon. The library holds one of two surviving letters that George wrote to Martha. It is a letter that George wrote to Martha on the day that he was about to leave Philadelphia. He was going to take command of the Continental Army in Boston.
The Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington isn’t just a repository of knowledge. It’s a place where Washington’s dream comes alive. A dream deferred for over two centuries. It’s a space for discovery where the past informs the present. It inspires new understandings of leadership and legacy.