The Institution Since the 1850s, the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association (MVLA) has been a leader of historic preservation in the United States, maintaining the home and estate of George Washington to the highest standards and establishing the model for whole place preservation, while pioneering historic research, interpretation, and collections stewardship. Without their visionary efforts, the home of George Washington would not have been saved from ruin. Because of their initiative and ongoing leadership, the MVLA has welcomed nearly 90 million visitors since they acquired the property. Their example has influenced the development of historic preservation throughout the United States. Mount Vernon welcomes approximately 1 million annual visitors, which incl