A detail of George Washington’s first draft of the U.S. Constitution on loan from the National Archives. Photo by Louise Krafft.
Mount Vernon — On the 225th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution, Mount Vernon Estate unveiled George Washington’s annotated copy of the Acts of Congress. This rare volume garnered world-wide attention this summer when it was offered for sale and broke auction world records for an American historical document. The book includes Washington’s copy of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and other legislation passed by the first session of Congress, complete with his personal annotations. This piece of American history will be on view in the Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center through the national observance of George Washington’s birthday on Feb. 18, 2013.
Accompanying the Acts of Congress through Oct. 29, on loan from the National Archives and Records Administration, is George Washington’s first draft of the Constitution. This draft displays Washington’s hand-written notes recording the convention’s handling of each proposed clause.