Cook with Another Martha, Martha Washington

In the spirit of the week of President’s Day, Mount Vernon invites visitors to experience a behind-the-scenes look at our first president’s and his wife, Martha’s, kitchen through the new exhibition, Hoecakes & Hospitality: Cooking with Martha Washington. On display inside the Donald W. Reynolds Museum, this temporary exhibition celebrates food at Mount Vernon and Martha Washington’s role as early America’s premier hostess.  Following food from the Estate’s field to kitchen to table, visitors will see recipes and cookbooks that Martha treasured, pots that simmered in her kitchen, and fine tablewares that made Mount Vernon’s dining room fit for a president. For the first time ever, visitors to the Museum will experience scents as they explore the exhibition—smelling cinnamon, coffee, herbs and warm bread. The hardcover book Hoecakes & Hospitality: Cooking with Martha Washington is included with general Estate admission: adults, $15; children ages 6-11, $7; and children under 5 are admitted free.

Hoecakes & Hospitality: Cooking with Martha Washington features more than 125 fascinating objects amassed from Mount Vernon’s collections, other institutions and private lenders.  Among the highlights are the Washingtons’ dinner bell, heart-shaped waffle iron, a vente-sized mug of Chinese porcelain, coffee mill, three-foot olive jar, presidential dinner invitations and other kitchen items. In addition to displaying Martha Washington’s cookbook, the exhibition will feature George Washington’s account of the food staples used by the household. Few 18th century domestic utensils survive today; most wore out from service and were discarded since they had little monetary value.  Martha Washington’s descendants carefully preserved many objects from Mount Vernon’s kitchen because of their association with George and Martha Washington.

For more information on Mount Vernon and the Donald W. Reynolds Museum go to www.mountvernon.org.

The new Hoecakes & Hospitality: Cooking with Martha Washington exhibition, opened February 18, goes behind the scenes in the Washingtons' kitchen. This new exhibition will feature more than 125 kitchen and food-related objects from Mount Vernon. Among the highlights are the Washingtons' dinner bell, heart-shaped waffle iron, a vente-sized mug of Chinese porcelain, coffee mill, three-foot olive jar, and presidential dinner invitations. (PRNewsFoto/George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate, Museum & Gardens)