North Garden House

In mid-summer 2020, work was completed on the North Garden House. Located in the upper garden, this small octagonal structure was built right after the Revolutionary War. Its primary function was to store tools and seeds, but it also briefly served as a schoolhouse for Washington’s step-grandchildren, Nelly and Washy Custis.

The restoration project presented a complex challenge to our architectural preservation team. While the building’s 18th-century framing survived, there was a pronounced level of deterioration throughout the structure. Adding to the challenge, the interior plaster pre-dated the Civil War and contained signatures of 19th-century visitors. The team painstakingly replaced deteriorated framing members, all while preserving the integrity of the interior plaster. Final efforts included work on the siding and new cypress shingles to ensure the building is weather-tight to prevent future damage.

The restoration of the North Garden House was generously supported by an anonymous foundation; the Marietta McNeill Morgan & Samuel Tate Morgan, Jr. Trust; the Roller-Bottimore Foundation; the George L. Shields Foundation, Inc.; the Richard and Caroline T. Gwathmey Memorial Trust; and the Christine and Jaime Yordán Foundation.