George Washington's Mt Vernon

At George Washington’s Mount Vernon, the estate and visitor campus spans beyond the colonial mansion. In 2018, Mount Vernon sought to revitalize two key visitor experiences: a new interactive theater, Be Washington, and a technically upgraded 4D Revolutionary War Theater. The goal was to deepen engagement by blending immersive storytelling with historical artifacts and sensory media.

Bringing Revolutionary War Theater to Life

Solomon Group was selected to provide exhibit fabrication, AV systems integration, lighting, graphic support, and technical direction across both projects. In cooperation with design partner Gallagher & Associates and media producer Cortina Productions, our team delivered:

• A dramatic, 6K LED main screen (approximately 30 ft × 8 ft) with supporting touchscreen kiosks as part of Be Washington

• 18 custom hardwood interactive desks allowing visitors to make decisions aligned with George Washington’s real leadership dilemmas

• Light-box “windows” that dynamically shift in color based on the narrative on screen, integrated 5.1 audio, and a Medialon show control system to automate lighting, doors, and the interactive experience

• In the Revolutionary War Theater upgrade, a curved projection screen (32 ft × 16 ft), Christie Boxer 4K projector, seat shakers, new lighting fixtures and environmental effects (snow, fog, wind) were integrated, along with synchronized show programming tied to media and physical effects

Recognition & Reception

• Be Washington: It’s Your Turn to Lead received a Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement from the Themed Entertainment Association in 2018

• The interactive theater also won a Merit Award from the Society for Experiential Graphic Design (SEGD) in 2019

These accolades underscore Mount Vernon’s ambition in visitor experience design and validate the integration of narrative, media, and fabrication into meaningful, award-winning environments.

Why It Matters

These theaters transform passive museum visits into participatory experiences. Be Washington lets visitors step into Washington’s shoes and make real choices. The upgraded Revolutionary War Theater brings battlefield history to life through sensory media. Together, they reflect how historical institutions must balance authenticity, storytelling, and technology to connect with modern audiences.

By contributing to these experiences, Solomon Group supported Mount Vernon’s mission to interpret George Washington not just as history, but as a leader whose decision-making continues to resonate.