Lifelike Washington Figures Based on Forensic Research

Three life-size figures of Washington, developed through a cutting-edge forensic investigation, are among the highlights in Discover the Real George Washington: New Views From Mount Vernon, opening Friday, Sept. 10, at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh.The figures are based on a two-year forensic study in which computer scientists, art historians, 18th-century garment experts, and a forensic scientist used technology and research from primary sources to measure and analyze portraits, sculpture, and Washington’s dentures and clothing.

The project employed proprietary age-progression and age-regression techniques to create the depictions of Washington at three stages of his life: at age 19 as a young surveyor, at age 45 as commander in chief, and at age 57 as the first president taking the oath of office. These lifelike wax figures, with real human hair that was implanted one strand at a time, are embedded in realistic settings — one even with animation — that re-create scenes in the woodsy Ohio Valley territory, in wintry Valley Forge, and on the balcony of Federal Hall.

The fascinating process of creating the figures is shown in a video by The History Channel, which also produced five other videos in the exhibition. The forensic figures of Washington were created by StudioEIS, based in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Discover the Real George Washington was organized by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association and funded by the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation. The exhibition will run through Jan. 21, 2011. For ticket informationcall 919-807-7900.

Related Program: Putting a Face on the First President 

Hear how Jeffrey Schwartz, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Pittsburgh, and his team used computer imaging and forensic techniques to help create the life-size statues of our nation’s first president in Discover the Real George Washington. Schwartz will present the program Putting a Face on the First President on Sunday, Oct. 3, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. To register, call 919-807-7992 by Friday, Oct. 1. A reception follows the program.

For information about the Museum of History, call 919-807-7900.

About the N.C. Museum of History
The N.C. Museum of History’s hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. For more information, call 919-807-7900 or go to ncmuseumofhistory.org or Facebook®.Located at 5 E. Edenton St., the museum is part of the Division of State History Museums, the state agency with the mission to enrich lives and communities, and the vision to harness the state’s cultural resources to build North Carolina’s social, cultural and economic future. Information is available at www.ncculture.com.           

About Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens
Since 1860, over 80 million visitors have made George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens the most popular historic home in America. Through thought-provoking tours, entertaining events, and stimulating educational programs on the Estate and in classrooms across the nation, Mount Vernon strives to preserve George Washington’s place in history as “First in War, First in Peace, and First in the Hearts of His Countrymen.” Mount Vernon is owned and operated by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, America’s oldest national preservation organization, founded in 1853. A picturesque drive to the southern end of the scenic George Washington Memorial Parkway, Mount Vernon is located just 16 miles from the nation’s capital. For more information, access www.MountVernon.org.

About the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation
The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation is a national philanthropic organization founded by the late media entrepreneur for whom it was named. Headquartered in Las Vegas, the Reynolds Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the United States. For more information, visit DWReynolds.org.

(Back to Press Releases)