Thank you to those who joined us virtually and in-person for the 2026 Museum Benefit on September 29, 2026. Thanks to the generosity of our ticket-holders and donors, we surpassed our fundraising goal and funded all five designated underwriting projects.

This year's Benefit celebrated the 200th anniversary of the Mount Vernon Hotel opening as a day hotel in 1826. This bicentennial milestone offers a wonderful opportunity not only to honor the Museum's remarkable history, but also to support its future through the preservation, educational, and public programming initiatives that remain at the heart of its mission.

From David Freeland’s fascinating presentation on the Mount Vernon Hotel’s connections to the grand hotels like the Waldorf-Astoria that followed, to the Waldorf-Astoria-inspired menu, live piano music by a pianist who played at the Waldorf-Astoria for five years, and guided Museum tour, the evening was a fitting tribute to two centuries of hotel history. We are grateful to everyone who helped bring it to life.

Photos by Andreas Hofweber