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The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is currently hosting an exhibition that offers fresh insight into the life of our nation’s first president. Discover the Real George Washington: New Views from Mount Vernon will be on display until January 22, 2012.

The exhibition, organized into eleven sections, goes beyond familiar, iconic images to show Washington as not only a general and president, but also as a young land surveyor, experimental farmer, and savvy entrepreneur. The exhibition also explores Washington’s views on religion and slavery, and the influence of his wife, Martha. Forensic specialists, art historians, and computer scientists worked together to create accurate three-dimensional depictions of Washington at different stages in his life and career.

The exhibition offers images of Washington’s Mount Vernon estate as well as tools, armaments, and the only surviving complete set of dentures that he used in his lifetime. Brief video documentaries examine Washington’s religious beliefs, military service, and agricultural innovations.

Humanities Texas served as a local partner for this exciting program, helping support a series of five public lectures held in conjunction with the exhibition. The First of Men: A Life of George Washington author John Ferling and Founding Gardeners author Andrea Wulf lectured at the museum in October.

In November, Dennis Pogue, vice president of George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, spoke about Washington’s connections to the nation’s emerging whiskey industry. Susan Schoelwer, curator at Historic Mount Vernon, lectured on Martha Washington.

Laura Simo, associate curator at Mount Vernon, will deliver a lecture titled “Myths and Trivia about Washington” on January 10, 2012.

For more information on the Discover the Real George Washington exhibition and its related lecture series, visit the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History online.