Tuesday, June 17, 2025
Raynham Hall Museum unveiled a groundbreaking addition to its exhibits on April 24: a lifelike, interactive artificial intelligence rendering of George Washington, hailed by museum staff as one of the most realistic digital representations of the first U.S. president ever created.
The debut featured a public demonstration of the AI, which speaks to visitors, offers reflections on the founding of the nation, and even takes audience questions—with a few 18th-century rules of decorum.
“This is not just another artistic interpretation of what Washington may have looked like,” museum director Harriet Clark told attendees at the launch. “Young people who spend a lot of time on their phones can also now enjoy history on a bigger screen.”
The AI experience builds on a 1785 life mask sculpted by French artist Jean-Antoine Houdon, who visited Mount Vernon to model Washington’s likeness for a statue commissioned by Virginia’s government. That original mask informed a bust housed at Mount Vernon. Through digital scanning from the Smithsonian Institution, tech firm Nine Dot Solutions transformed the mask into a photo-realistic 3D model of Washington, complete with his regimental uniform based on artifacts from the Smithsonian and Massachusetts Historical Society.
Christopher Judge, the museum’s technology coordinator, guided the audience through the debut. After a brief introduction, the digital George Washington “took the stage,” delivering a speech that evoked themes of liberty, unity and vigilance in democracy.
“The sacred principles upon which this country was built, the victories we now cherish, were not won by generals alone, but by patriots of every rank,” the AI said in its opening remarks. “The Revolution was not the work of ambition or self-interest, but of a steadfast devotion to justice, to liberty, and to the firm defiance of tyranny.”
Washington’s speech included a nod to Oyster Bay’s role in Revolutionary history, particularly the efforts of Robert Townsend and the Culper Spy Ring, which passed intelligence to Washington during the war.
The experience is part of the museum’s broader initiative to integrate augmented and virtual reality into historical interpretation. Past efforts included first-person mobile phone narratives from historical figures connected to the Townsend family, which owned Raynham Hall during the 18th century.
Following the speech, the AI answered pre-scripted audience questions, keeping in character with 18th-century mannerisms and humor. Museum staff say the AI Washington will become a permanent part of the visitor experience.
“This is the future of storytelling,” Clark said. “But it’s firmly rooted in the past.”
