>> television has changed since c-span began 41 years ago, but our mission continues -- to provide an unfiltered view of government. we have already provided coverage of the presidential impeachment process and now the federal response to the coronavirus crisis. be part of the national conversation through c-span's daily "washington journal" program, or through our social media scene. c-span -- created by private industry. america's television company. brought to you by your television provider. mount vernon had to close on march 14 to all visitors. it was really a historic moment. for anyot been closed kind of extended period since the u.s. civil war.

the immediate concern was the safety of the staff and the families and the visitors at mount vernon. we put in place all the protocols of social distancing, but having to shut down, we still had some work to do here at the estate. we had some lambs being born every day. plants and gardens that needed to be maintained. buildings that need to be maintained. at this moment, we are outside. we had to bad and down the hatches in our collections spaces and administrative offices. -- transferquickly quickly to a skeleton crew on and then transferred to remote work to continue the mission. -- has had has been a challenging impact on mount vernon's operations. we love to teach people here at the place.

all the virtual work we do is important, but there is nothing better than coming to mount vernon. we rely on the revenue generated from ticket sales, sales on our food, and our shops. a challenge to sustain our mission through this time of no revenue. it is a difficult time, particularly as we do not know how or when it will end, and how it will look on the other side. a lot of history sites have not been the first thing on people's minds, but they are a crucial part of the cultural strength of our nation. so we need to remember them and be generous to them if we are able. it is critical that we continue to connect with the public because our mission is to teach, to educate people everywhere about the legacy of george washington and his age. we have great teacher connections, teacher programs. we teach families and students

and researchers of all kinds all the time. so that had to continue. we wanted to make sure we continued to provide content for people so that they connect with each other. we began these live streaming opportunities as well in a limited way. a great way to give us a chance to drill down and some of the deeper mysteries of this important blaze. -- place. mount vernon is an icon of american identity, a touchstone of who we are as a nation. millions come to visit this place. important inlarly times of international and national crisis that places like this, that are stewards, of the memory of the country that are here to help us give -- get perspective, are still reaching out to our communities, local, national, and international to make sure we are all working together.

in a normal year, mount vernon does not close. we are open 365 days a year. last year we welcomed one million visitors. that included 350,000 schoolchildren from all over the nation. our busy season is right now. mid-juneid-march and is our hundred days. it is the busiest time of the year, with buses lined up outside mount vernon, as thousands of schoolkids and families come. geter week, we typically between 5000 and 7000 visitors a day. george washington's experience provides an endless catalog of lessons and perspective encourage we can draw upon -- perspective and courage we can draw upon.

the smallpox epidemic was a big part of the 18th century world. he himself had survived smallpox, which gave him lifetime immunity, but he also practiced inoculation with the troops in the army as well is his own family. because smallpox, when it hit you, with devastating. over 30% of the people who got smallpox would die. that is tremendous. inoculation brought that way down. that is await washington was practicing the best practices possible to ensure the survival of the american cause. it gives us a great lesson to draw from that you deal with adversity with clear eyes using science, using the best techniques available, to make sure you can innovate and survive. americans have always done that well and i think we are going to see it again now. i very much look forward when we forward to the moment when we can welcome back the public.

we can have an incredible party to celebrate our independence and our freedom from anxiety at this moment. tv,ext, an american history douglas bradford -- bradburn appears in the education center with a life-size replica of washington. he traces the president's military career while also taking questions from viewers. originallym livestreamed on facebook and youtube and is part of a series toonline events intended keep visitors connected with mount vernon during its closure to the public because of the coronavirus pandemic. here we are again. welcome back. my name is doug bradburn. has my delight -- my