Leesburg, VA. 6/29/05... This year the Westmoreland Davis Memorial Foundation, Incorporated, the charitable entity entrusted with preserving historic Morven Park, celebrates its 50th birthday. The Foundation has begun work on a new strategic plan to guide Morven Park into the next half century. The challenges that face the Foundation have never been greater and some hard decisions have been made by the Trustees while focusing on the priorities and original mission of Mrs. Davis herself.

One consequence of this new focus is that the Trustees have decided to accelerate the restoration of the Mansion. The recent discovery of serious drainage issues that threaten the foundation and contents of the Mansion will force the closing of the Mansion itself after July 4th. Will O'Keefe, executive director, said "This is a very important and exciting time for Morven Park. Our actions today will assure that the Mansion and the memory of Governor and Mrs. Davis will survive for generations to come."

During this extensive work under and around the building, the Morven Park property will remain open to the public during visitors' hours for historical tours of the grounds and visits to the Winmill Carriage Collection. In addition, some new exhibits of pieces of the Davis' collection will be on display in the Vaughan Room at the Visitors Center.

Another consequence is that the Trustees have decided that after this year, the Foundation will no longer operate the Morven Park International Equestrian Center as an internal part of the Foundation. According to O'Keefe, "Every member of our Board of Trustees recognizes the cultural significance of the activities the Foundation has sponsored at the Equestrian Center, but in an era of competing priorities and tightening resources, the Board has decided to emphasize the historic aspects of our mission." O'Keefe explained that the Foundation still intends to support the Northern Virginia equestrian and event community by looking for a strategic partner with the energy and resources to lease the facilities from the Foundation and continue to run a first-class operation.