George Washington's Mount Vernon

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George Washington's Mount Vernon Mount Vernon, located in Northern Virginia, is the historic home of America’s first president, George Washington. Mount Vernon is open 365 days per year.
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Visit George Washington’s Virginia estate to learn about the daily lives of the first U.S. president, his family, and the enslaved people who lived and worked here. Wander the gardens, meet farm animals, and pay your respects at George Washington's tomb and at the Slave Memorial and Cemetery. Between visits, make sure to follow us for daily posts about the founding era and what life was like in the 1700s.

10/15/2026

🧵 🪡 See one of only three surviving quilt tops made by Martha Washington—a colorful design featuring 19 different fabrics and patterns! It's on display until January 15th, 2027🪡 🧵

While intended to be completed and used as a decorative bed cover, the "Children's Games" quilt top remained unfinished at her death. Her granddaughter, Elizabeth Parke Custis Law, inherited and carefully preserved it.

When she pieced this quilt top together, she created one of the largest and most colorful expressions of her creative personality. The technical composition and stitching reveal her expertise as a quilter. She used a common format—the framed center medallion—and made it her own with design choices that set her work apart from other quilters of the period.

Visit our YouTube channel for an extended chat with Amanda to learn even more!

10/14/2026

This week in 1776, the British landed at Frog’s Point, threatening to outflank George Washington’s army and forcing him to reconsider the defense of Manhattan. Meanwhile, on Lake Champlain, Benedict Arnold fought a losing battle at Valcour Island—but delaying the British advance in the process.

10/13/2026

Happy 251st birthday to the U.S. Navy!

On October 13, 1775, the Continental Congress authorized two armed vessels to intercept ships carrying supplies to the British Army. This established what would become the Continental Navy, beginning a naval tradition that continues today.

A decade later, Thomas Jefferson wrote to George Washington about those early days of the war and posed a question about one of the Revolution’s more unusual naval experiments: Did Washington remember David Bushnell’s Turtle, the one-man submarine that had attempted to attack a British warship in 1776?

David Bushnell’s contributions to the Revolutionary War and to submarine technology are considerable; his ideas for a screw propeller and the use of water as ballast are both still used today. He invented the first working weaponized submarine and was the father of naval mine warfare.

Read the extraordinary letter here: https://bit.ly/47d4f3o

Archaeologists at Mount Vernon have collected evidence of the earliest human occupation here dating to the Early/Middle ...
10/12/2026

Archaeologists at Mount Vernon have collected evidence of the earliest human occupation here dating to the Early/Middle Archaic period. Early Archaic projectile points have been found in the Mansion vicinity and the South Grove Midden.

Environmental changes during this period led to continued population growth. River resources played an increasingly important role to these communities, and people started to rely on migratory fish species, such as shad and herring, as well as shellfish, in their diets.

Steatite or soapstone bowls appeared, which were carved or hollowed out by hand from blocks of steatite and quarried from regional sources. These bowls could be directly heated on a hearth unlike vessels fashioned from hide or fiber. These factors encouraged a trend towards a more sedentary lifestyle in the Late Archaic period—moving less frequently and staying in a single location for longer periods of time.

Learn more about the Native communities who lived on the land before it became Mount Vernon: https://bit.ly/4zmTzLx

George Washington studied and implemented improved farming methods throughout his life. In fact, he thought of himself f...
10/10/2026

George Washington studied and implemented improved farming methods throughout his life. In fact, he thought of himself first as a farmer. While his initial interest in farming was driven by his own needs to earn a living and improve Mount Vernon, in later years Washington realized his leadership and experimentation could assist all American farmers.

“George Washington and a Nation of Farmers” is an 18-panel exhibit showcasing George Washington’s agricultural vision, leadership, and the centrality of his farming innovations to the creation of a new American nation.

If you're near West Bend, Wisconsin, you can see the exhibit in person at The Tower Heritage Center now through early December, and the downloadable exhibit is available free of charge to organizations across the country! Learn more: https://bit.ly/4fsKjyi

How do we build a stronger democracy for the next 250 years?Join us November 5–7 as we explore the enduring ideals of de...
10/09/2026

How do we build a stronger democracy for the next 250 years?

Join us November 5–7 as we explore the enduring ideals of democracy that have shaped the American experiment at Lessons from the Founding: The 2026 George Washington Symposium.

It's your chance to hear from renowned historians and civic leaders during a milestone year. Speakers will connect the nation's founding principles with today's most pressing civic questions through nine dynamic themes.

For in-person or virtual tickets: https://bit.ly/4yvjS25

The annual George Washington Symposium is supported by a generous endowment established by The Barra Foundation.

is upon us! 👻 🎃 This month, we will share some ghost stories of Mount Vernon. The first ghost story takes place at Geo...
10/08/2026

is upon us! 👻 🎃 This month, we will share some ghost stories of Mount Vernon. The first ghost story takes place at George Washington's Tomb.

On an early morning in 2006, an interpreter by the Tomb witnessed an ectoplasm in the far right corner of the Tomb. The interpreter said, "When I moved, the ectoplasm moved. I watched as it became a blur in my vision, and it continued to move around." She took two photos that showed the blur of light. As the voices of guests began coming down the hill, the ectoplasm disappeared. The interpreter said this happened again on three different occasions.

10/07/2026

This week in 1776, George Washington’s army still held northern Manhattan, but the British controlled the surrounding waterways. Washington feared their powerful navy could use the Hudson River to move around his flank and ultimately encircle his forces.

10/06/2026

Last Saturday, George Washington's Mount Vernon joined Black Women United for Action to honor the lives and legacies of the enslaved men, women, and children who lived and labored at Mount Vernon for the Slave Memorial Commemoration.

The Slave Memorial at Mount Vernon marks the site where both free and enslaved people were buried in the 18th and 19th centuries, without permanent identifying markers. The Slave Memorial stands adjacent to a monument erected on the site in 1929 by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association to mark this sacred place. This marker is believed to be the earliest of its kind on a historic plantation.

It reads, “In memory of the many faithful colored servants of the Washington family buried at Mount Vernon from 1760 to 1860. Their unidentified graves surround this spot.” While the reference to “faithful colored servants” embodies a nostalgic view of slavery, the monument represented an early effort to acknowledge the lives of those who labored on the estate.

10/06/2026

Join Colleen Shogan, Sean Wilentz, and Beverly Gage for a discussion on presidential leadership. This conversation will be moderated by Lindsay Chervinsky, Executive Director of the Washington Library. This trio of experts will explore presidential leadership from the founding to today.

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3200 Mount Vernon Memorial Highway
Mount Vernon, VA
22121

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+17037802000

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