Mount Vernon
George Washington's plantation above the Potomac, where the estate now tells the story of the people enslaved on it as well.
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Washington inherited the estate in 1761 and enlarged the house into the long piazza-fronted building that stands now, looking over the Potomac. The exterior is wood, cut and sanded to imitate stone blocks, a technique called rustication. He is buried in the tomb on the grounds with Martha. The estate was worked by more than three hundred enslaved people at the time of his death, and the site has spent decades changing how it presents that: the reconstructed slave quarters, the memorial at the burial ground, and a permanent exhibition covering the individuals by name where records allow. Gardens, a working farm with a sixteen-sided treading barn, and a museum complete the visit.
What you actually see
- A wooden house cut to look like stone - the rustication technique.
- The tomb - Washington and Martha, in the grounds.
- The enslaved people's burial ground and quarters - with a permanent exhibition.
- A working farm - including the sixteen-sided treading barn.
When to go
April to October. Half a day.
Honest expectations
The house is seen on a timed tour that moves briskly. Summer queues are long and the grounds are hot. It is a private non-profit, so no federal passes apply. Public transport from Washington is awkward.
Nearby
Old Town Alexandria is north; Fort Hunt is between.
What to pack for Mount Vernon
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
