Mount Vernon

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'll find

• 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.

Good to know

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.

Key facts