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For Immediate Release June 23, 2005 Media Contact:Melissa Wood (703) 799-5203 MOUNT VERNON, Va. – George Washington’s Mount Vernon celebrates the summer season with special activities for families! Summer boredom is extinct as history comes alive: families can tour Washington’s Mansion, tour a 16-sided treading barn, play archaeologist for the day, travel down the Potomac in a sightseeing cruise, and explore Washington’s estate with a children’s adventure map. Washington’s Gristmill demonstrates science in motion as the replica 18th-century water-powered mill turns corn into cornmeal before your eyes. More interactive opportunities can be found at the “Hands-On History Exhibit”, designed especially for kids. All summer activities are included in admission with the exception of sightseeing cruises and the Gristmill. This exhibit turns children of all ages into cultural detectives who learn about early American life. Carding and spinning wool, cross-mending artifacts, using 18th-century tools, constructing wooden buckets, dressing up in colonial clothing, and playing colonial games are some of the interactive components of this popular activity. Other features of the exhibit include: “Measure Up to George Washington,” a life-size image of George Washington placed next to a colorful ruler, which allows children to measure up to the 6’3” first president; “Working at Mount Vernon 200 Years Ago,” an exhibit where children learn the daily tasks of plantation upkeep; and “How Do We Learn About George Washington at Mount Vernon?”, an archaeology site where children can become archaeologists themselves and play archaeology bingo. The exhibit is open daily, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m, through September 5. This colorful map is free with every purchase of a child’s admission ticket. The map guides children around the estate in a quest to solve nine puzzles by exploring outbuildings and the Mansion. It’s an engaging way for families to learn about Mount Vernon together. Potomac River Sightseeing Cruises Sightseeing cruises offer a refreshing opportunity to explore Mount Vernon from a new view with a 30-minute narrated excursion aboard the Potomac Spirit or Miss Christin Tuesday through Sunday at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 3 p.m. Cruises are an additional charge to Estate admission. George Washington: Pioneer Farmer Site This four-acre working farm features rare-breed farm animals (oxen, mules, roosters, sheep, and poultry) similar to the varieties Washington had on his farms. Washington’s 16-sided treading barn features live demonstrations with horses. Eight cultivated fields illustrate Washington's advanced farming practices such as crop rotation. Farmers in colonial attire demonstrate the techniques Washington advocated in hopes that America would become “a granary to the world”. This site is just a five-minute walk south of the Mansion, adjacent to the Wharf on the Potomac River. Open daily with hands-on activities through October and daily wheat treading demonstrations July through October. Limited wheelchair accessibility. The Gristmill allows visitors to see an 18th-century water-powered mill in operation, discover how it works and learn how this particular mill played an important role in Washington’s vision for America’s future. Colonial millers reveal Washington’s innovative approach to farming as they grind wheat into flour just as it was done more than 200 years ago. Cornmeal, ground and bagged at the Gristmill, is available for sale at the Gristmill Shop. The Gristmill, located three miles from the Mount Vernon Estate on Route 235, is open daily through October, 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. Additional charge to Estate admission. ### Events, programs, and activities are subject to change. Public Information: 703-780-2000; 703-799-8697 (TDD); www.mountvernon.org Since 1858, millions of visitors have made George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens the most popular historic home in America. Through thought-provoking tours, entertaining events, and stimulating educational programs on the Estate and in classrooms across the nation, Mount Vernon strives to preserve George Washington’s place in history as “First in War, First in Peace, and First in the Hearts of His Countrymen.” Mount Vernon is owned and operated by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, America’s oldest national preservation organization, founded in 1853. A picturesque drive to the southern end of the scenic George Washington Memorial Parkway, Mount Vernon is located just 16 miles from the nation’s capital. Hours of operation: April-August, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; March, September, October, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; November – February, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Regular admission rates: adults, $11.00; senior citizens, $10.50; children age 6-11, when accompanied by an adult, $5.00; and children under age 5, FREE. Admission fees, restaurant and retail proceeds, along with private donations, support the operation and restoration of Mount Vernon. |