For Immediate Release
June 8, 2007
Digital images available
Media Contact:
Melissa Wood (703) 799-5203
mwood@mountvernon.org
MOUNT VERNON, Va. – Mount Vernon offers a cure for summer boredom with special events and seasonal programs throughout June. Visitors can meet the “Father of Our Country” on Father’s Day, watch as John Smith’s Shallop docks at Mount Vernon’s wharf, receive a free flag on Flag Day, plus take advantage of special Gristmill demonstrations and seasonal slave life tours, garden tours and Potomac River cruises. Visitors can also experience “snow” in June! Mount Vernon’s Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center offers an immersive experience – including the Revolutionary War Theater that “snows” as Washington’s troops cross the Delaware River. Admission to Mount Vernon is $13 for adults and $6 for children. Admission to George Washington’s Distillery & Gristmill is $4 for adults and $2 children. Children under 5 are admitted free to both sites.
In honor of Flag Day, June 14, every visitor to the estate will receive a free flag (while supplies last). Included with Estate admission.
At George Washington’s Gristmill Friday through Sunday, June 15 to June 17, millers will work the automated milling system, an intricate system of pullies and levers that won U.S. Patent #3. Watch as water from Dogue Creek goes through the Gristmill, setting the massive gears into motion, and see the end result: cornmeal ready to use in the kitchen! Bags of cornmeal are milled on site and available for purchase. George Washington’s Distillery & Gristmill are located just three miles south of Mount Vernon on State Route 235. Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for children ages 6-11, and free for children 5 and under. In honor of Flag Day, June 14, every visitor to the estate will receive a free flag (while supplies last). Included with Estate admission.
Father’s Day: General Washington will greet visitors and pose for photographs from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Father’s Day, June 17. General Washington will discuss his role as husband and Father of Our Country at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m in the program “Father to the First Family”. With a purchased ticket to Mount Vernon, fathers visiting the estate will receive complimentary admission to George Washington’s Distillery & Gristmill. At 2:00 p.m., the Harmony Heritage Singers will give a free special Father's Day performance in the Robert H. Smith Auditorium. Other activities are included with Estate admission.
John Smith’s Shallop: History sets sail for Mount Vernon in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of Captain John Smith's extraordinary voyage to explore the Chesapeake Bay June 23 and 24. A replica of Smith's 30-foot "shallop" will retrace the 1,500 mile route, stopping at Mount Vernon with an exhibition that offers an in-depth look at the world of the early 17th-century Chesapeake Native American and English cultures. Included with Estate admission.
At the George Washington: Pioneer Farmer site, throughout the month of June Mount Vernon interpreters work in the fields and discuss Washington’s innovative farming techniques with visitors. On weekdays, livestock including sheep, mules, horses, and oxen are on display. Other activities include demonstrating how wool is prepared and how fields were plowed in the 18th century. Activities vary by day. Included with Estate admission.
Tours of slave life and gardens and landscapes enrich the visitor experience by providing in-depth knowledge of these fascinating subjects during 30-minute guided walking tours. Slave Life at Mount Vernon explores the lives and contributions of the slaves who lived at Mount Vernon. Tours are offered daily at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. The Garden and Landscape Tour highlights Washington’s creative design for his gardens at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. daily. Included with Estate admission.
Potomac River sightseeing cruises offer a refreshing opportunity to explore Mount Vernon from a different view with a 40-minute narrated excursion aboard the Spirit of Washington II or Miss Christin Tuesday through Sunday at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Tickets for sightseeing cruises are $9.00 for adults and $5.00 for children (6-11) in addition to Estate admission. Children ages 5 and under are free.
A public wreathlaying to commemorate the lives of George and Martha Washington takes place daily at 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. A historic interpreter reads “Washington's Prayer for His Country” and leads visitors in the Pledge of Allegiance. Included with Estate admission.
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