Things to Do

Discover more than 250 years of Mount Vernon history as you explore the Mansion, and the surrounding outbuildings and gardens.

This tour provides behind-the-scenes access to buildings typically closed to the public, like the Old Tomb, and an in-depth experience of the estate.

*This program includes a tour through the interior of the Mansion. A separate Mansion Tour is not required.

Look around, look around at Mount Vernon and discover Washington’s role in Hamilton The Musical, and his views on many of the themes that the musical addresses in our new tour.

Explore the lives and contributions of the enslaved community who built and operated Mount Vernon. In 1799, more than 300 slaves lived and worked on the five farms that made up Washington’s 8,000-acre plantation. Listen to their stories and learn more about their daily life. Visit the slave quarters and view reproduction clothing, tools, furniture, cookware, ceramics, toys, and personal accessories that represent their experiences.

Please budget 10-15 minutes to walk from the Ford Orientation Center to the Mansion circle to meet your guide.

George Washington spent nearly sixteen years away from home during the Presidency and the War for Independence. Yet, he always had a desire to return home to Mount Vernon, for a peaceful retirement, to rest under the shade of his own Vine and Fig tree. Come take a walk through the General’s garden and see the founding flowers that recreate Washington’s 18th-century landscape and gardens. 

See Mount Vernon from a different perspective during this 45-minute narrated excursion on the Potomac River. Learn about the river's history and discover how it contributed to Washington's business ventures. Be sure to look for the eagles and osprey that live along the shores.

Step back in time for an immersive experience and see Mount Vernon through the eyes of the people who knew George Washington best. A character interpreter, such as Washington's granddaughter, personal secretary, farm manager, or enslaved valet, will guide you across the estate as they go about their daily activities, making several stops along the way.

Discover the revolutionary farmer behind the General and President. This guided tour explores how George Washington transformed Mount Vernon into a model of scientific agriculture. You’ll examine his ambitious adoption of new husbandry to champion efficiency, develop his seven-year crop rotation, and design his famous 16-sided treading barn. 

Trace how Washington’s forward-thinking experiments, focused on sustainability and long-term planning, foreshadowed modern farming and shaped his view of civic duty and his compelling economic vision for the new nation.

Take in scenic views of the Potomac River on a convenient shuttle to George Washington’s historic estate from the King Street Metro station in Alexandria, Virginia. The Mount Vernon Shuttle Bus pick up and drop off will be located on 1908 Diagonal Road, Alexandria VA, in front of the Embassy Suites Hotel.

• Pick up from King Street Metro at 10 a.m.; Return from Mount Vernon at 2 p.m.
• Pick up from King Street Metro at 11 a.m.; Return from Mount Vernon at 3 p.m.
• Pick up from King Street Metro at 12 p.m.; Return from Mount Vernon at 4 p.m.

The shuttle to Mount Vernon is approximately 20 minutes long. Guests will have 3.5 hours to explore the home of the first president before their return trip. Return times correspond to your selected departure and cannot be changed.

Explore our staff's favorites in the Mount Vernon: Story of an American Icon exhibition on display at the Museum. See treasured items that tell the full story of Mount Vernon from prehistoric times to today.   

Explore how the people who lived at Mount Vernon in the 18th century dined on a tour that takes you to the gardens, salt house, smokehouse, slave quarters, greenhouse, and the Mansion’s kitchen. 

Discover how food was grown, preserved, prepared, and served at Mount Vernon. You'll leave this specialty tour knowing the Washingtons’ favorite recipes, what hired and enslaved servants at Mount Vernon ate, and why Martha Washington wasn’t a fan of Vulcan, Washington’s French hound.