Visit the First President's Estate
George Washington's estate is a can’t-miss for history buffs, families, and visitors to Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia.
Start by getting your grounds pass, which grants you admission to the estate.
“Seeing the estate of the first president of the country was such an eye-opening experience for the life back then. The estate was pretty massive and can take hours to fully enjoy. ”
Experience Our Nation's Founding
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
So Much More Than a Mansion
Explore the estate, on your own or as part of our tours, and experience what life was like for George Washington, his family, and the people who lived and worked at Mount Vernon.
George Washington's Mansion is ten times the size of the average home in colonial Virginia.
Entry to the Mansion is by guided tour only and requires a Mansion tour ticket.
Experience the American Revolution as you walk through an 18th-century Continental Army encampment featuring soldiers' tents and an officer's tent.
See more than a dozen historic outbuildings, including the blacksmith shop, smokehouse, stable, and spinning house.
Visit the final resting place of George and Martha Washington. A brief wreath-laying ceremony is held daily at the tomb.
Stroll through four gardens, including a a formal garden created for the enjoyment of George Washington's guests.
The Forest Trail meanders through a small woodland, giving visitors a feel for the natural setting of Mount Vernon when George Washington lived here.
Visit the Slave Memorial & African American Burial Ground to honor the community of the enslaved people who lived and worked at Mount Vernon. A brief wreath-laying ceremony is held daily.
Go on an immersive and engaging journey that connects Washington's 18th-century world to the present day in our new exhibition, George Washington: A Revolutionary Life.
Explore Washington's life, leadership, and legacy through immersive galleries, original objects, and interactive experiences.
View George Washington's sword, a bust said to be the most accurate likeness of George Washington, Washington's presidential chair, and more.
Find out how the 317 enslaved people at Mount Vernon formed families, created tight-knit communities, earned money, and acquired personal possessions.
Savor the flavors of early America. Open for lunch and dinner daily and brunch on the weekends. An admission ticket to the estate is not required to dine.
Shop historically-inspired products only available at Mount Vernon. An admission ticket to the estate is not required to shop.
There's much to see and do at Mount Vernon.
Go on an immersive and engaging journey that connects Washington’s 18th-century world to the present day in our new exhibition, George Washington: A Revolutionary Life.
There's much to see and do at Mount Vernon.
Go on an immersive and engaging journey that connects Washington’s 18th-century world to the present day in our new exhibition, George Washington: A Revolutionary Life.
What’s Coming Up
