Visit Mount Vernon During America’s 250th Anniversary
- Come see the first and second floors of the Mansion, now available for tours after nearly two years of rotating room closures. With this opening, visitors will also see the Washingtons' Bedchamber—newly restored!
- In 2026, view our brand-new exhibit on the life and times of George Washington.
- Walk through our new Patriots Path—a Revolutionary War encampment—and chat with the soldiers to learn about life as an 18th-century soldier.
- Visit The Shops at Mount Vernon to find exclusive 250th-branded souvenirs and gifts.
Planning a Group Visit?
Find out what to expect in 2026.
Visit Virginia’s Historic Sites with the Virginia 250 Passport
Pick up the Virginia 250 Passport at sponsoring attractions, including George Washington’s Mount Vernon, and get a stamp for each location that you visit. Use this passport as a souvenir of your travels as you celebrate America’s semiquincentennial.
Passport holders receive a 15% discount at participating sites around the Commonwealth.
Participants who visit at least 5 of the 70 participating sites across Virginia will be eligible for cash and prizes.
Upcoming Events
As America's 250th anniversary draws near, attend our events that share the legacy of the founding era.
See the George Washington: A Revolutionary Life Exhibit
In spring 2026, Mount Vernon will unveil a revitalized George Washington exhibit. This updated space will focus on why Washington matters today and how the decisions he made in his lifetime continue to impact us in the 21st century.
In this new exhibit, George Washington: A Revolutionary Life, visitors will:
Step into a recreation of the President's House in Philadelphia. In this immersive experience, you become a fly on the wall during important conversations as our nation was founded. As you listen to these scenes play out, learn about the challenges and experiences Washington faced throughout the presidency.
View a scenario depicting a cabin for an enslaved family. Watch the doorway as five enslaved people appear and talk about their lives at Mount Vernon.
View the recently-discovered sealed glass bottles in Washington’s cellar that contained perfectly-preserved cherries and berries from the 18th century. See a full-scale recreation of Martha Washington’s wedding gown, and read authentic founding documents on display.
Strike a pose and snap a photo with a full-scale Washington at the selfie station.
See museum favorites once again, including lifelike wax figures of George Washington (with new enhancements) and Washington's dentures.
Play the Be Washington roleplaying experience once again. Take command and put your leadership experience to the test as you face the same challenges as the General.
Embark on a Reimagined Mansion Tour
The first and second floors of the Mansion are available for tours. See newly restored rooms such as the Washingtons' Bedchamber, featuring new wallpaper that showcases how the room would have looked in 1799.
Walk down the same halls as the nation’s first president while you learn facts about his life that you’ve never heard before.
During this tour, guests will:
Examine what Washington’s daily routine was like on the estate, and how Mount Vernon was central in shaping his journey through the American Revolution to becoming the president.
Hear how Washington, his family, and enslaved people welcomed guests, with whom Washington discussed the day's politics, and how Washington's revolutionary actions changed the world.
See historical artifacts from the General’s life, including the secretary bookcase where he wrote several important documents, his original bed, and the Bastille key–a relic symbolic of freedom that was taken from the Bastille prison in France and gifted to George Washington by his friend and a leader of the French Revolution, Marquis de Lafayette.
In Spring 2026, Experience the Revolution in 4D
This unique theater experience highlights Washington's role in the Revolutionary War, complete with snow, fog, cannon shots, and other 4D effects.
Learn about General Washington’s important military victories at Boston, Trenton, and Yorktown that led to victory in the War in our 22-minute video, Washington’s War.
Included with admission
Step Back in Time with our Revolutionary War Encampment
Get a sense of life during the American Revolution as you walk through an 18th-century Continental Army encampment. Explore the soldiers' tents, an officer's marquee, the kitchen, and the laundry yard.
At Patriots Path, you can touch and try on items inside the tents, try your hand at washing clothes, measure out a soldier's ration, drill with the army, and even help mix up a batch of soldier cakes.
During daily programming, hear from encampment interpreters about Continental Army rations, cooking, and the struggles of feeding an 18th-century army.
You will also have the chance to join the American Cause and learn the highlights of enlisting in the Continental Army in 1775.
Included with admission
Enjoy Washington Hospitality with New Dining Options
The Food Court Pavilion will be undergoing renovations from November 1 to March 15 to enhance your future dining experience.
Upon reopening in 2026, we will offer breakfast buffets, meal passes, student lunches, and lunches to-go.
This revitalized space is designed to provide a vibrant and welcoming dining experience, featuring enhanced menus, streamlined service, and the hallmark warmth of true Washington hospitality.
Group breakfast and lunch buffets, as well as plated lunches, are also available at the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant.
As we look to the future, and particularly to the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, we are raising funds to take on immediate preservation challenges and ensure that Mount Vernon lasts for generations.
GWTI 250 Regional Teacher Programs
We're coming to you to celebrate America's 250th anniversary.
In 2025 and 2026, Mount Vernon and the George Washington Teacher Institute (GWTI) will be hosting a series of regional programs for teachers across the United States.
The training programs are designed for K-12 teachers educating students in formal classroom settings and will be completely free to attend.
Washington's Circle
The George Washington Leadership Institute is launching a new program called Washington's Circle, a year-long executive leadership program beginning in September 2026.
Designed to bring together 24 distinguished leaders committed to mastering the art of principled leadership, this immersive experience features four in-person training modules held at the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon.
Applications open on December 5, 2025.
America's Invitation
On July 4, 2026, our nation will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
On July 4, 2026, our nation will commemorate and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The journey toward this historic milestone is an opportunity to pause and reflect on our nation’s past, honor the contributions of all Americans, and look ahead toward the future we want to create for the next generation and beyond.
Visit America250 to learn about its mission to commemorate and celebrate the nation's anniversary.
From its founding ideas to its leading figures, more of what made America happen, happened in Virginia.
As America prepares to mark 250 years of Independence, the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250) invites you to come reconnect with your country, in the place that made it possible.
Partner With Us
To partner with us, contact Julie Almacy, Vice President of Media & Communications at julie.almacy@mountvernon.org.