Winter at Mount Vernon: Free Presidents Day Admission, The National Symphony Orchestra, Lunches at the Washington Library, and a Teacher Workshop

Look no further than George Washington’s Mount Vernon for engaging activities and events during the winter months. January and February will feature the Washington Library's new Lunch at the Library series, a three-part concert series with the prestigious National Symphony Orchestra, a teacher workshop on 18th-century music, free admission in honor of George Washington’s Birthday, and the annual winter clearance sale at The Shops.

Located just outside of Washington, D.C., on the banks of the Potomac River, upcoming events and activities include:

Lunch at the Library: For the People, For the Country: Patrick Henry’s Final Political Battle on January 17. Award-winning author John A. Ragosta discusses his new book, For the People, For the Country: Patrick Henry’s Final Political Battle. Learn more.

Ford Evening Book Talk: Speculation Nation: Land Mania in the Revolutionary American Republic on January 18. Princeton University professor Michael A. Blaakman, author of Speculation Nation:Land Mania in the Revolutionary American Republic, will discuss the wave of land speculation that swept the U.S. during its first quarter-century. Learn more.

The National Symphony Orchestra plays a three-part chamber music series on February 6, March 12, and April 9. Concerts begin at 7 p.m. and are followed at 8 p.m. by a reception of champagne and chocolates with the musicians. Learn more.

Ford Evening Book Talk: The Odyssey of Phillis Wheatley on February 8. Professor David Waldstreicher, author of The Odyssey of Phillis Wheatley:A Poet's Journey Through American Slavery and Independence, discusses his paradigm-shattering account of an extraordinary poet who set African-American literature at the heart of the American Revolution. Learn more.

Lunch at the Library: A Peale in Paris, Recovering a National Treasure on February 13. Philadelphia Museum of Art curator Carol Soltis will discuss her work to authenticate and document Charles Willson Peale’s painting Washington at Princeton, now in the collection of the Residence of the U.S. Ambassador to France. Learn more.

Celebrate George Washington’s Birthday with free admission on February 19 and 22. Tickets will be distributed on-site upon arrival. Mansion tours are timed, and the tour tickets will be distributed first come, first served basis. Learn more.

George Washington's Birthday in The Classroom: A Virtual K-12 Program on February 22 and 23. In this interactive program, students will learn more about George Washington's life, examine the connections between his birthday and Presidents Day, and reflect on how Washington's legacy still impacts our lives today. This program is free, and registrations are unlimited. Teachers may sign up as a class to view the program together or provide the links to their students to log-in individually. Learn more.

Teacher Workshop: Music of the 18th Century on February 21. Virginia teachers are invited to gain confidence in integrating history and STEAM concepts to support student learning while building a network of local peers. This free workshop will include songs and melodies of the 18th century performed by two of the founders of The Colonial Music Institute, Dr. David and Ginger Hildebrand. Attendees are required to be teachers in a Virginia K-12 formal school setting for the full 2023-2024 school year. Learn more.

Winter Clearance Sale at the Shops at Mount Vernon. Take advantage of unique Mount Vernon products available at deeply discounted prices as The Shops at Mount Vernon clears out its warehouse. Quantities are limited. Online orders available here.

Read the full listing of Mount Vernon events here. Most Mount Vernon events are free or discounted for members. Information about Mount Vernon membership is available here.

Please note that Mount Vernon has embarked upon a landmark Mansion Revitalization project. During visits, preservation teams will be restoring the framing, masonry, drainage, and environmental controls of the Mansion, ensuring our first president’s home will be ready to receive millions of guests for generations to come. Individual rooms will be taken off display as work progresses through the structure. Beginning January 2024, the New Room will not be on view. However, the expansive estate remains open to visitors, including the museum and education center, more than a dozen historic buildings, the gardens and farm, and the Tomb.

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