Privately Funded Estate Open During Federal Government Shutdown
Mount Vernon, VA, November 10, 2025 – As the holiday season approaches, the historic estate of America first president remains open during the ongoing federal government shut down. Visitors to the privately funded estate are invited to explore the beauty and history of George Washington's Mount Vernon and experience beloved holiday traditions.
Guests also can take advantage of value pricing programs designed to keep the historic site accessible to all. Mount Vernon participates in the Visit Alexandria Key to the City Pass, which offers a deep discount to the estate. Plus, every Tuesday at the Mount Vernon Inn, children ages 12 and under receive a complimentary kid’s meal with every adult entrée. Mount Vernon’s 2025 Pass is still in effect, providing unlimited daytime admission for the rest of the year.
Winter features the magic of the holiday season with guided 45-minute candlelit tours through the Mansion and historic grounds. Guests step back in time along lantern-lit paths to meet 18th-century characters and learn how Virginians celebrated Christmas in 1775, marking the 250th anniversary of that pivotal year in American history. Visitors can greet Aladdin, the beloved Christmas camel, on the 12-acre field; join 18th-century dancing in the greenhouse; and enjoy live music, caroling, and photo opportunities with beautifully decorated trees in the Ford Orientation Center. The evening also features complimentary ginger cookies and spiced cider, tavern games on the bowling green, and an immersive Revolutionary War encampment where guests can experience what life was like for Continental Army soldiers during the first Christmas of the war.
Upcoming winter events and activities are detailed below. Related photos and videos for media use are available here with attribution to the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association.
Mount Vernon Salutes Veterans on November 11. In honor of our nation's veterans, admission is free for all active duty, former, or retired military personnel on Veterans Day, inviting them to participate in special tributes, musical performances, historic talks, and complimentary refreshments throughout the day. Learn more.
Ford Evening Book Talk: The Pursuit of Liberty on November 12. Join historian Jeffrey Rosen as he delves into how the constitutional visions of Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton have shaped American governance for 250 years and continue to drive today’s debates over government power. Learn more.
Continental Army Family Days on November 15-16. This is a hands-on living-history event marking the 250th anniversary of Henry Knox’s legendary cannon march. Attendees will explore mid-winter 1775-76 military life through demonstrations of soldier gear, bread-baking, textile production, and immersive encampment activities across the estate. Learn more.
Lunch at the Library: Uncovering a George Mason and George Washington Letter on November 18. Curators will unveil a newly discovered 1768 letter from Mason to Washington alongside Washington’s 1789 handwritten response. This rare correspondence, on display during the luncheon, illuminates the private and political dynamics between two Founding Fathers. Learn more.
“Thanksgiving To-Go” Orders by November 22. Enjoy a gourmet holiday feast without the fuss from Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant featuring turkey or apple-bourbon-glazed ham, traditional sides, and dessert options with sizes ranging from dinner for two to dinner for ten-to-twelve guests. Now taking orders through November 22, with pick-up meals on November 26. Learn more.
Mount Vernon by Candlelight starting on November 28 through December 23 (selected dates). Experience the magic of the holiday season with a guided 45-minute candlelit tour through the Mansion and historic grounds. Guests will step back in time as they explore lantern-lit paths, meet 18th-century characters, and learn how Virginians celebrated Christmas in 1775—marking the 250th anniversary of that pivotal year in American history. Learn more.
Holiday Afternoon Tea on December 5–7 and 12–14. Indulge in a festive “Holiday Afternoon Tea” at the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant from where seasonal teas and a curated menu of sandwiches, scones, and sweets are served amid live harp music in the estate’s elegant dining room. Learn more.
Winter Wreath Class on December 5 and 6. Participants aged 16 and up craft a one-of-a-kind holiday wreath using evergreens and botanical accents, including some sourced right from Mount Vernon’s historic landscape. Learn more.
Winter Container Workshop on December 7. Participants aged 16 and up craft a seasonal container using fresh evergreen boughs and receive expert tips from the estate’s landscape horticulture team. Learn more.
Ford Evening Book Talk: The Home Front on December 16. Historian Lauren Duval will discuss her deeply researched book, The Home Front: Revolutionary Households, Military Occupation, and the Making of American Independence, offering a ground-level view of how the American Revolution impacted private lives across race, status, and freedom. Learn more.
Christmas Illuminations on December 20 and 21. Experience a magical, family-friendly evening. Shop for unique holiday gifts at an artisan winter market, visit with Aladdin the camel, have conversations with 18th-century soldiers in a winter encampment, and witness spectacular fireworks over the Potomac River. Learn more.
Please note that Mount Vernon is near completion of its landmark Mansion Revitalization project to preserve America's first president's home for generations to come. The Mansion remains open as this vital work nears completion in late November, with selected rooms temporarily off display as restoration work is completed. The Education Center exhibit on George Washington's life will be closed for an extensive rebuild until Spring 2026. The expansive estate remains fully accessible, including the museum, more than a dozen historic buildings, the gardens and farm, and the Tomb.
Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, is owned and operated by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, the oldest national historic preservation organization in the United States. The estate is open to visitors and includes the Mansion, a museum and education center, gardens, tombs, a working farm, a functioning distillery, and a gristmill, as well as the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon.
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