Mount Vernon Blog

How Mount Vernon Decorates for Christmas

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

A visit to Mount Vernon begins in the Ford Orientation Center, and during the holidays this space is decorated with a dozen Christmas trees. As you walk into the historic area, Aladdin greets you on the 12-acre field and lanterns line the paths. You may notice that there is no greenery in the Mansion like we see in modern homes. In the 18th century…

Law and Order: How a Founding Father was Robbed

Sunday, December 16, 2018

Mount Vernon’s staff have rediscovered an interesting story from George Washington’s youth: During a summertime swim in the 1750s, Washington was robbed while in the Rappahannock River. In December of 1751, Ann Carrol and Mary McDaniel stood trial for “Suspicion of Felony, & Charged with robing the Cloaths of Mr. George Washington”. At some point,…

In-Depth Look At George Washington's Will

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

A will is the last piece of documentation you would expect to gain insight to a person's thought process and personality. However, George Washington's will surprisingly humanizes a man who has been immortalized in history books and public statues. Join us as we visit the Fairfax County Courthouse and learn about the personal side few know of the famous…

Making George Washington Bourbon™

Tuesday, December 04, 2018

by Steve Bashore, Director of Historic Trades This November the distilling team in the historic trades department branched out from our usual rye whiskey production run, working with our consulting distiller, Lisa Wicker, to create the very first George Washington Bourbon™. The first question that arises: did Washington produce bourbon at Mount Vernon…

From the Shops: Christmas Gift Guide

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Need a unique gift for the holiday season? Check out our annual gift guide!

Tucked away in the English country side is a rare and important piece of history few know about. It is the home of George Washington’s ancestors: Sulgrave Manor. George Washington may have been one of the founding fathers of the United States, but do you know where his family came from, who they were, and what they did? Our digital storyteller takes…

Was George Washington a Republican or a Democrat?

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Why was Washington not a member of a political party? Dr. Kevin Butterfield, executive director of the Washington Library, explains.

Colonial Arts: Air & Optics

Tuesday, November 06, 2018

Mount Vernon’s Colonial Market & Fair features dozens of America’s finest historic craftspeople who display their talents and wares. Jon Stealey of Findlay, OH, has participated in the festival since 2013, sharing his collection of camera obscurae with fair-goers.

Colonial Superstitions

Saturday, October 27, 2018

Superstitions: beliefs or notions not based on reason or knowledge in or of the ominous significance of a particular thing, circumstance, occurrence, proceeding, or the like. Many of the common superstitions we recognize today--walking under a ladder, breaking a mirror, opening an umbrella indoors--originated well before Washington’s time. The American…

Guide Dogs Visit Mount Vernon

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

As a dog-friendly site, Mount Vernon welcomes pups and their humans to explore the estate. In early October, the estate welcomed a special group of canines from the Guide Dog Foundation. These six labs/lab mixes and a poodle practiced good behavior in challenging situations to prepare them for their future placements as guide dogs. From left to right: Clark:…