Open 365 days a year, Mount Vernon is located just 15 miles south of Washington DC.
From the mansion to lush gardens and grounds, intriguing museum galleries, immersive programs, and the distillery and gristmill. Spend the day with us!
Discover what made Washington "first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen".
The Mount Vernon Ladies Association has been maintaining the Mount Vernon Estate since they acquired it from the Washington family in 1858.
Need help with homework? Our Digital Encyclopedia has all of the answers students and teachers need.
The Washington Library is open to all researchers and scholars, by appointment only.
General Washington - $25,000
Two tables at the Ball (24 guests)
Platinum - $10,000
One table at the Ball (12 guests)
Gold - $7,500
Reserved seats for 10 guests
Silver - $5,000
Reserved seats for 6 guests
Bronze - $3,000
Reserved seats for 4 guests
Patron - $1,500
Reserved seats for 2 guests
Ticket - $500
1 Ticket to the Ball
Photos by Dan Chung
Proceeds from this year’s Ball will support the restoration and preservation of George Washington’s Mansion. This historic landmark is one of the most iconic 18th-century homes in America. However, the Mansion exterior is exposed to the extremes of weather and wear put on by more than one million visitors each year. Our preservation efforts are ongoing, and through your support, we can restore and maintain the Mansion’s weather-tight exterior. This will ensure that future generations will see Mount Vernon just as Washington did.
The first annual Birthnight Ball was held in 1947 and was hosted by the Mount Vernon Citizens’ Association, a neighborhood organization that sponsored colonial fairs and other fundraisers. The original concept was a costume ball and dinner with period dancing and skits meant to represent Washington’s last birthday celebration in 1799 when his nephew, Lawrence Lewis, married Nelly Parke Custis. The balls were held at several locations including Collingwood, Woodlawn Country Club, and Belle Haven Country Club until it finally came to the Mount Vernon Inn in 1974. Proceeds from the dinner were given to support Mount Vernon.
The Mount Vernon Citizens’ Association continued the tradition until 1995 when the Neighborhood Friends took over planning and organization of the ball. It has become one of Mount Vernon’s most anticipated yearly events and our longest running fundraiser.
Protecting the health and well-being of Mount Vernon’s guests and staff is our highest priority. We follow the guidelines for events set forth by the CDC and the Virginia Department of Health.
Proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, or a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to the event, is required to attend the 2022 Birthnight Ball.
