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 primary and secondary sources, videos, or interactives? Explore our Education Pages!
The Washington Library is open to all researchers and scholars, by appointment only.
Combine the butter and brown sugar in a large bowl, and beat until light and fluffy.
Add the molasses, and continue to beat until well combined.
Sift the flour with the ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice.
Alternately add the eggs and flour to the butter mixture, beating very well after each addition.
It is likely that gingerbread was a favorite in the Washington and Custis families. The women of these families passed down numerous recipes for the special treat. Martha Washington’s recipe collection included several recipes for gingerbread. Her granddaughter, Eleanor “Nelly” Parke Custis included four gingerbread recipes in her own collection.
The Washington family had a particularly special story associated with their gingerbread. In early April 1781, the Marquis de Lafayette stopped in Fredericksburg, Virginia, to pay his respects to General Washington’s mother, Mary Ball Washington. According to family tradition, Mary served gingerbread during his visit. The gingerbread was in the form of a soft cake or loaf, rather than a cookie. After this visit, the family referred to Mary Washington’s recipe as “Lafayette Gingerbread.”
