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.
The George Washington Teacher Institute is excited to offer current K-12 educators the opportunity to participate in deep discussions and inquiries into the complexities of George Washington's biography, Martha Washington and the women of the 18th-century, and the enslaved community at Mount Vernon from the digital collections from the Washington Library.
This FREE digital symposium will bring the best sessions and speakers of our popular, application-based Summer Residential Programs and the best of the Washington Library's Digital Collections and historians into your home.
Join us as we:
George Washington is born at Popes Creek in Westmoreland County, Virginia
George Washington’s father moves his family to Little Hunting Creek Plantation, which will later be called Mount Vernon
George Washington’s father moves his family to another of his properties, Ferry Farm, near Fredericksburg, Virginia
George Washington’s father, Augustine Washington, dies
George Washington considers entering the British Navy, but his mother will not give permission for him to go
George Washington receives an appointment as a public surveyor for Culpeper County, Virginia.
George Washington sails to Barbados with his older half-brother, Lawrence Washington, who is ill with tuberculosis. While there, George Washington contracts smallpox
George Washington is sent into the Ohio Valley to take a message from the governor of Virginia to French military forces, demanding that they leave.
George Washington is appointed Lieutenant Colonel of the Virginia militia; defeats the French and their Indian allies at Great Meadows. He is involved in a skirmish, which results in the death of a French diplomat and starts the French and Indian War; surrenders Fort Necessity. Is very sick and surrenders his commission; begins renting Mount Vernon from the widow of his half-brother, Lawrence Washington.
Washington serves as a volunteer aide-de-camp to General Braddock during a disastrous campaign against the French; becomes commander-in-chief of the Virginia forces.
Washington begins his service in the Virginia House of Burgesses. He will serve until 1775.
George Washington marries Martha Dandridge Custis, a young widow with two small children
George Washington and a friend from the days of the French and Indian War go to see their western lands on the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers
In 1772, Annapolis artist Charles Willson Peale visited Mount Vernon where he recorded the first known likeness of George Washington. Washington chose to be painted in his Virginia militia uniform from the French and Indian War with marching orders in his pocket, even though he had resigned from the military some 14 years prior.
George Washington presides over the meeting, which produces the Fairfax Resolves, promoting a boycott of British goods and the right of self-government; is chosen by and represents Virginia as a delegate to the 1st Continental Congress in Philadelphia
George Washington is chosen as a delegate to the 2nd Continental Congress; while there, he is selected to command the Continental Army; goes immediately to take command of the army at Cambridge, Massachusetts; begins a siege of the city of Boston
Washington's Continental Army is defeated on the Brooklyn Heights by Lord William Howe's British and Hessian forces. Washington and the remainder of his army escape during the night to Manhattan.
Washington's ragtag army crosses the icy Delaware River on Christmas night 1776. On the morning of December 26, 1776 the Continental Army attacks the Hessian garrison at Trenton. Washington's fast moving forces capture most of the 1,500 man garrison.
After the lengthy 1777 campaign, Washington led his 11,000 man army to winter quarters in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The hard winter and scant supplies greatly depleted his army through disease and cold. During this challenging period Washington faced many serious political threats both inside and outside his army.
Washington and Gen. Rochambeau's French forces receive the surrender of Lord Charles Cornwallis' army at Yorktown - the last major battle of the American Revolution.
George Washington resigns his military commission in Annapolis, Maryland - affirming his belief in civilian control of the military. He returns home to Mount Vernon on Christmas day.
George Washington is president of the Potomac Company, seeking to improve transportation on that river
George Washington is chosen to preside over the Constitutional Convention; He signs the new Constitution
George Washington is unanimously elected 1st president of the United States; travels to New York for his inauguration on April 30th
George Washington is again unanimously elected to serve a second term as president of the United States
The Whiskey Rebellion breaks out in western Pennsylvania; Washington leads troops to the area to quell this revolt against paying taxes to the federal government
George Washington retires as president; leaves Philadelphia to return to Mount Vernon
George Washington dies at Mount Vernon of a severe throat infection; body is placed in the old family vault at Mount Vernon
Be the first to learn about programs, workshops, and new materials from Mount Vernon's Education Department
Alissa Oginsky, Manager of Teacher Learning
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