
The Milling Process: Step by Step
Mount Vernon's master miller, Steve Bashore, describes the 18th century milling process used by Washington in his gristmill on his plantation.
George Washington's merchant gristmill was capable of producing 5,000 to 8,000 pounds of flour and cornmeal a day.
The gristmill is open on the weekends, seasonally.
George Washington constructed a gristmill at his Dogue Run Farm in 1770-1771.
In 1791, Washington upgraded his operation by installing milling improvements. This new automated method—known as the Evans system, after its inventor—moved grain and flour through all the steps in the milling process by mechanical means, with no need for manual labor.
Mount Vernon's master miller, Steve Bashore, describes the 18th century milling process used by Washington in his gristmill on his plantation.
In 1791, George Washington upgraded his milling operation by installing improvements invented by Oliver Evans, a native of Delaware.
Learn more about the terms used to describe the key parts and operations of Washington's gristmill at Mount Vernon.
Explore Mount Vernon's collection of products made at George Washington's reconstructed gristmill.