Mount Vernon, Georgian estate in Fairfax County, United States.
Mount Vernon is a colonial era estate along the Potomac River set on a bluff roughly 120 feet (40 meters) above the water and surrounded by formal gardens. The main house displays symmetrical Georgian architecture with white wood facades, a two-story veranda, and a red roof, while the grounds hold several outbuildings, agricultural structures, and reconstructed facilities.
George Washington inherited the property in 1754 and expanded it over decades into a large plantation operated through the labor of over 300 enslaved people. After his death in 1799 the complex fell into disrepair until a women's organization purchased it in 1858 and began restoration.
The property functions as a living museum where interpreters in period dress reenact the labor and daily rhythms of the 18th century. Visitors watch craftspeople practice blacksmithing, weaving, and barrel making using methods from Washington's era.
The grounds include the mansion, landscaped gardens, working farm buildings, a distillery, and a gristmill all accessible through self-guided routes. Most areas lie outdoors and require walking on gravel and grass paths with occasional slopes.
The cemetery on the property holds the original burial sites of George and Martha Washington in a brick vault overlooking the river. A separate memorial honors the enslaved people who lived and worked here, with information panels and grave markers for identified individuals.
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