Mount Vernon, Georgian estate in Fairfax County, United States.
Description
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.
History
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.
Culture
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.
Practical
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.
Did you know?
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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George Washington's Mount Vernon
23 m
Mount Vernon Trail
2.2 km
Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington
611 m
Woodlawn
4.5 km
George Washington's Gristmill
3.9 km
Pope-Leighey House
4.5 km
Fort Hunt
3 km
Marshall Hall
2.8 km
Accokeek Creek Site
3.3 km
Fort Washington Light
4.3 km
Hard Bargain Farm
4.2 km
Tower House
1.7 km
Tower House
1.7 km
George Washington's Distillery & Gristmill
3.8 km
Colonel John R. Byers Park
3.1 km
National Colonial Farm
2.3 kmHybla Twin
4.1 km
Sherwood Regional Library
4.1 km
Food Court
351 mHistoric Area Entrance & Exit
246 mMount Vernon Country Club
2.9 km
Washington's Tomb
251 mMansion Line Entry
115 mMansion Circle/Specialty Tours
58 mGeorge Washington's Distillery and Gristmill Tour
3.9 kmWoodlawn Plantation
4.5 kmNepenthe Gallery
4.6 kmScenic viewpoint
4.8 kmDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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