Things To Do At George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate

One of American’s greatest landmarks, Mount Vernon is the former plantation estate and burial location for the nation’s first president, George Washington, his wife Martha, and family. The estate is now open to the public and is the most visited historic home in the U.S. Here are things to do at the Mount Vernon Estate:

Tour the Mansion–See how the Washington family lived and entertained guests by exploring the mansion and other historic outbuildings including the blacksmith shop, stables, and more.
Visit the Slave Quarters–See the contrast life of the Mount Vernon slaves from that of the Washington family. The shared rooms, meager possessions, and back-breaking physical work from dawn to sunset and imagine the difficult conditions experienced.
Take a stroll in the Gardens–Mount Vernon’s estate was divided into five gardens which contained gardens, woods, trees, groves, and meadows.
Meet the Farm Animals–Mount Vernon is home to several animals including breeds kept by George Washington, such as Ossabaw Island Hogs, Hog Island Sheep, Dominique Chicken, and Red Devon Cattle. In the late winter and spring, you’ll see adorable baby lambs in the paddocks.
Pay your respects at Washingtons Tomb and the Slave Memorial–George and Martha Washington are buried next to each other in a tomb located below he fruit orchard. The Slave Memorial is located approximately 50 yards southwest of the tomb, on a bluff above the Potomac River. This used to be the burial ground for the enslaved and few free blacks who worked at Mount Vernon in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Stop by the Museum and Education Center– where you can explore 23 galleries and theaters to learn more about George Washington’s life and Mout Vernon’s enslaved community. You’ll find hundreds of artifacts from Washington’s lifetime, movies, a 4D theater, and an interactive theater.