Mount Vernon, the Home of George Washington

The old home of George Washington is just a short car or bike ride away from the central parts of Washington DC. Hence the place makes an easy day trip or a nice stop on your way south to other parts f Virginia. The place is run by one of the oldest organizations in the USA dedicated to preserving historic sights the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association.

At the sight there are a couple of big museums telling a bit of the life of George Washington and how he managed to increase his estate while he also served his country as a commander of the Continental Army and later the first president.

The house is the first thing you probably want to see but this is by no means the only interesting thing at the sight. The other buildings around the property will give you an insight into the life of the other people on the farm. Both the free whites and the slaves. There is also some gardens and fields which will introduce you to the life of the farm in old time Virginia.

The house is placed just at the Potomac River and got a splendid view of the river just of the lane behind the house.

Because of the vicinity to Washington DC the place can get crowded in the weekends and the line to actually enter the house will grow really long during the afternoon. Hence try to get there early if you manage to get inside the house before 11 the wait in the line will be a lot shorter than later in the day.

The entry prices is:

Adults - $13.00
Senior Citizens, age 62 and above (with identification) - $12.00
Youth ages 6 through 11 (accompanied by an adult) - $6.00
Children ages 5 and under (accompanied by an adult) – FREE

Mount Vernon was the home and estate of George and Martha Washington. It’s long been one of the major sites to see when visiting the Washington, DC, area. Locals like to visit it, too. Mount Vernon is located in southern Fairfax County, Virginia. It’s the center of what was once an 8,000 acre plantation. It's the home he left to lead the Continental Army in the American Revolution and left to serve as the first President. The house and site have been maintained and operated by the Mt. Vernon Ladies Association since 1860 as a museum open to the public.

Admission to the Mt. Vernon enables you to tour the house and see the nearby plantation buildings and gardens and exhibits on Washington and his times. Inside the house you’ll see several of the 22 rooms including the Dining Room, Master Bedroom, Lafayette Bedroom and Washington’s Study with his books and maps. The rooms are furnished with period furniture, decorations, and accessories (Martha’s shoes look very modern). The outside kitchen and other plantation outbuildings have been preserved or restored and contain interpretive exhibits. A pathway leads to down Washington’s tomb.

Various other exhibits document Washington’s life as a Virginia farmer, Revolutionary War general, and President. You’ll see Washington memorabilia such as his sunglasses, his famous wooden false teeth, and the key to the Bastille given to him by Lafayette.

In December, there are special candlelight tours of Mt. Vernon. That’s always a pleasant holiday experience and concludes with hot cider around a warm fire.

Admission: Adults $13.00, Children $6.00