George Washington was born in 1732 and grew up in Fredericksburg, Virginia with a younger sister and three brothers. As a young man, he worked as a planter and surveyor, learning a great deal about his native colony, Virginia. George Washington gained notoriety by serving in the French and Indian War (1754-58) and commanding the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War (1775-1783). Between the wars, he married Martha Custis and raised his children at Mount Vernon.
Washington was elected as President by the Electoral College in 1789 and served as the first president of the United States until 1797. He retired to Mount Vernon after the presidency where he practiced farming. Washington died in 1799 and was buried at his home, Mount Vernon.
Brief History of Mount Vernon Estate
The Mount Vernon plantation was originally granted to George Washington's great grandfather in 1674 and was inherited by the first president from his half-brother, Lawrence, in 1761. Washington lived at Mount Vernon for 45 years, during which time he expanded the grounds from 2,000 to 8,000 acres, raised the house from one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half stories, and redecorated the interior.
In addition, Washington transformed the exterior of the building to a more stately structure by adding the impressive two-story porch along the Potomac River side, and replacing the house's siding with beveled pine blocks treated with sand to resemble stone.
Mount Vernon Tours and Activities
The Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens easily provides visitors with enough variety to fill an entire day with activities. Take a tour of the house and stroll through the four-acre working farm complete with a recreation of Washington's 16-sided barn. Visit the upper and lower gardens that were used for flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Nearby is Washington's tomb, where the first president and his wife, Martha, are buried. Along a hillside near the tomb is the slave burial ground.
Between April 1st and October 1st, demonstrations on farming, cooking, milling, and distilling provide clues to visitors on 18th-century techniques that enabled operation of the president's estate. First person interpreters are also at the estate and represent people who visited, lived, and worked at Mount Vernon. Mount Vernon also has a number of animals that are similar to the breeds that roamed the working farm when George Washington was a resident.
Getting to Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens
Visitors can easily get to Mount Vernon by car, but there are other transportation options as well. Mount Vernon is easily accessible by public transportation via Metro train and connector bus in Old Town Alexandria. Additionally, two bus companies provide sightseeing loops originating in Washington, D.C. and making stops at Mount Vernon among other popular locations.
If guests can spare a little more time, several river cruises along the Potomac River stop at George Washington's home as well as Old Town Alexandria. For cyclists, try the Mount Vernon Trail, an 18-mile paved route along the Potomac River (on the Virginia side) originating at Theodore Roosevelt Island and terminating at Mount Vernon.
Visit the Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens website for more information on hours, events, and tours.
