Mount Vernon is the most popular historic estate in America, welcoming an average of 1 million visitors each year. The estate, gardens and farm of Mount Vernon totaled some 8,000 acres in the 18th century when U.S. President George Washington here. The estate was was built by his father in 1734 and was later expanded by President Washington. Today, roughly 500 acres of this historic estate have been preserved 16 miles south of Washington, D.C., on the banks of the Potomac River.
Visitors can see 20 structures and 50 acres of gardens as they existed in 1799. The estate also includes a museum, the tombs of George and Martha Washington, Washington's greenhouse, an outdoor exhibit devoted to American agriculture as practiced by Washington, the nation's most important memorial to the accomplishments of 18th-century slaves, and a collection which features numerous decorative and domestic artifacts. Spend time wandering the grounds and interact with costumed interpreters, see farm animals and watch historic trade demonstrations.
Admission tickets are for sale online and onsite and includes one-day admittance to the Mount Vernon Estate, including a tour of the Mansion, George Washington's Distillery & Gristmill, and the Museum & Education Center. While so much ground to cover, it is recommended to allot three hours for your visit, but shorter visits are also possible.
