Visiting Washington only to find your sightseeing plans scuttled by a pesky government shutdown? All is not lost! One of the area’s best sites is still open and, in fact, has never been closed by government activity…or inactivity. That site is George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
About 15 miles downstream on the banks of the Potomac River, the estate of our Founding Father has been a privately funded non-profit for more than 150 years. It is rich in history and beauty, with the original mansion and outbuildings, George & Martha Washington’s tombs, and four gardens spread over six acres. At the charming Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant, open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner, you can enjoy candlelit dinners served by costumed servers and featuring colonial cuisine. Mount Vernon also includes a working distillery, and there are frequent wine and whiskey tasting events.
While the entire estate is a living museum, you’ll find a variety of interactive displays, films and artifacts at the Donald W. Reynolds Museum at Mount Vernon. The displays include personal effects of the Washington family, including the President’s famed dentures (which are not made of wood). Touring the estate gives you a glimpse of life, both privileged and slave, during Colonial America.
There are a variety of events at Mount Vernon, from daily demonstrations to special events like Fall Harvest Family Days during the last weekend of October, and Christmas at Mount Vernon, starting right after Thanksgiving. For ticket and admission information, directions, calendars and a lot more, visit MountVernon.org.
Have you been to Mount Vernon? We’d love to hear about your experience! Just leave us a comment below. Thanks!
