Image courtesy of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association
Mount Vernon will preview PBS' 'The American Revolution.'
As the nation prepares to celebrate America’s semiquincentennial, George Washington’s Mount Vernon will host a full day of special events on Saturday, June 14, 2025, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the establishment of the U.S. Army. Following the celebration, Mount Vernon will present an exclusive preview of the groundbreaking new Ken Burns documentary, The American Revolution.
“Mount Vernon is proud to honor the founding of the United States Army and George Washington’s historic role as its first commander,” said Julie Almacy, vice president of Media and Communications at Mount Vernon.
“George Washington’s 500-acre estate on the banks of the Potomac River is the destination of choice for the June 14th festivities. It’s the only place to meet General Washington, watch a boat parade and military demonstrations, and see an exclusive preview of Ken Burns new documentary on the Revolutionary War. We have an extraordinary day planned with something for everyone, and Mount Vernon visitors always appreciate avoiding downtown traffic and our convenient free parking.”
Established on June 14, 1775, the Continental Army was created by the Second Continental Congress to unite the thirteen colonies in their fight for independence from Great Britain. Attending the Congress in military uniform, George Washington was appointed commander of the Continental Army by his fellow delegates. His leadership and fortitude held the fledgling American military together, ultimately leading to victory at Yorktown and independence for the new nation.
The American Revolution is a landmark series examining not only how America’s founding turned the world upside-down, but also the role of heroic figures such as George Washington. Under Washington’s leadership, the colonies defeated the British Empire and bravely established a new form of government that radically reshaped the continent and inspired democratic movements around the world.
The American Revolution is directed and produced by iconic historian Ken Burns, along with Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt. It will air on PBS for six consecutive nights Nov. 16-21, 2025.
Tickets for a preview of The American Revolution at George Washington’s Mount Vernon are available here. Following the preview, there will be a panel discussion featuring film director Sarah Botstein, historian Rick Atkinson, and Mount Vernon President and CEO Doug Bradburn. A signing for Atkinson's new book, The Fate of the Day: The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777-1780, which debuted at the top of The New York Times bestseller list, will follow the panel, as will a reception with complimentary beer, wine, and hors d'oeuvres.
Prior to the screening, guests can attend a full day of once-in-a-lifetime events in celebration of the U.S. Army and George Washington taking command. Scheduled for Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., the day will include:
- A Potomac River Boat Parade. A celebratory boat parade with sailors from local marinas making a patriotic trip along the scenic Potomac River.
- Military Drill and Firing Demonstration. Visit an 18th-century military encampment to witness “George Washington” and “Baron von Steuben” review a military drill and firing demonstration on the bowling green.
- Hands-on Activities with George Washington's Horses – Children can prepare the First Virginia Regiment's horses, organize supplies for Washington’s journey, and a conduct a time-sensitive reconnaissance mission to find enemy soldiers.
- Live Musical Performances. A spirited brass quintet concert will perform on the bowling green, along with Mount Vernon’s resident fifer providing a musical demonstration and discussion of fife and drum music and its importance to the Continental Army.
Read the full schedule of events.
Guests are also invited to visit the Patriots Path, a one-of-a-kind outdoor Revolutionary War encampment to immerse in the daily life of soldiers, military officers, and camp followers. Mount Vernon visitors can step back in time to experience the hardship and resilience of the Continental Army.
There are opportunities to explore 18th-century tents, wash clothes in the laundry yard, examine cooking utensils, and engage with historical interpreters to learn about life in this hands-on camp. Following the Patriots Path experience, made possible by Americana Corner, visitors are invited to watch Washington’s War: Revolutionary War Movie in the Robert H. and Clarice Smith Auditorium. To learn more about Mount Vernon’s events and resources in celebration of America’s 250, please visit mountverrnon.org/250.
Please note that Mount Vernon has embarked upon a landmark Mansion Revitalization project. During visits, preservation teams are restoring the framing, masonry, drainage, and environmental controls of the Mansion, ensuring America’s first president’s home will be ready to receive millions of guests for generations to come. The Mansion will always remain open during this vital work, with individual rooms taken off display as work progresses. The Education Center exhibit on George Washington’s life will be off display for an extensive rebuild until Spring 2026. However, the expansive estate remains open to visitors, including the museum, more than a dozen historic buildings, the gardens and farm, and the Tomb.
Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, is owned and operated by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, the oldest national historic preservation organization in the United States. The estate is open to visitors and includes the Mansion, a museum and education center, gardens, tombs, a working farm, a functioning distillery, and a gristmill. It also includes the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon.
