Photo courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies Association.
A family admires a Christmas tree at Mount Vernon.
For first time since January 2024, George Washington’s Mount Vernon has re-opened all first and second-floor Mansion rooms to the public. The reopening comes just in time for holiday events, including Mount Vernon by Candlelight when visitors can step back in time with a 45-minute candlelit tour of the estate as we celebrate the build-up to the 250th anniversary of American Independence.
“We’re immensely proud to welcome visitors to see the remarkable results of our $40 million Mansion Revitalization Project,” said Mount Vernon President and CEO Doug Bradburn. “This privately funded initiative is Mount Vernon’s birthday gift to America, preserving the Mansion’s original fabric while reinforcing its structure. Now, visitors for generations can experience George Washington’s home as he knew it and learn about the founding of America and democracy.”
This unprecedented historic preservation project includes comprehensive structural stabilization, refinished exterior siding and paint, and meticulous restoration of iconic interior spaces. The second-floor south addition was re-plastered and painted with colors accurate to the period, based on microscopic paint analysis. The spaces are now wallpapered, following groundbreaking new research. A comprehensive overview of this multi-year revitalization project is available here.
“Our guests now can view the newly restored Washingtons’ Bedchamber, which we’ve returned as closely as possible to its documented 1799 appearance thanks to groundbreaking research, conservation science, and craftsmanship,” Bradburn added. “Guests also will experience enhancements to the appearance and interpretation of all Mansion rooms, including the Central Passage, the Little Parlor, and the Old Chamber.”
Holiday Events at Mount Vernon
And to kick off the holiday season, The Shops at Mount Vernon is offering Black Friday savings, with 20% off online through Monday and additional discounts available in-store. Shoppers can find holiday favorites, festive home décor, and unique gifts inspired by George Washington’s estate, including products crafted exclusively for Mount Vernon. The Shops also feature a range of America 250–themed items to commemorate the approaching Semiquincentennial, offering meaningful keepsakes for history lovers and holiday gift-givers.
Mount Vernon by Candlelight starting on Nov. 28 through Dec. 23 (selected dates). Experience the magic of the holiday season with a guided 45-minute candlelit tour through the Mansion and historic grounds. Guests will step back in time as they explore lantern-lit paths, meet 18th-century characters, and learn how Virginians celebrated Christmas in 1775—marking the 250th anniversary of that pivotal year in American history.
Visitors can greet Aladdin, the beloved Christmas camel, on the 12-acre field; join 18th-century dancing in the greenhouse; and enjoy live music, caroling, and photo opportunities with beautifully decorated trees in the Ford Orientation Center. The evening also features complimentary ginger cookies and spiced cider, tavern games on the bowling green, and an immersive Revolutionary War encampment where guests can experience what life was like for Continental Army soldiers during the first Christmas of the war. Learn more.
Holiday Afternoon Tea on Dec. 5–7 and Dec. 12–14. Indulge in a festive “Holiday Afternoon Tea” at the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant from where seasonal teas and a curated menu of sandwiches, scones, and sweets are served amid live harp music in the estate’s elegant dining room. Learn more.
Winter Wreath Class on Dec. 5 and 6. Participants aged 16 and up craft a one-of-a-kind holiday wreath using evergreens and botanical accents, including some sourced right from Mount Vernon’s historic landscape. Learn more.
Winter Container Workshop on December 7. Participants aged 16 and up craft a seasonal container using fresh evergreen boughs and receive expert tips from the estate’s landscape horticulture team. Learn more.
The Continental Navy and the Battle for the Sea on Dec. 9. Join us for lunch and a compelling discussion with Christopher F. Minty, managing editor and project director of Naval Documents of the American Revolution at the Center for Digital Editing, University of Virginia. Minty will discuss the Navy’s origins and influence on the Revolution’s global reach. Learn more.
Educators' Evening on Dec. 11. This free in-person and virtual program thanks K-12 teachers, and it includes a conversation with Laurie Halse Anderson, the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award-winning author, about her newest book, Rebellion 1776. Learn more.
Ford Evening Book Talk: The Home Front on Dec. 16. Historian Lauren Duval will discuss her deeply researched book, The Home Front: Revolutionary Households, Military Occupation, and the Making of American Independence, offering a ground-level view of how the American Revolution impacted private lives across race, status, and freedom. Learn more.
Christmas Illuminations on Dec. 20 and Dec. 21. Experience a magical, family-friendly evening. Shop for unique holiday gifts at an artisan winter market, visit with Aladdin the camel, have conversations with 18th-century soldiers in a winter encampment, and witness spectacular fireworks over the Potomac River. Learn more.
Breakfast with Santa on Dec. 20. Celebrate the season for a special holiday breakfast buffet at the historic Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant. Take a photo with Santa and enjoy decorating Christmas cookies. Learn more.
Please note that the Education Center exhibit on George Washington's life is closed until Spring 2026 for an extensive rebuild. The Mansion and expansive estate remains fully accessible, including the museum, more than a dozen historic buildings, the gardens and farm, and the Tomb.
Guests also can take advantage of value pricing programs designed to keep the historic site accessible to all. Mount Vernon participates in the Visit Alexandria Key to the City Pass, which offers a deep discount to the estate. Plus, every Tuesday at the Mount Vernon Inn, children ages 12 and under receive a complimentary kid’s meal with every adult entrée. Mount Vernon’s 2025 Pass is still in effect, providing unlimited daytime admission for the rest of the year.
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, as well as the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon.
