Photo courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies Association
George Washington's Distillery and Gristmill
Spring is in full bloom at George Washington’s Mount Vernon, with visitors meeting over 40 baby lambs recently born on the estate’s four-acre working farm. George Washington’s four historic gardens are bursting with vibrant colors and fragrances for guests to explore. And the estate is hosting a multitude of unique experiences for families, history buffs, gardeners, book and music lovers, food and drink aficionados.
New this spring, visitors can step back in time to experience the hardship and resilience of the Continental Army at 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. Visitors can 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.
Photo courtesy of Mount Vernon Ladies Association
The Lafayette Tour, Orchestra National Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes
Featured events also include the new Lexington & Concord Family Day, a special French National Orchestra of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Marquis de Lafayette performance, the Spring Plant and Garden Sale with plants propagated from the historic estate, tours of George Washington's Distillery® and Gristmill, a scrumptious Easter Buffet at the historic Mount Vernon Inn, and much more.
Visitors also can take advantage of two new value pricing programs to help ensure the iconic historic site remains broadly accessible amid inflation. Visitors who purchase an admission ticket in 2025 at full price now will have unlimited daytime visits to Mount Vernon for the remainder of the year. Additionally, on Tuesdays at the Mount Vernon Inn, children ages 12 and under will receive a free kid’s meal for every adult entrée.
- Step back in time to experience the resilience of the Continental Army at the Patriots Path, a new hands-on outdoor Revolutionary War encampment for guests to immerse in the daily life of soldiers and military officers. Open daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET. Learn more.
- Book Talk: Meeting the Moment on April 3. Historian William Haldeman discusses his new book with stories of U.S. presidents and the leadership characteristics they demonstrated during times of national crisis that set them apart and transformed America. Learn more.
- Visit George Washington’s Distillery and Gristmill opening for the season on April 5. These fully functioning reconstructions of George Washington's Distillery and Gristmill are located just two miles from the estate’s main entrance. Tours are offered on weekends from April – October and included with a Mount Vernon grounds pass. Learn more.
- Lunch at the Library: William Gordon Books Owned by Washington on April 10. Engage with experts on how George Washington and his Mount Vernon estate shaped the creation of one of the earliest published histories of the American Revolution. Learn more.
- Lexington & Concord Family Day on April 19, In recognition of the 250th Anniversary of the outbreak of the American Revolution, explore the Battles of Lexington & Concord, the Second Continental Congress, and Washington taking command of the new army. Learn more.
- Enjoy a special Easter buffet on April 20 at the historic Mount Vernon Inn. Children aged five and under eat for free. Read the menu and make a reservation.
- Sensory-Friendly Family Evening on April 22. Neurodivergent individuals and families can join a sensory-friendly visit with a sensory bag (while supplies last), explore the Museum and Orientation Center, watch the Revolutionary War Film with closed captions and lowered volume, visit discovery stations to learn about textile production and archaeology at Mount Vernon. Learn more.
- The Lafayette Tour: Orchestre National Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes on April 24. Celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Marquis de Lafayette's journey back to America. Led by conductor Thomas Zehetmair, the French National Orchestra of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes will perform an unforgettable program related to Lafayette's story. An immersive sound and light experience will retrace the Marquis’ travels. Learn more.
- Shop for heirloom vegetables, herbs, annual flowers, native perennials, trees, and shrubs grown in Mount Vernon's greenhouses. Members can shop one day early, on April 25, with a reservation. Advance tickets are not required on April 26 for the general public sale. Members receive a 10 percent discount on plants. Learn more.
- Meet Pulitzer-prize-winning author Rick Atkinson on publication day for The Fate of the Day, volume two of The Revolutionary Trilogy. On April 29, Atkinson provides a riveting narrative covering the middle years of the Revolution. A book signing and reception with complimentary beer, wine, and hors-d'oeuvres will take place after this Michelle Smith lecture. Learn more.
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.
