Press Release
Presidents Day at Mount Vernon Features Free Admission, Presidential Library Open House, Historical Demonstrations, and More
February Also Includes the George Washington Birthday Auction Benefiting Mount Vernon Preservation and Restoration, The National Symphony Orchestra, and Book Events
ALEXANDRIA, VA-To commemorate the birth of America’s first president, admission to George Washington’s Mount Vernon will be free on February 19 and February 22, 2024. Birthday celebrations will include a presidential wreath-laying ceremony, a Naturalization Ceremony for new citizens, a tactical demonstration by the Commander-in-Chief’s Guard, a musical demonstration by The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, a rare George Washington Presidential Library Open House, and more.
Also in February, Mount Vernon is hosting a George Washington Birthday auction through February 22, featuring a wide range of enticing merchandise and experiences, including behind-the-scenes tours of Mount Vernon. Proceeds from the virtual auction will support the restoration and preservation of George Washington’s beloved home. Learn more.
Images related to upcoming events at Mount Vernon are available here and should be attributed to the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association.
Located just outside of Washington, D.C., on the banks of the Potomac River, upcoming events and activities include:
- The National Symphony Orchestra plays a three-part chamber music series on February 6, March 12, and April 9. Concerts begin at 7 p.m. and are followed at 8 p.m. by a reception of champagne and chocolates with the musicians. Learn more.
- Ford Evening Book Talk: The Odyssey of Phillis Wheatley on February 8. Professor David Waldstreicher, author of The Odyssey of Phillis Wheatley: A Poet’s Journey Through American Slavery and Independence, discusses his paradigm-shattering account of an extraordinary poet who set African-American literature at the heart of the American Revolution. Learn more.
- Lunch at the Library: A Peale in Paris, Recovering a National Treasure on February 13. Philadelphia Museum of Art curator Carol Soltis will discuss her work to authenticate and document Charles Willson Peale’s painting Washington at Princeton, now in the collection of the Residence of the U.S. Ambassador to France. Learn more.
- Enjoy special dinners at the Mount Vernon Inn. On February 14th only, celebrate with a special Valentine’s Day dinner. View the menu and make reservations here. And on February 16, the Inn will prepare a special Chocolate Dinner. View the menu and make reservations here.
- Celebrate George Washington’s Birthday with free admission on February 19 and 22. Tickets will be distributed on-site upon arrival. Mansion tours are timed, and the tour tickets will be distributed first come, first served basis. Learn more.
- George Washington Presidential Library Open House on February 19. Typically only available to researchers, the Presidential Library will be open to the public to view the rare books and manuscripts documenting the lives of George and Martha Washington and the history of Mount Vernon before 1853. Visitors will hear from Mount Vernon experts about the collection, watch historical films, and tour the reading room, library collection, and rare books. The library holds more than 100 volumes from George Washington’s personal library. Learn more.
- George Washington’s Birthday in The Classroom: A Virtual K-12 Program on February 22 and 23. In this interactive program, students will learn more about George Washington’s life, examine the connections between his birthday and Presidents Day, and reflect on how Washington’s legacy still impacts our lives today. This program is free, and registrations are unlimited. Teachers may sign up as a class to view the program together or provide the links to their students to log-in individually. Learn more.
- Teacher Workshop: Music of the 18th Century on February 21. Virginia teachers are invited to gain confidence in integrating history and STEAM concepts to support student learning while building a network of local peers. This free workshop will include songs and melodies of the 18th century performed by two of the founders of The Colonial Music Institute, Dr. David and Ginger Hildebrand. Attendees are required to be teachers in a Virginia K-12 formal school setting for the full 2023-2024 school year. Learn more.
- Winter Clearance Sale at the Shops at Mount Vernon. Take advantage of unique Mount Vernon products available at deeply discounted prices as The Shops at Mount Vernon clears out its warehouse. Quantities are limited. For February 22 only, purchases over $50 ship for free. Online orders available here.
Read the full listing of Mount Vernon events here. Most Mount Vernon events are free or discounted for members. Information about Mount Vernon membership is available here.
Please note that Mount Vernon has embarked upon a landmark Mansion Revitalization project. During visits, preservation teams will be restoring the framing, masonry, drainage, and environmental controls of the Mansion, ensuring our first president’s home will be ready to receive millions of guests for generations to come. Individual rooms will be taken off display as work progresses through the structure. Beginning January 2024, the New Room will not be on view. However, the expansive estate remains open to visitors, including the museum and education center, more than a dozen historic buildings, the gardens and farm, and the Tomb.
Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington, is owned and maintained 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.
