Free Admission February 16 for Washington’s Birthday and Presidents’ Day, With Celebrations Continuing on February 22
Mount Vernon, VA – As the nation marks the 250th anniversary of American independence, George Washington’s Mount Vernon will present a rare and powerful new exhibition featuring three original pieces of clothing worn by George Washington, displayed together for the first time ever.
The exhibition is a centerpiece of Mount Vernon’s February programming as part of America’s 250, anchoring two major public celebrations that will invite visitors to experience George Washington’s legacy in meaningful and memorable ways. The commemoration begins with free admission on Monday, February 16, in observance of Washington’s Birthday and Presidents’ Day, and continues with a full day of signature birthday events on February 22, making Mount Vernon a focal point for national reflection, celebration, and civic connection during the Semiquincentennial.
On view now, the special exhibition offers visitors a once in a lifetime opportunity to encounter authentic garments worn by Washington during his lifetime, objects that reveal his personal style, his embrace of American craftsmanship, and his vision for a new nation. Collectively rendered in red, white, and blue, the clothing also carries striking symbolic resonance as America marks its Semiquincentennial.
“These garments offer a direct, physical connection to George Washington and the world he lived in,” said Adam Erby, Executive Director of Historic Preservation and Collections. at Mount Vernon. “Opportunities to see original Washington clothing are extraordinarily rare. Displaying these pieces together is a once-in-a-generation moment that allows visitors to encounter Washington not as a distant symbol, but as a real person at the center of America’s founding.”
“This February, Mount Vernon will be one of the most exciting places in the country to experience America’s 250th,” said Julie Almacy, Vice President for Media and Communications at Mount Vernon. “With free admission on Presidents’ Day, rare artifacts on view, living-history demonstrations, music, a caisson, and a moving naturalization ceremony on Washington’s birthday, these celebrations bring history to life in powerful, unforgettable ways for visitors of all ages,” said Julie Almacy, Mount Vernon Vice President for Media and Communications.
The exhibition brings together a selection of Washington’s winter and summer wear, and includes a waistcoat, breeches, and coat from the Mount Vernon collection, as well as red wool waistcoat on loan from the New Hampshire Historical Society. Together, the garments reflect Washington’s belief in what he called “simplicity of dress,” favoring refined tailoring and quality materials over excess and ostentation. They also underscore his support for early American manufacturing at a time when the young nation was striving to establish its independence not only politically, but economically and culturally.
By presenting Washington’s original clothing at the very place where he lived and led, the exhibition offers a powerful reminder that the nation’s founding was shaped by real people navigating uncertainty, ambition, and responsibility. As America marks its 250th anniversary, Mount Vernon remains a singular place to explore those stories through rigorous scholarship, preservation, and rare firsthand encounters with the past.
On February 16, Mount Vernon will offer free admission in honor of George Washington’s Birthday (Observed), inviting the public to reflect on his leadership and legacy through a Presidential Tribute at Washington’s Tomb, an exclusive open house at the Presidential Library, Demonstrations by the 3rd Infantry Regiment Old Guard military and caisson detachment, fife and drum music of the Revolutionary era, textile demonstrations, the Patriots Path Revolutionary War encampment, and other immersive experiences marking the nation’s 250th anniversary.
On February 22, Mount Vernon will honor George Washington with its signature birthday tribute, including a moving naturalization ceremony, live music with the Air Force String Quartet, story time, and discovery stations for children. Visitors also can meet General Washington for a live hoecake demonstration, pay respects to George Washington at a wreath laying at his Tomb, and meet General Washington’s personal secretary, Tobias Lear.
More information about Mount Vernon’s America’s 250 Programming is available at www.mountvernon.org/250. Mount Vernon also is pleased to offer the Virginia 250 Passport — a free, commemorative travel guide inviting guests to explore more than 70 historic sites across the Commonwealth of Virginia. Passport holders can collect unique stamps at participating destinations, access special discounts, and enter prize drawings designed to inspire discovery and engagement with Virginia’s rich heritage.
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.