Mount Vernon
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Why it's listed
Mount Vernon, on the Potomac about seven miles south of Alexandria, Virginia, was the home of George Washington. The mansion is a Georgian house with a high-columned, two-story piazza facing the river, a pedimented west front, a modillion cornice and an octagonal cupola added in 1787. It grew over time. Augustine Washington probably built the first portion in the 1730s. George Washington rebuilt it in 1757-58 and enlarged it to 2 1/2 stories. During the Revolution his kinsman Lund Washington widened the house from five to nine bays, added the piazza and flanking wings, and extended the gardens. The estate includes restored outbuildings, gardens, a bowling green, a greenhouse and the tombs of George and Martha Washington. The nomination treats it as significant because Washington farmed here, lived here through his military and political career, retired here in 1797 and died here in 1799. About 400 acres are nominated.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that Mount Vernon was the home of George Washington, general, statesman and first President of the United States. It was his main occupation as a planter before the Revolution, his home through his military and political career, and his place of retirement and burial.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 66000833, listed October 15, 1966. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 7 mi. S of Alexandria on George Washington Memorial Pkwy., Alexandria |
|---|---|
| County | Fairfax (city and county) |
| Listed | October 15, 1966 |
| Reference number | 66000833 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1752-1799 |
| Architect / builder | Augustine Washington (probably built the first portion); George Washington (rebuilt 1757-58, cupola 1787); William Fairfax (supervised 1757-58 construction); Lund Washington (enlarged the house during the Revolution) |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Areas of significance | Military, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated December 19, 1960 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and used as a museum; owned by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association. Outbuildings, gardens and lawn have been restored in detail, and the form describes the condition as unaltered and on its original site. |
| Acreage | 400 |
| Coordinates | 38.71100, -77.08731 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 66000833.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q731635
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.