Washington's, George, Distillery and Gristmill
Also known as: Vdhr# 029-0330; 44fx2262
.jpg){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Located near Dogue Creek in Lorton, Virginia, about three miles from Mount Vernon, this 6.65-acre site was the center of George Washington's commercial milling and distilling. His gristmill dates to 1770-1771, and in 1797 he added a large five-still distillery. By 1799 the operation produced 11,000 gallons of whiskey a year and was the most profitable of his Mount Vernon ventures. The buildings were lost by the mid-nineteenth century. In 1932 Virginia bought the tract as part of the Washington bicentennial. Landscape engineer R.E. Burson led the reconstruction of a Colonial Revival sandstone mill on the original foundations, along with a miller's house and mill races, completed in 1933. Millworks from a circa 1818 mill near Front Royal were reused. The result became Virginia's first historical state park. The distillery remains an archaeological site, and the property is now operated as a museum.
Significance in brief: The site preserves the location of Washington's commercial milling and whiskey operations, which by 1799 were the most profitable of his Mount Vernon pursuits. It holds archaeological potential, and the 1932-1933 reconstruction produced Virginia's first historical state park, using archaeological and documentary evidence. The listing also recognizes the Colonial Revival design and the reconstruction itself.
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 03000739, listed August 8, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 5512 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy., Lorton |
|---|---|
| County | Fairfax (city and county) |
| Listed | August 8, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03000739 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1770 - 1808; 1932-1933 |
| Architect / builder | R.E. Burson |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Entertainment/Recreation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a museum; the gristmill and miller's house (a gift shop) are reconstructions, and the distillery survives as an archaeological site. |
| Acreage | 6.7 |
| Coordinates | 38.71330, -77.13063 (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 03000739.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5545904
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.