A couple of weeks ago, Jason and I spent a long weekend in the Washington DC area with the DeBodes while attending his granddad’s funeral at Arlington (that was something else, oof). It also happened to be my birthday weekend, and since cities are not exactly my thing, I asked for time outside of the city. We discussed a few options and ultimately decided to drive out to Mount Vernon, George Washington’s home, since it wasn’t too far away.
We had been to Mount Vernon years ago when we were dating in college, so we were just looking for an outdoor space to wander and enjoy the sunshine (it was originally supposed to rain the whole time we were in DC; fortunately, that didn’t happen). I thought Mount Vernon sounded like a great idea, so I could see what they were up to in the gardens. Plus, I just love a historical setting (which is everywhere you step out there!), so off we went.
Initially, we drove by Mount Vernon itself because the parking traffic was a bit nuts. We headed to Washington’s Distillery first (a separate location from Mount Vernon). Before this trip, I didn’t know Washington had a distillery. It turns out that the site is relatively new to visitors, but it is located within his plantation property on the actual site where he had a grain mill and eventually a whiskey distillery in his time. The buildings have been reconstructed and are a fully operational distillery producing small-batch spirits that are reasonably similar to what would have been produced in Washington’s day.
We first visited the grain mill where they were grinding corn for cornmeal that day. It was fun to watch a water-powered mill in action – a water wheel, grinding stones, noise, and all. What a powdery place that must have been.
Just a short walk away was the distillery building. We were able to visit with one of the head distillers, and she explained their whole process from start to finish. It is slightly different from the Scotch Whisky tours we’ve done in Scotland (read about those here and here), mostly because Scotch is produced on such a huge scale today, and this distillery hasn’t changed its process since it began. The whole building had that distinctive malt smell, though. Mmmm.
We didn’t do a tasting because it was getting into the afternoon (also because it’s mostly rye whiskey, which is an acquired taste), and we still wanted to go to Mount Vernon proper. By this time, the parking situation had settled down, and we easily found a place for the car. Upon entrance, we were told to visit the reenactment and Washington himself, as he was in residence today.
Jason: Not to be indelicate, but they know Washington’s dead, right?
Tasha: Umm…
Us: Right…what are we reenacting today?
Host: Oh – only the Revolutionary War with an entire military encampment, soldiers in uniform, a historic market, and a battle with guns and CANNONS!
Holy smokes – jackpot. I was quite tickled.
We first walked up to the gardens since that was my initial objective. I had some fun identifying plants and what they were used for, and then we heard the first cannon. To clarify, we’re not talking about a cannon, but a ground-shaking CANNON. Hello! We wandered towards the commotion and found a sea of people! Oh, that’s why we couldn’t park before. There was a full-scale battle with guns and cannons going on between the Continental Army and the British, complete with the Hessians (hired soldiers from German states). An announcer was keeping us all abreast of the situation playing out below us while we watched, much like I would have imagined that first battle at Bull Run, where folks packed picnics to come watch the battle. Unreal. It was like going to a sporting event. Had this happened in today’s time, it most certainly would have its own hashtag on social media.
Since we knew the outcome of the war (spoiler alert: we won), we decided to walk through the historic market before everyone else decided to as well. I poked my head into an apothecary and visited with the young proprietor. She was a high school freshman operating a historical apothecary as a way to save money for college. I was immediately intrigued and asked her all sorts of questions about her recipes, sourcing, goals, and her favorite products. I walked out with some new teas and her business card. I love an entrepreneur, especially a young one toting an old craft. You can visit her website at https://thisfamilyblog.com/shop/ to see her products and book her for an event – she’s very knowledgeable.
The main house and museum are in the middle of a 3-year renovation and were closed for tours. America is coming up on the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 2026, and the preservation society is doing everything it can to revitalize the site for the celebration. George Washington is one of those much-conflicted, important, and fascinating founding fathers. I find his home to be a unique glimpse into the trials and triumphs of the founding of America. This is a man who carried a huge burden during his life and spent much of it just wanting to go home and be a farmer – I can appreciate that.
We rounded out our day in the gift shop, where I found three books I had to bring home with me (it was a challenge to get them in my luggage to go home!). The first is about Washington’s mother, the second all the letters his wife Martha wrote, and the third is about Washington’s entrepreneurial spirit. I can’t wait to get into them!
All that to say, if you find yourself in Washington, DC, and need some time outside the monuments of The Mall and the myriad Smithsonian museums, I highly recommend a 30-minute trip to Mount Vernon. It’s always great fun to put your feet on the same paths historical figures walked and try to understand history from their perspective.
