Spring at Mount Vernon welcomes a visitor favorite— the farm animals! Many people do not know that George Washington bred and raised several animals at his over-3,000-acre farm!
Animals were a critical part of the farm’s revenue and functionality.
When you visit this spring, you can see many of the same animals and breeds kept by Washington when he lived and worked at Mount Vernon, including Hog Island sheep, cattle, Ossabaw Island hogs, Dominique chickens, and horses.
Now is a great time to use these free tickets and visit because spring weekends are the only time of year we can offer 18th-century sheep shearing demonstrations. Our team even uses hand shears made by the same English company that made Washington’s shears!
Washington also adored dogs and had several breeds throughout his lifetime. He gave them surprisingly hilarious names like Sweetlips, Madame Moose, Tipsy, Mopsey, Truelove, and Rahman—to name a few!
And to honor the Father of our Country’s devotion to his furry friends, we welcome you to bring your dog along to explore the grounds.
The farm is a special place. It truly brings history to life for visitors of all ages. Remember, we do not receive any funding from the government, so donors, like you, allow us to host living history demonstrations, like those at the farm, and keep the land as close as possible to its 18th-century appearance.
Your donation today supports our agricultural educational efforts, live demonstrations, sheep shearing events, and all the engaging activities we host in the spring. If you make a donation of $35 or more today toward our preservation and education efforts, you will receive two free tickets!
My very best regards,
Doug Bradburn, Ph.D.
President & CEO
*Tickets are good through December 31, 2027, and will be mailed after processing and will not be available for in-person pickup. Select tours require a fee and a ticket.
Mount Vernon is owned and maintained by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association of the Union, a private, non-profit organization.
We don’t accept government funding and rely upon private contributions to help preserve George Washington’s home and legacy.
