Rare Exhibition of Washington’s Original Clothing and Library Tours Offer Powerful America’s 250 Experience
Mount Vernon, VA, February 16, 2026 – George Washington’s Mount Vernon today welcomed thousands of visitors for free admission in honor of Presidents’ Day and George Washington’s Birthday, transforming the estate into a vibrant center of reflection, celebration, and civic pride as America approaches its 250th anniversary.
Throughout the day, visitors experienced moving tributes at Washington’s Tomb, immersive Revolutionary War encampments, stirring performances of fife and drum music, and hands-on textile demonstrations. A highlight of the afternoon was the Special Military Demonstrations by the Commander in Chief’s Guard — the U.S. Army’s 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), the Army’s official ceremonial unit and escort to the President — along with the Caisson Detachment. Families explored discovery stations and living-history presentations that brought the 18th century vividly to life across the estate. Visitors also had the rare opportunity to tour the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon, where original documents from Washington’s life and leadership are preserved and studied.
A centerpiece of the celebration was Mount Vernon’s newly opened special exhibition featuring three original pieces of clothing worn by George Washington, displayed together for the first time ever. The rare garments — a coat, waistcoat, and breeches — offer an extraordinary, tangible connection to Washington’s personal style, his embrace of American craftsmanship, and his vision for the new nation. Rendered in red, white, and blue, the garments carry striking symbolism as the country marks its Semiquincentennial.
Images from Presidents’ Day at Mount Vernon are available for media use here (video) and here (photographs), with attribution to the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association.
Anne Neal Petri, the 24th Regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, said in opening event remarks, “We gather this morning to celebrate the father of our country, George Washington, and the 294th anniversary of his birth. We also gather this year to celebrate 250 years of independence, thanks to the courage and vision of George Washington and our Founding Fathers, who sacrificed their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor for the cause of liberty.”
In remarks to visitors in advance of the Special Military Demonstrations by the Commander in Chief’s Guard, Mount Vernon President & CEO Doug Bradburn said, “Presidents’ Day at Mount Vernon is about more than commemoration — it’s about connecting to the extraordinary leadership that shaped our nation. George Washington helped mobilize Americans around a bold new system of government under the U.S. Constitution. He then became the first President of the United States and established that office with humility, integrity, and wisdom. Though he was the indispensable man and could have remained in power for life, he stepped away, demonstrating that in America, leaders return to private life and power yields to the rule of law. He showed the world that this nation would be governed by laws, not by men. That is why visitors gather here today to visit Mount Vernon and to honor a man who truly was the father of our great nation.”
“Opening the Library to visitors during this celebration is especially meaningful,” said Lindsay Chervinsky, Executive Director of the George Washington Presidential Library. “To see George Washington’s own letters, documents, and papers up close is a rare and powerful experience. These materials reveal the thoughtfulness, complexity, and leadership behind the founding of the United States. Giving the public access to them — particularly during America’s 250th — is an extraordinary opportunity to connect directly with the documentary record of our nation’s beginnings.”
Today’s Presidents’ Day festivities built anticipation for Mount Vernon’s signature birthday celebration on February 22, which will include 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.
Mount Vernon’s February programming is part of its broader America’s 250 initiative, inviting Americans to engage deeply with the legacy of the nation’s first President in the very place he called home. 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.
