Frequently Asked Questions

Membership Purchases

Can I upgrade my membership mid-cycle?

Yes, you can upgrade your membership mid-cycle. Please call 703.799.8647. Your membership card will automatically be loaded with your new benefits and can be scanned at the estate.

Why do I need to provide my email?

All membership communications, including benefit updates and invitations, are primarily sent via email. If you wish to receive these communications, you must have a valid email in your membership record.

Do you offer military discounts on memberships?

Members of the U.S. Armed Forces and veterans receive $20 off a one-year membership level. To receive the discount, click on the ID.me button when purchasing or renewing a membership.

Estate Admission

Who is allowed to enter with a dual membership?

Two adult members of a household or an adult member of a household plus a guest can enter.

Can I give my membership card to a friend to come visit the estate?

No, a membership card has the member name(s) printed on them. The cards are to be used by the member(s) only who are named on the card.

Members at the contributing levels (Patron, Patron Plus and Regent’s Circles) are allowed to bring accompanied guests, depending on the level of their membership. Please see your membership card or the membership brochure.

Events

Do all levels of membership entitle someone to member-only presale and discount opportunities?

Yes, all levels of membership allow you to participate in discounts and early sale for major events including:

• NSO at Mount Vernon
• Spring Wine Festival & Sunset Tour
• Independence Fireworks
• Fall Wine Festival & Sunset Tour
• Trick-or-Treating at Mount Vernon
• Mount Vernon by Candlelight
• Christmas Illuminations

Please visit our Mount Vernon calendar for event details. If you would like to purchase tickets for these major events or have questions, please call 703.780.2000 or email tickets@mountvernon.org.

Which special events are included in my membership admission as complimentary?

Most daytime events are free for members, including:

• Revolutionary War Weekend
• Fall Harvest Family Festival
• George Washington Birthday Celebration
• Mother’s Day
• Father’s Day
• An American Celebration
• Colonial Market and Fair
• Home School Days
• Slave Memorial Commemoration
• Veteran’s Day

Please visit our Mount Vernon calendar for event details.

As a member, do I have free admission to special evening events? 

No, free admission benefits are meant for daytime admission to the estate or for special events during the daytime hours. Tickets must be purchased for special evening events unless otherwise indicated.

At a higher membership level (Patron Plus and all Regent’s Circle levels), how do I receive my holiday reception tickets?

An invitation to this special holiday reception and candlelight tour will be sent to all member levels who receive this benefit. The invitation will note the day of the reception and tours and will have instructions on how to register for the event.

If I have purchased tickets online, can I change the date or time of my visit?

We can usually accommodate requests for changes that are made in advance. Please call 703.780.2000 or email tickets@mountvernon.org.

Tax Deductions

Can I waive my membership benefits, so that my membership purchase is 100% tax-deductible?

Yes, you can opt-out of receiving benefits at the higher contributing levels of membership (Patron Plus and all Regent’s Circle levels), which will allow for your gift to be 100% tax-deductible. Individual, Dual and Family memberships are already 100% tax-deductible. 

How much of my membership is tax-deductible? 

Membership at the Individual, Dual, Family, and Patron Membership levels (no matter where you live) are fully tax-deductible.  

For memberships at the contributing levels (Patron, Patron Plus, Regent’s Circle levels), a portion is tax-deductible. If a member declines benefits, it is 100% tax-deductible.

Shops & Restaurant Discounts

Do I need my membership card to receive a discount at the Shops at Mount Vernon, the Mount Vernon Inn or Pavilion?

Yes, you should be prepared to show a valid/active membership card to receive any membership discount on the estate.

The Mount Vernon Inn and Pavilion offers a 10% discount (excluding ticketed dinners such as the Whiskey Dinner.)

The Shops at Mount Vernon offer 10% off (exclusions apply including distilled spirits). They offer special shopping days throughout the year:

• Members receive 20% off the 1st weekend of every month, on both Saturday and Sunday. 

Learn more about member discounts here.

Membership Cards

I have lost my membership card, can I get a replacement?

Yes, you can come to the Guest Services ticketing desk in the Ford Orientation Center at your next visit to receive a new card, or you can email membership@mountvernon.org and a replacement card will be sent to you.

Mount Vernon Magazine

How do I receive the Mount Vernon Magazine and can I receive back issues?

The Mount Vernon Magazine is published three times a year and is a benefit of any membership level. You will receive the next issue that is produced after your membership is received. Mount Vernon does not provide back issues of publications.

Neighborhood Friends

Is there a difference between the Neighborhood Friends of Mount Vernon and the Friends of Mount Vernon?

Membership locally and nationally has the same levels and benefits. Donors who live on the Five Farms of Mount Vernon (in zip codes 22309 or 22308) receive special invitations, including an invitation to a Neighborhood Friends picnic held in the summer. Members automatically have a Neighborhood Friends membership based on address.