George Washington: Influencing Our Nation for 250 Years

In 2026, the United States will celebrate its 250th birthday and its independence from the British crown. While many patriots get credit for victory in the Revolutionary War, one British subject, in particular, literally led the charge—Commander of the Continental Army, General George Washington.

Washington was perceived as such a hero for his successful revolution against the monarchy that the newly independent nation insisted that he become its first president. He is the only president ever to be elected unanimously by the Electoral College. And he achieved that distinction twice.

Each time Washington strategized the revolution, rode off to or returned home from war, left to serve in the US capital or return home for the holidays, it happened in and around his Fairfax County home. Through parts of his childhood and all his adult years, Washington lived at his riverside estate in Fairfax County, Mount Vernon.

As America’s 250th approaches, there is no better place to get context around the thinking, the passions, and the man who fought to form a new nation with liberty and justice for all. You’ll find parts of his story scattered throughout the county and the surrounding region. And you’ll come to a greater understanding of why one state, 31 counties, 241 townships, and countless roadways, sites, and universities have all chosen his name to reflect the greatness they aspire to.
 

George Washington, the many facets of a man

We all know George Washington as a warrior and “Father of Our Country”, but he was a complex man with many aspects to his life. From his estate at Mount Vernon and his Presidential Library to the churches and homes he frequented along the way, much of what George held dear has been preserved in the Potomac Banks region of Fairfax County.

These sites, along with the incredible exhibits and museum at Mount Vernon, give us added insight into the many sides of George as a man.

• Military Icon. From the French and Indian War to the American Revolution, George Washington has gone down in history as one of the greatest leaders. He was a skilled strategist, known for instilling discipline among troops. A visit to the National Museum of the US Army is a great way to explore his military leadership.  
• POTUS. After the Revolutionary War, Washington just wanted to go home to his farm. But the populace, newly free from the British crown, wanted him to be president and lead the new nation. He answered the call for two terms, setting a precedent for the presidency and steering the nation through crises. He appointed the first Supreme Court, conducted the first census, gave the first Address to Congress, appointed the first cabinet—you get the drift. Everything he did was done for the first time. And, at the end of his second term, when many were calling for a third, he established the practice of leaving after two that was ultimately written into the Constitution. Washington had worked to separate from a King’s rule. He didn’t think any president should become one. His Farewell Address is read by Congress every year on his birthday as a reminder of the beauty and fragility of democracy.
• Estate Owner. George’s half-brother, Lawrence, inherited the family estate at Mount Vernon when their father, Augustine, died in 1743. George spent much of his time at Mount Vernon with his brother. After Lawrence died, a series of events resulted in George inheriting the property in 1761. After that, George expanded both the mansion and the land holdings, building a gristmill and distillery nearby, where whiskey is still made to George’s specifications. When you visit the estate, you’ll see the results of George’s labor—the mansion, the gardens, the animal paddocks, the kitchen, the blacksmith’s forge, an icehouse, a salt house, a wash house, and his final resting place.
• Family Man. When George met Martha, she was a wealthy widow with two children. The couple never had children together, but George took her children on as their legal guardian. He considered Martha his “worthy partner,” with her joining him at his winter encampments, managing the estate, and setting the standard for what First Ladies should do. At one point, Washington gifted part of his estate to his step-granddaughter, Eleanor “Nelly” Parke Custis, whom the Washingtons had raised. The home built there, Woodlawn, is beautifully preserved and has a significant history attached. Each March, they host a needlepoint show where you can see needlework done by both Martha and Nelly.
• Farmer. Being a farmer was perhaps George’s favorite role. George grew tobacco and grains (which he processed at his gristmill) and became very involved in improving agriculture and animal husbandry, then sharing that information with other farmers. He built an impressive 16-sided barn that still stands at the Pioneer Farm on Mount Vernon’s property.
• Slave Owner. George did own slaves throughout his life that he willed to Martha with the intent of them being freed upon her death. One of those former slaves, West Ford, established a free black community at nearby Gum Springs. Gum Springs, while inside Confederate territory, remained free throughout the Civil War, and residents found work at Woodlawn, by that time owned by Quakers.
• Man of God. George was a vestryman at Pohick Episcopal Church, where, in the 1760s, he helped supervise the building of the structure that is there today alongside fellow founding father, George Mason, and British loyalist George William Fairfax. A visit here not only reveals George’s family pew, but a trove of fascinating Civil War history and a 12th-century baptismal font.
• Tragic Punctuality. On a cold December day, George was out supervising farm activities in the snow, rain, and hail. When he returned home, it was suggested that he change out of his wet clothes, but George wanted to be on time for dinner. Within two days, he would be dead of conditions brought on by his frigid day. Washington is buried in a tomb on the Mount Vernon estate, overlooking his beloved Potomac River.

 

George Washington, the country gentleman in the city

About 9 miles north of Mount Vernon is the City of Alexandria, also known simply as “Old Town.” This charming destination, with its brick sidewalks, historic homes, and cobblestone streets, was a center point of commerce for the Washingtons’ life. George would come to town to collect his mail, visit friends, do business, and hear the news of the day.

When in town, both he and Martha attended church services at Christ Church, where they had a family pew. They got their medicines from the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary. They sold produce from Mount Vernon in Market Square, where George also recruited soldiers for the resistance.

For those times when the “long ride” back to the country was too much, George built a townhome in the city that has since been reconstructed. Built without a kitchen, George frequented Gadsby’s Tavern and other local establishments for his meals. The Alexandria History Museum at the Lyceum houses artifacts related to George’s visits to the city.

 

George Washington, the surveyor

At an early age, George Washington earned his living as a surveyor. At 17, he helped plan the City of Alexandria and created a map of its proposed layout. George also had a lifelong dream of seeing the Potomac River become navigable all the way to the Ohio River Valley. To that end, he helped establish the Patowmack Company to create a series of canals and locks to make the area around the rocky waterfalls at Great Falls Park more navigable.

George, already a war hero at the time, performed much of the surveying for the proposed canals and locks that would help boats make it past the falls and rapids. A town sprang up to support this effort, Matildaville. The canal built there was operational for years, but the Patowmack Company eventually went under. You can still see ruins of the canal and town with a hike through the spectacular Great Falls Park.

 

George Washington, the icon

George Washington may have never lived in the city that bears his name, but he was deeply involved in the planning and development of what eventually became Washington, DC. As president living in New York and Philadelphia, the early capitals of our country, he selected the site for a new nation’s capital and oversaw the early construction, including planning for the present-day sites of the White House and Capitol Building.

From George Washington University to the name of the city itself, reminders of Washington’s influence can be seen all over the region in multiple locations. Here are a few of the most compelling and popular:

• The Washington Monument. This iconic landmark is recognized the world over as a monument to both the man and the republic he helped create. It can be seen for miles around and is the tallest structure in Washington, DC at 555 feet high.
• George Washington Masonic National Memorial. The Freemasons are a fraternity shrouded in mystery, and George Washington was one of them. Locally known as the “Masonic Temple,” the memorial sits high atop a hill in Alexandria and, like the monument downtown, can be seen for miles.
• Arlington House. Located in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington House is best known as the home of Robert E. Lee, which was seized and turned into a cemetery during the Civil War. But it was originally built by George Washington Parke Custis, who was one of the two grandchildren raised by George and Martha. He intended the house to serve as a memorial to George Washington. Custis lived in the home until 1857. Lee inherited the property through his wife, who was Custis’s daughter.
• George Washington Memorial Parkway. The “GW Parkway” is a breathtaking 25 miles of roadway that begins at Mount Vernon, then follows the Potomac River through the City of Alexandria, where Washington conducted business, then past Washington, DC, the Washington Monument and Arlington House, and finally reaches its end near Great Falls, where George pursued his dream of a more navigable Potomac River.

 

There are very few figures in world history who have remained revered and respected for 250 years. In American history, George Washington is among a very small handful of heroes who have never lost their sheen. He was a special man who chose a special place to call his home.

As we prepare for our country’s 250th Birthday, there is no better place to go than Mount Vernon to soak up our nation’s origins—and no better historical figure to tell the tale. Here are key things not to miss during America's 250th Anniversary at George Washington's Mount Vernon: 

• Pick up the Virginia 250 Passport at sponsoring attractions, including George Washington’s Mount Vernon, and get a stamp for each location that you visit. Use this passport as a souvenir of your travels as you celebrate America’s semiquincentennial. Passport holders receive a 15% discount at participating sites around the Commonwealth. Participants who visit at least 5 of the 70 participating sites across Virginia will be eligible for cash and prizes.
• Beginning in December 2025, the first and second floors of the Mansion will reopen after nearly two years of rotating room closures. With this opening, visitors will also see the newly restored Washington Bedchamber!
• In 2026, view a brand-new exhibit on the life and times of George Washington.
• Walk through the new Patriots Path—a Revolutionary War encampment—and chat with the soldiers to learn about life as an 18th-century soldier.
• Visit The Shops at Mount Vernon to find exclusive 250th-branded souvenirs and gifts.