Event on May 4th Will Feature a Reenactment of Washington’s Departure, a Ribbon Cutting of the New Patriots Path Revolutionary War Encampment, and Dignitaries Including Fairfax County Board of Supervisor Dan Storck
Mount Vernon, VA, April 17, 2025 – As the nation gears up to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of America, George Washington’s Mount Vernon will host a once-in-a-lifetime recognition and reenactment of George Washington’s historic departure on May 4, 1775, from his beloved Mount Vernon to attend the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia. There, Washington was appointed commander in chief of the newly created Continental Army. For the duration of the Revolutionary War, Washington only briefly returned to Mount Vernon in 1781, just prior to the Yorktown campaign and ultimate victory for American independence.
Scheduled for Sunday, May 4, 2025, at 1:30 PM, the reenactment of Washington’s historic departure also will include a ribbon cutting of the newly-installed Patriots Path Revolutionary War encampment and remarks from George Washington, Fairfax County Supervisor Dan Storck, and Mount Vernon CEO Doug Bradburn.
News outlets are invited to use related video footage and photographs, attributable to the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association.
Media outlets interested in covering this historic event must pre-register with Mount Vernon to ensure access. Please contact Julie Almacy, Vice President of Media & Communications, at julie.almacy@mountvernon.org to schedule attendance.
During the reenactment, George Washington will march down the Patriots Path and out Mount Vernon’s front gates, marking the start of his journey to Philadelphia. Washington will be accompanied by 18th-century musicians and a cadre of historic reenactors dressed in period costumes.
This reenactment is part of the highly popular Revolutionary War Weekend, during which Mount Vernon's serene 12-acre field transforms into a battleground. Continentals, Redcoats, and Hessians conduct military drills and 18th-century tactics.
The Patriots Path is a one-of-a-kind outdoor Revolutionary War encampment to immerse in the daily life of soldiers, military officers, and camp followers. Mount Vernon visitors can step back in time to experience the hardship and resilience of the Continental Army. There are opportunities to explore 18th-century tents, wash clothes in the laundry yard, examine cooking utensils, and engage with historical interpreters to learn about life in this hands-on camp. Following the Patriots Path experience, made possible by Americana Corner, visitors are invited to watch Washington’s War: Revolutionary War Movie in the Robert H. and Clarice Smith Auditorium.
Please note that Mount Vernon has embarked upon a landmark Mansion Revitalization project. During visits, preservation teams are restoring the framing, masonry, drainage, and environmental controls of the Mansion, ensuring America’s first president’s home will be ready to receive millions of guests for generations to come. The Mansion will always remain open during this vital work, with individual rooms taken off display as work progresses. The Education Center exhibit on George Washington’s life will be off display for an extensive rebuild until Spring 2026. However, the expansive estate remains open to visitors, including the museum, more than a dozen historic buildings, the gardens and farm, and the Tomb.
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. It also includes the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon.
