Things to do nearWashington Family Tomb

The Washington Family Tomb at Mount Vernon has stood along the Potomac River in Alexandria, Virginia since the early nineteenth century. The original family vault dated to the colonial era, but George Washington himself directed in his will that a new, more suitable tomb be constructed. That brick structure, completed in the 1830s, is what visitors see today.

Inside the tomb, marble sarcophagi hold the remains of George and Martha Washington, flanked by the remains of other family members in an adjacent vault. An iron gate allows visitors to look respectfully into the interior without entering. The setting is shaded, quiet, and deliberately removed from the bustle of the main mansion.

A short distance away stands a memorial to the enslaved people who lived and worked at Mount Vernon, a sobering counterpoint that the estate actively encourages visitors to include in their experience. Together, these two sites tell a more complete story of early American life than either could alone.

The tomb remains one of the most visited historic landmarks in Virginia, drawing those with a deep interest in the founding era as well as casual visitors who find themselves moved by its simplicity and gravity. It is a place that rewards quiet reflection.