Last updated: August 1, 2017
Thing to Do
Explore Washington’s Gristmill and Distillery Buildings
George Washington’s Distillery and Gristmill ® is 2.7 miles from the main Mount Vernon Mansion and Estate. The Gristmill is a fully-functioning water-powered rendition of the technology and equipment Washington would have been pioneering with in the late 1700’s. Washington incorporated new improvements and inventions from Oliver Evans’ automated milling system in a successful effort to make profit from his “Merchant Mill.” Visitors can purchase flour ground at the gristmill, and whiskey distilled on-site is also available seasonally. The buildings standing today are not the original Washington Merchant Mill-- those fell into disrepair and were torn down in the 1800’s. In 1932 the Commonwealth of Virginia conducted extensive archaeological research in order to construct the replica buildings that stand today.
Photo Credits: NPS | Monica Larcom
Details
Duration
40-120 Minutes
The guided tour of the Gristmill and Distillery is 30 minutes long, though one could take much longer to walk around the grounds and talk to the period-costumed guides much longer.
Activity
Guided Tours
Age(s)
0-99
Open to all ages! Is kid-friendly.
Pets Allowed
Yes with Restrictions
Mount Vernon welcomes certified service animals and animals-in-training. If you have further questions, please send your emails to accessibility@mountvernon.org or call 703-780-2000.
Activity Fee
Yes
To take a guided tour of the Gristmill and Distillery only, adult tickets are 5$.
General admission prices to the entire Mount Vernon Estate (which includes the price of the Gristmill tour) are as follows:
Adults (ages 12-61): 20$
Children (5-11): 10$
Children (0-5) FREE
Seniors (62+): 19$
Note: Buying tickets ONLINE gets you a discount (3$).
Military discounts are also available for General Admission tickets.
General admission prices to the entire Mount Vernon Estate (which includes the price of the Gristmill tour) are as follows:
Adults (ages 12-61): 20$
Children (5-11): 10$
Children (0-5) FREE
Seniors (62+): 19$
Note: Buying tickets ONLINE gets you a discount (3$).
Military discounts are also available for General Admission tickets.
Location
5514 Mount Vernon Memorial Hwy Alexandria, VA 22309
The Gristmill is located 2.7 miles away from Mount Vernon Mansion and Center. There are complimentary shuttles offered for Mount Vernon General Admission ticket holders through October 1st. For more information on shuttles and General Admission tickets for the whole estate, please see Mount Vernon’s Admissions Page.
Reservations
No
You can buy tickets online but it is not required. Tickets are available on-site.
Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
The Gristmill and Distillery is open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from April 1st through October 31st.
Time of Day
Day
The Gristmill and Distillery is open 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from April 1st through October 31st.
Accessibility Information
Most of the Mount Vernon estate sites are available by wheelchair, and there are designated parking spots available at the Gristmill. There are wheelchair-accessible paths to both the Gristmill and the Distillery. However, the Gristmill’s upper floors are accessible only by stairway. Audio tours are available for those hard of hearing. There are also ASL tours available for the main estate and auxiliary grounds (like the Gristmill and Distillery) the by calling or emailing beforehand and requesting an ASL tour guide for the grounds ahead of time.
If you have further questions, please send your emails to accessibility@mountvernon.org or call 703-780-2000.