Financial Records of the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association

The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of the Union has owned and operated George Washington’s home at Mount Vernon since purchasing the estate from John Augustine Washington III in 1860. The Association is composed of one Regent and 20-30 Vice Regents who serve as the executive board of this historic home. Each Vice Regent represents a different state and is responsible for fundraising and establishing interest in Mount Vernon within their state. They also make all major decisions concerning preservation, collections, visitor experience, maintenance, and finances at Mount Vernon. The MVLA does not receive any government funding and relies solely on ticket sales and donations to continue operating the site as a tourist destination.

The Regent and Vice Regents assemble twice a year in April and October for Council, their bi-annual meetings, where they hear motions and reports concerning projects or issues at the estate. The Vice Regents also divide into committees focused on different functions and operations that rotate members every few years. Today the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association is remembered as the first national organization dedicated to historic preservation in the United States, and as innovators in the field of preservation. The Association remains loyal to its original goals, the restoration and care of Mount Vernon, and educating people all over the world about George Washington’s life and legacy. Mount Vernon is open to visitors 365 days a year. The estate now consists of not only the Mansion and tomb of Washington, but restored gardens, outbuildings, Pioneer Farm, Gristmill, Distillery, museum and orientation center, the National Library for the Study of George Washington, gift shops, food pavilion, and the Mount Vernon Inn restaurant.