Mount Vernon is the home and burial place of the first President of the United States of America, George Washington. With over a million visitors a year, Mount Vernon is the most popular historic estate in the country. 15 miles south of Washington DC, Mount Vernon is located in Fairfax county, VA, overlooking the Potomac River. The estate was originally called Little Hunting Creek Plantation and consisted of 5,000 acres. In 1853 The Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association of the Union raised $200,000 and purchased the house and 200 acres of Washington’s Estate. Using archaeology and research, the association furnished the buildings and designed the gardens to reflect the era in which George Washington and his family occupied their home. Mount Vernon now hosts daily tours and events, including a Spring Wine Festival, Fall Family Harvest Days, and Christmas at Mount Vernon in the wintertime.