Impressions of Virginia: Washington Gristmill

Dawn and Laural's next stop on the journey to Opening Night of "Impressions of Virginia" is the Washington Gristmill and Distillery. Our pair of adventurers actually had a few different sites to visit on this August day. However, not all of them made it into the exhibit. Also, our two travelers had the pleasure of their artist friend, Jenn Galvin of Wild Oaks Studio joining them on this August morning. There were even stops along the way to capture even more beauty of Virginia on this day.

Washington Gristmill 6x8 Study

© Laural Koons

A little history on the Washington Gristmill and Distillery:

• Many who view Washington’s gristmill from the outside may not immediately recognize the tall stone building as a mill. Washington decided to place his large, 16’ diameter wooden wheel inside the mill’s walls where it would be more protected from the elements. (https://www.mountvernon.org/the-estate-gardens/gristmill/ten-facts-about-the-gristmill/)

• Despite all the challenges in building, maintaining, and operating the mill, the enterprise proved to be a highly profitable one. In 1797, the gristmill produced 117 pounds of profit – the third-highest of any activity at Mount Vernon. (https://www.mountvernon.org/the-estate-gardens/gristmill/ten-facts-about-the-gristmill/)

• The gristmill was torn down about 1850 and rebuilt in 1932 by the Commonwealth of Virginia.(https://www.mountvernon.org/the-estate-gardens/gristmill/ten-facts-about-the-gristmill/)

• George Washington began commercial distilling in 1797 at the urging of his Scottish farm manager, James Anderson, who had experience distilling grain in Scotland and Virginia. He successfully petitioned George Washington that Mount Vernon's crops, combined with the large merchant gristmill and the abundant water supply, would make the distillery a profitable venture.(https://www.mountvernon.org/the-estate-gardens/distillery/ten-facts-about-the-distillery/)

• Washington’s distillery was one of the largest distilleries in the nation at its time.(https://www.mountvernon.org/the-estate-gardens/distillery/ten-facts-about-the-distillery/)

• At peak production, the distillery utilized five stills and a boiler and produced 11,000 gallons of whiskey, yielding Washington a profit of $7,500 in 1799. This made the distillery one of the most successful economic components of Mount Vernon.(https://www.mountvernon.org/the-estate-gardens/distillery/ten-facts-about-the-distillery/)

• George Washington’s Distillery and Gristmill is 2.7 miles from the main Mount Vernon Mansion and Estate.(https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/washingtons-gristmill-distillery.htm)

Washington Distillery

© Dew Photography VA

Want Laural and Dawn's impressions of the Washington Gristmill and Distillery and see the resulting artwork in person? Come to the Opening Night of their exhibit "Impressions of Virginia" on December 10th, 2021 at Dockside Realty in Colonial Beach, VA.