Annual ‘Operation: George Washington’ Partnership Returns for Two-Month Summer Engagement

MOUNT VERNON AND THE INTERNATIONAL SPY MUSEUM TEAM UP ONCE AGAIN ON MONEY-SAVING MISSION TO UNCOVER THE FOUNDING FATHER OF ESPIONAGE

AUGUST 1, 2014 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – Two of the Metropolitan region’s most popular attractions have teamed up once again to offer local Washingtonians, as well as visitors to our nation’s capital, a way to save while saluting America’s first president and founding father of espionage: George Washington. From August 1 through September 30, guests who visit George Washington’s Mount Vernon and the International Spy Museum will be able to take advantage of Operation: George Washington and save 50 percent off the ticket purchase at their second destination.

“We continually welcome the opportunity to partner with Mount Vernon and bring to life the intelligence successes of George Washington, who is often called the father of American Intelligence,” said Peter Earnest, Executive Director of the International Spy Museum and former Senior CIA Officer. “One of our most cherished and oldest artifacts is a letter written by Washington in February 1777, enacting the first American spy network in British-occupied New York City, so this partnership is a natural fit.”

To redeem the offer, guests must present their receipt for admission or ticket stub from one site when purchasing their ticket at the second site. Both Mount Vernon and the International Spy Museum will honor receipts and tickets throughout the months of August and September.

In addition to Washington’s 1777 letter, which initiated the creation of the elusive Culper Spy Ring, the International Spy Museum houses several artifacts and exhibits whose rich storytelling illustrates the impact of intelligence successes and failures during the rise of American Intelligence through its continued evolution in the 21st Century.

“Travelers and local families are looking for good values this summer, and they are also looking for powerful, only-in-D.C. experiences. With Operation: George Washington, we are providing them with both,” said Rebecca Aloisi, Vice President for Marketing at Mount Vernon. “In addition, we encourage all who visit Mount Vernon to think about George Washington in a new way.”

To learn more about Washington and how he used espionage to cunningly defeat the British and led America to her independence, visit www.mountvernon.org/spy. 

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MOUNT VERNON

Since 1860, over 80 million visitors have made George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate & Gardens the most popular historic home in America. Through thought-provoking tours, entertaining events, and stimulating educational programs on the Estate and in classrooms across the nation, Mount Vernon strives to preserve George Washington’s place in history as “First in War, First in Peace, and First in the Hearts of His Countrymen.” Mount Vernon is owned and operated by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, America’s oldest national preservation organization, founded in 1853. A picturesque drive to the southern end of the scenic George Washington Memorial Parkway, Mount Vernon is located just 16 miles from the nation’s capital.

Hours of operation: April-August, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; March, September, October, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; November – February, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Regular admission rates: adults, $18; senior citizens, $18; children age 6-11, when accompanied by an adult, $9; and children under age 5, FREE. Admission fees, restaurant and retail proceeds, along with private donations, support the operation and restoration of Mount Vernon.

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INTERNATIONAL SPY MUSEUM

The International Spy Museum is the only public museum in the United States solely dedicated to espionage and the only one in the world to provide a global perspective on an all-but-invisible profession that has shaped history and continues to have a significant impact on world events. The Museum features the largest collection of international espionage artifacts ever placed on public display, offering a rare glimpse into the whispered world of covert operations and the silent, unknown men and women behind them, making it an experience like no other. The International Spy Museum opened in Washington, D.C., just over 12 years ago on July 19, 2002.