George Washington
George Washington’s Farewell to the Nation Marked the Birth of American Democracy
In 1796, the first president voluntarily left office, cementing the significance of a lofty ideal for his young country
At a Bold Meeting 250 Years Ago, the Continental Congress Set America in Motion
While far less famous than the coalition that met in 1775, this group of founders found agreement in their disagreements and laid the groundwork for a revolution
Drawing of the Bastille Cherished by George Washington Goes to Auction
The artwork was a gift from the Marquis de Lafayette, who also included the fortress' key
What the American Revolution Taught the United States' First Presidents
A new book by historian William E. Leuchtenburg examines how the first six commanders in chief embodied the revolutionary spirit and set precedents that shaped their successors' tenures
This History Buff Found a Scrap of George Washington's Tent at Goodwill
The fragment, which was part of Washington's dining marquee during the Revolutionary War, is now on display at a museum in Philadelphia
The Smithsonian Acquires the Earliest Known Photograph of an American First Lady
The National Portrait Gallery purchased an 1846 daguerreotype of Dolley Madison for $456,000
Preserved Fruit From the 18th Century Found at George Washington's Estate
During a renovation project, archaeologists uncovered intact bottles containing preserved cherries and berries that are more than 250 years old
See the Photographs That Introduced Americans to Their Presidents
The National Portrait Gallery traces early images of American leaders, from John Quincy Adams to Abraham Lincoln
Bottles of 250-Year-Old Cherries Discovered Beneath George Washington's Home
Researchers at Mount Vernon say that the stash still "bore the characteristic scent of cherry blossoms"
This Peaceful Nature Sanctuary in Washington, D.C. Sits on the Ruins of a Plantation
Before Theodore Roosevelt Island was transformed into a tribute to the nation's "conservation president," a prominent Virginia family relied on enslaved laborers to build and tend to its summer home there
From These Modest Wartime Quarters, George Washington Kept the Revolution Alive
The general's war tent, an iconic part of the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, carries as much symbolism now as it did then
The Met Is Selling This Rare Portrait of George Washington
Artist Gilbert Stuart painted the work after the president sat for him in late 1795
The Many Myths of the Boston Tea Party
Contrary to popular belief, the 1773 protest opposed a tax break, not a tax hike. And it didn't immediately unify the colonies against the British
What Emoji Tell Us About the History of Tea
From ancient China to 20th-century America, the aromatic beverage has undergone a dramatic evolution
How George Washington Wrote His Farewell Address
A candle stand used by the first president illuminates his extraordinary last days in office
Enslaved by George Washington, This Man Escaped to Freedom—and Joined the British Army
Harry Washington fought for his enslaver's enemy during the American Revolution. Later, he migrated to Nova Scotia and Sierra Leone
Did Martha Washington Have a Black Grandson?
Likely the child of Martha's son from her first marriage, William Costin used his position to advocate for D.C.'s free Black community
Did George Washington Order Rebels to Burn New York City in 1776?
A new book points out that the general was happy when the city burned and expressed regret that more of it was not destroyed during the fire
The Descendants of Robert E. Lee and the Workers He Enslaved Join Hands in Racial Reconciliation
The Confederate general's Virginia home hosted families from all across the United States.
Life-Size 1865 Portrait of Abraham Lincoln Stands Tall at the National Portrait Gallery
The W.F.K. Travers painting hid in plain sight at a New Jersey town hall for 80 years before it was restored and brought back to Washington
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