American Holidays
Presidents' Day
Until the mid-1970s, the February 22 birthday of George Washington,
hero of the Revolutionary War and first president of the United
States, was a national holiday. In addition, the February 12 birthday
of Abraham Lincoln, the president during the Civil War (1861-1865),
was a holiday in most states.
In the 1970s, Congress declared that in order to honor all past presidents of the United States, a single holiday, to be called Presidents' Day, would be observed on the third Monday in February. In many states, however, the holiday continues to be known as George Washington's birthday.
Background
- American Experience: The Presidents (PBS)
- The American Presidency (Grolier Online)
- POTUS: Presidents of the United States (Internet Public Library)
- Presidents' Day (Miami Dade County Schools)
- Presidents' Day (Holiday Zone)
- Today in History: February 22, George Washington's Birthday (Library of Congress)
- The White House
- U.S. Presidency and the Presidents (World Book Encyclopedia Online)
Texts/Documents
- George Washington Papers (Library of Congress)
- Inaugural Addresses of the Presidents
- Public Papers of the Presidents (National Archives and Records Administration)
Exhibits
- The American Presidency: Glorious Burden (Museum of American History)
- The Artful Presidency. Selections from the Archives of American Art
- Historic Mount Vernon
- Mr. Lincoln's White House (The Lincoln Institute)
- Phototour of Abraham Lincoln Places
- Portraits of the Presidents and First Ladies (Library of Congress)
For Kids
- Mr. President. Profiles of Our Nation's Leaders. (Smithsonian Institution)
- President's Day (Learners Online)
- The White House for Kids
Teacher Resources
- American Presidents Resources (C-SPAN in the Classroom)
- George Washington: Educational Resources
- Presidential History Lesson Plans
More Links
- Abraham Lincoln Research Site
- Presidential Libraries (National Archives)
- Presidents' Day Websites
- Yahoo! Holidays and Observances: Presidents Day
