Washington’s Birthday (Presidents Day)

Valley Forge

Bob Drury has written an inspiring account of Valley Forge, the Continental Army winter camp where George Washington turned the tide of the American Revolution.

The Indian World of George Washington

Colin G. Calloway discusses the relationship between George Washington and Native American leaders of the 18th century.

George Washington and the Paparazzi

This Inside the Vaults video short highlights a letter written by President George Washington to his friend Gov. Henry Lee of Virginia on July 3, 1792, turning down the request of the artist William Williams, who wished to paint the President's portrait. Mount Vernon associate curator Laura Simo explains that Washington was weary of frequently posing for portraits during his Presidency.

First Entrepreneur

Edward G. Lengel chronicles how this self-educated man built the Mount Vernon estate into a vast, multilayered enterprise; prudently managed meager resources to win the Revolutionary War; and as President, helped establish the national economy on a solid footing.

Missing Lincoln Documents

This Inside the Vaults video short tells the story of formerly missing letters between President Abraham Lincoln and Union surgeons that were returned to the National Archives in 2011. The letters are dated shortly after the Battle of Antietam and request that the President appoint a chaplain to serve the wounded, dying, and dead in hospitals.

Lincoln's Greatest Speech: The Second Inaugural

The film features actor Richard Dreyfuss giving a dramatic reading of the speech, followed by historical analysis. Filmmaker Ken Kebow and author Ronald C. White, Jr.

Why Lincoln Still Matters

On the 207th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, a panel of Lincoln scholars will discuss how Lincoln can still guide and inspire our nation in the face of 21st–century challenges. Panelists include Harold Holzer, Martha Hodges, Craig Symonds, and Lucas Morel.

Lincoln's Gamble: How the Emancipation Proclamation Changed the Course of the Civil War

Todd Brewster examines the most critical six months in Abraham Lincoln's Presidency, when he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, fought with his generals, and coped with bouts of depression. a book signing follows the program.