Happy President's Day

Did you know that today's federal holiday is technically the celebration of George Washington's birthday? The holiday first expanded to include the birthday of Abraham Lincoln. Today, the popular term of President's Day is used almost exclusively because the holiday has expanded to honor all of America's past presidents.

George Washington was born February 11, 1731 in Virginia. He held the office of the First President of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Washington was widely hailed as the Father of the Nation, even in his own lifetime. He was a wildly popular figure in his day, playing a key role as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and presiding over the convention that drafted the United States Constitution.

Washington's enduring legacy has taken many forms; stately portraits of the president adorn our currency and stamps, and monuments to his figure are found all over America. But in addition to the dignified images of the Founding Father, we also have such wonderful commemorative items as the vintage cast iron trivet above. The trivet was probably crafted in the 1930s to celebrate the bicentennial of George Washington's birth. The trivet would have been a prized addition to a home celebrating the birth of the nation. Today, its naive charm is a wonderful piece of history.

See more about this George Washington commemorative cast iron trivet here.

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