In 1896, eleven years after the granite, 555-foot obelisk was built in Washington D.C., a 50 ft. obelisk was placed at the ...

On December 14, 1799, about two and a half years into George Washington's retirement, three doctors were called to the ex-president’s house to treat him for a severe sore throat.

The United States began celebrating its first president when he was still a general. Nearly 300 years since George Washington’s birth, the holiday has morphed into a celebration of the presidency.