Presidents Day
Presidents Day
2-13-09
Once upon a time we celebrated the birthday of Abraham Lincoln on February 12 and then had another day off to celebrate the birthday of George Washington on February 12. Both were federal public holidays and the school children of America (and their teachers) were very grateful for two days off. These holidays inspired us to teach about the lives of these two great men and do endless projects that involved the Abe and George in silhouette, Abe and George word searches and sometimes even Abe and George cupcakes.
Richard Nixon put an end to all of that frivolity when he combined the two holidays into one and then had the audacity to throw in all of the other presidents and named the new holiday Presidents’ Day. What Nixon did not know is that we would rarely celebrate his presidency on that day and those of us who know better would resort back to remembering old Abe and George anyway in our classrooms.
This year marks the 200th birthday of Abraham Lincoln. Washington DC is hosting a celebration that includes more than 80 exhibition, performances, lectures and guided tours to honor his memory. If you missed the inauguration then this is the perfect time to pack up the family and travel to Washington to visit some Lincoln favorites.
Ford’s Theater will hold an Open House and birthday celebration with speakers, performances and activities. This national historic landmark is one of the most visited sites in Washington, DC. They are reopening on February 12 after extensive renovation and will offer visitors to a brief talk about Lincoln’s assassination by John Wilkes Booth and a tour. Having been there recently I can attest that it is very poignant to see the box that Lincoln sat in for the last time before he was shot. The history of that tragedy and more information about Lincoln’s incredible life are in a museum located within Ford’s Theater. There are plans to expand this even further by linking six buildings together to provide a modern museum to be completed in 2010.
A lesser known site is President Lincoln’s Cottage at the Soldiers’ Home in Washington, DC. This charming home allows visitors to gain a glimpse of an intimate, never-before-seen view of Abraham Lincoln’s presidency and family life. Lincoln’s Cottage was designated a national monument by President Clinton in 2000 and was restored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation at a cost of over $15 million.
According to the website dc.about.com, “the cottage served as Lincoln’s family residence for a quarter of his presidency and is deemed “the most significant historic site directly associated with Lincoln’s presidency” aside from the White House. Lincoln used the cottage as a quiet retreat and crafted important speeches, letters and policies from this site.”
If you go, check out the Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center located in a restored 1905 building adjacent to Lincoln’s Cottage. This convenient exhibit tells the story of wartime Washington, the Lincoln family’s discovery of their country retreat at the Soldiers’ Home, and Lincoln’s role as Commander-in-Chief. A special gallery features rotating displays of Lincoln-related artifacts. Tickets are $12 each and all tours are guided.
Lincoln’s cottage is located on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home at Rock Creek Church Rd and Upshur St. NW in Washington, DC.
Children can benefit from a family friendly field trip to Washington that is steeped in history and loaded with ideas to celebrate our heritage.
