# History of Presidents Day: More than just Washington and Lincoln? > HISTORY OF PRESIDENTS DAY Part of the series on America 250, the US Semiquincentennial Podcast version   uring my lifetime, two American holidays were consolidated into one. In 1971, a day between Lincoln's Birthday on February 12 and Washington's Birthday… > URL: https://billpetro.com/history-of-presidents-day/ > Last modified: 2026-02-23T14:06:51+00:00 Reading Time: 3 minutes ## HISTORY OF PRESIDENTS DAY *Part of the series on [**America 250**](https://billpetro.com/us/america-250/), the US Semiquincentennial* [*Podcast version*](https://open.spotify.com/episode/2bKiYWTOFK601wlJI8anls?si=e77ab506f924400c)   During my lifetime, two American holidays were consolidated into one. In 1971, a day between Lincoln’s Birthday on *February 12* and Washington’s Birthday on *February 22* became a single holiday, **Presidents Day**. celebrated this year on Monday, *February 16.* It is alternately spelled *President’s Day* or *Presidents’ Day* – to be observed on the third Monday in [February](https://billpetro.com/history-of-february/) to honor all the past Presidents of the United States and to get a three-day weekend.   Table of Contents Toggle - [Presidents Day History](#Presidents_Day_History) - [George Washington](#George_Washington) - [Abraham Lincoln](#Abraham_Lincoln) - [Presidents Day: Two Great Ones](#Presidents_Day_Two_Great_Ones) - [Related](#Related) ### Presidents Day History When I was a schoolchild, both Washington’s and Lincoln’s pictures were typically displayed prominently in schoolrooms. Schoolchildren in many states have felt cheated out of an extra day off ever since the two Presidents’ birthdays were combined into a single holiday. Is this a way of consolidating holidays for advertisers for “Presidents Day Sales?” Indeed, some state and local governments observe it as Presidents Day. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1971 established more three-day weekends. Nevertheless, U.S. Federal employees still observe **Washington’s Birthday**, though it rarely falls on Washington’s *actual* birthday. His birthday was officially recognized as a holiday back in 1885. **Lincoln’s Birthday**, February 12, is not a Federal holiday, though some states observe it; it dates back to 1873 or 1874 in Buffalo, NY.   ### George Washington George Washington Even during his lifetime, the Virginia native was known as “the father of his country,” though, between him and Lincoln, Abraham looked more like the father, and [George Washington](https://billpetro.com/history-of-george-washington)‘s long hair made him look more like the mother. Nevertheless, George was a natural leader, standing 6′ 4″ among troops that stood 5’ 9″. He appeared at the **Continental Congress** in his uniform, the natural choice for a military leader. Many of the [Founding Fathers](https://billpetro.com/tag/founding-father/?order=asc) graduated from the finest colleges in the land: - **[Jefferson](https://billpetro.com/history-of-thomas-jefferson)** and **Monroe** went to *William and Mary* - **[Adams](https://billpetro.com/history-of-john-adams)** and **Hancock** went to *Harvard* - **[Madison](https://billpetro.com/history-of-james-madison/)** went to *Princeton* (College of New Jersey) - **Jay**, **Livingston**, and **[Hamilton](https://billpetro.com/history-of-alexander-hamilton/)** went to *Columbia* (King’s College) - But **Washington** went to [*War*](https://billpetro.com/history-of-the-first-american-christmas-1776/).   He had experience fighting *for* **King George III** of Great Britain in the **French and Indian War **in America – which was essentially a [proxy war](https://billpetro.com/history-of-military-stalemates/#:~:text=American%20Revolutionary%20War,No%20related%20posts.) for the **Seven Years’ War** in Europe between Great Britain, Portugal, and Prussia against France, Spain, and Austria… plus other beligerents like Sweden, Saxony, Bengal, Russia, and various parts of the Holy Roman Empire.   North America in 1750, before the French and Indian War. Image: [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Years%27_War#/media/File:Nouvelle-France_map-en.svg)   Still, during the [**American Revolutionary War**](https://billpetro.com/history-of-independence-day), he fought for independence *against* the same King he had earlier served. Washington stood between two periods of American history: the end of the *Colonial Period* and the beginning of the *National Period*. He served only two terms as President of the new United States of America, though many would have supported his rule for life. **Napoleon Bonaparte** of France was amazed that Washington would step down when he didn’t need to.   ### Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln At 6′ 4″, the tallest American President, when most men were 5′ 7″, the Kentucky native is one of the most popular, best-remembered, and most often written about Presidents in American history. He, too, served during a time of bitter warfare, again with brother fighting brother and neighbor fighting neighbor, this time though during the American Civil War, or what became known in the South as the **War Between the States**. While this great conflagration had many economic and political causes, Lincoln’s name remains associated with the abolition of slavery. Lincoln, like Washington before him, connected two periods of American history. In Lincoln’s case, he saw the end of the *National Period* and the very beginnings of the *Modern Period,* which would follow the Civil War. These two men presided over two great wars, one for the freedom of independent government, the other for a different kind of freedom. But about the same number of Americans died in the Civil War as in all other wars Americans were ever involved in — because we count the dead on *both* sides. Counting those who died on battlefields combined with those who died of disease and infection during the War accounted for over 4% of the American population.   ### Presidents Day: Two Great Ones The first man, who served as the first president when he might have been King, is remembered for his selfless deeds. The other was for his extraordinary words that began to heal a nation after the largest battle ever fought on American soil. As Lincoln recognized those who fought and died at the **[Battle of Gettysburg](https://billpetro.com/history-of-the-gettysburg-address/),** he concluded: *It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion, that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people by the people for the people shall not perish from the earth.*   Bill Petro, your friendly neighborhood historian [billpetro.com](https://billpetro.com)   *Podcast*:   [*Subscribe*](http://g003.enterprise.ipost.com/billpetrofriend/prefs) to have future articles delivered to your email. 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