- George Washington is the only United States president with a state named after him. Washington was granted statehood in 1889, long after his death. Its name was chosen to honor his achievements!
- When Washington held office, the capital of the United States was temporarily founded in New York City, then later Philadelphia.
- Many counties, streets, towns, bridges, parks, schools, and colleges are named after George Washington. These can be found all over the United States. So keep your eyes peeled for a Washington Street near you!
- George Washington was a big fan of animals. The names of some of his hunting dogs included Sweet Lips, Venus, Trulove, and Drunkard.
- Some people think that George Washington’s iconic white hair was a wig. But it’s his hair – he just powdered it!
- Washington’s teeth were broken and damaged from cracking walnuts, so he wore dentures. Contrary to popular belief, these were not made out of wood. Instead, his dentures were made from gold, ivory, lead, and human teeth pulled from enslaved people.
- George Washington owned a distillery and made gallons of whiskey every year. He was also involved in putting down the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794. Farmers in Pennsylvania stopped paying the tax on whiskey, and Washington sent forces to stop them.
- The tale of George Washington chopping down a cherry tree is thought to be a myth nowadays. Although it was told in a written biography, no eyewitnesses confirmed it. But it’s still a fun story!
- As the president of the United States, George Washington’s salary was 2% of the country’s total budget.
- Over his life, George Washington wrote over 18,000 letters. Some estimates go as high as 20,000; this would amount to several daily letters for most of his life.
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