Tomorrow, we’re heading back to Mount Vernon again to celebrate George Washington’s actual birthday, February 22.
That’s his birthday according to the Gregorian calendar we use today. But, oddly enough, records from his birth in 1732 list it as February 11th.
So what changed?
In colonial times, Britain and its colonies still followed the Julian calendar, which had gotten out of sync with the solar year.
In 1752, Britain switched to the Gregorian calendar, skipping forward 11 days. This shifted George Washington’s birthday forward to the 22nd.
This year’s birthday celebration is special since we’re going on the behind-the-scenes tour while the inside of the mansion is undergoing renovation. I’m looking forward to seeing behind the walls how George and Martha Washington expanded and reinvented the mansion over the years.
If you’d like to explore Mount Vernon for yourself, I recommend getting a yearly membership for your family. With it, you get unlimited admission and free specialty tours. The money helps support this non-government-funded historical site so future generations can enjoy it, too.
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