George Washington
1732 to 1799
Commander of the Revolution, first president of the United States
Founders and leaders
George Washington commanded the Continental Army through eight years of war, then became the first president of the United States in 1789, taking the oath at Federal Hall on Wall Street. He could have held on to power and chose not to. He went home after two terms, and that habit of stepping down became the country's rule.
The surprise is the house he never lived in. The White House was not finished until 1800, after his presidency, so John Adams was its first resident. In New York, stand by the statue on the Federal Hall steps, which marks where he took the oath, then walk to Fraunces Tavern, where he said goodbye to his officers in December 1783. In Philadelphia, Christ Church still keeps the pew where he sat.
This story has not been written in your language yet, so it is shown in English.
Where to meet them
Boston
- Boston Public Garden and the lagoon bridgeStop 5, Boston, Beacon Hill and the Back Bay
- Commonwealth Avenue Mall and the Garrison statueStop 6, Boston, Beacon Hill and the Back Bay
- Mount Auburn Cemetery, CambridgeDestination Book
Washington DC
- United States CapitolStop 1, The National Mall
- Old Stone HouseDestination Book
Keystone, South Dakota
- Grand View TerraceStop 2, Mount Rushmore
- Presidential TrailStop 4, Mount Rushmore
Princeton, New Jersey
- Nassau HallStop 3, Princeton, Nassau Hall to the Chapel
New York
- Hamilton HallStop 6, Columbia, the Morningside campus
- St Paul's ChapelStop 8, Columbia, the Morningside campus
- Federal Hall and New York Stock ExchangeStop 6, New York, Lower Manhattan origins to the harbor
- South Street Seaport and historic shipsStop 7, New York, Lower Manhattan origins to the harbor
- Fraunces Tavern MuseumStop 8, New York, Lower Manhattan origins to the harbor
- Washington Square Park and ArchStop 4, New York, Greenwich Village through SoHo to Chinatown
- Fulton Ferry LandingStop 8, New York, across the Brooklyn Bridge to DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights
Philadelphia
- Liberty Bell CenterStop 2, Philadelphia, Independence Hall to the Art Museum
- Independence HallStop 3, Philadelphia, Independence Hall to the Art Museum
- Congress HallStop 4, Philadelphia, Independence Hall to the Art Museum
- Museum of the American RevolutionStop 8, Philadelphia, Independence Hall to the Art Museum
- Franklin Court and the Benjamin Franklin MuseumStop 9, Philadelphia, Independence Hall to the Art Museum
- Christ ChurchStop 10, Philadelphia, Independence Hall to the Art Museum
- Betsy Ross HouseStop 11, Philadelphia, Independence Hall to the Art Museum
- National Constitution CenterStop 13, Philadelphia, Independence Hall to the Art Museum
Newport, Rhode Island
- Colony HouseStop 4, Newport, the colonial harbor to the Cliff Walk
- Brick MarketStop 5, Newport, the colonial harbor to the Cliff Walk
- Touro SynagogueStop 6, Newport, the colonial harbor to the Cliff Walk
Charleston
- Old Exchange and Provost DungeonStop 1, Charleston, the Historic District
- Four Corners of Law and St. Michael's ChurchStop 5, Charleston, the Historic District