Presidential Family Fun Day

Curators and conservators at the National Portrait Gallery are getting ready to take Gilbert Stuart’s “Lansdowne” portrait of George Washington off view for eighteen months of conservation. We can’t say goodbye to George without a party! That’s why we’re turning our annual Presidential Family Fun Day into a send-off celebration for the beloved portrait.

Join us this Saturday, February 13, 2016, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Kogod Courtyard for our annual Presidential Family Fun Day with a decidedly Washingtonian twist. We’re celebrating all things Lansdowne and Washington-inspired, from the clothing he wore to the people he led. 

Washington paved the way for other American presidents, notably Abraham Lincoln, whom we also celebrate each Presidents’ Day. We tip our hats to them as we recreate their iconic hats—Washington’s tricorne hat and Lincoln’s stovepipe hat—with help from friends with President Lincoln’s Cottage.

If you’ve been to our Presidential Family Fun Day before, you know we love special guests. This year is no different. Hang out with George and his buddies Tom, Abe, Teddy, and Bill as the Washington Nationals baseball team mascots join us in the courtyard. Shake hands, pose for photos, and dance alongside your favorite giant-headed presidents.

Did you know that George Washington loved to dance? His contemporaries praised his skills on the dance floor. Kick up your heels with us as we learn the Virginia reel, a lively folk dance that Americans have been dancing for centuries.

This weekend we not only celebrate Presidents’ Day—it’s also Valentine’s Day! If you’re feeling romantic, join our calligraphy workshop and create a special card for your sweetheart. If you’re at a loss for words, take a line from Washington, who during the Revolutionary War wrote Martha, “I retain an unalterable affection for you, which neither time [nor] distance can change.” 

Finally, we are pleased to welcome noted writer Flora Fraser to talk about her book The Washingtons: George and Martha, “Join’d by Friendship, Crown’d by Love” and share her insights about the bond Martha Washington shared. 

This Saturday will be packed with activities for all ages. Additional events include art projects, musical performances and workshops, a Lansdowne-themed scavenger hunt with the Teen Museum Council, and a spotlight talk on the portrait and its conservation. Whether you’re a Washington devotee or just love a good party, we hope to see you there as we bid George farewell and wish him a pleasant trip.