“I hope I shall possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.” – George Washington

Originally established in 1885 to recognize President George Washington’s birthday on Feb. 22, Presidents Day later became a popular holiday in 1971 when the Uniform Monday Holiday Act was passed.

Celebrated on the third Monday in February, Presidents Day was created with the provision to combine both President Washington and President Abraham Lincoln’s birthdays, which fall a few days apart in February. By the mid-1980s, the holiday started being marketed as Presidents Day to commemorate all U.S. presidents past and present.

“I’m a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn’t have the heart to let him down.” – Abraham Lincoln