Best of the Web
Your first stop for George Washington research. This resource guide, maintained by the Library of Congress, includes selections from George Washington's papers, a detailed timeline of Washington's service in the Revolutionary War, an orientation to the Library of Congress's many Washington-themed holdings, and links to other valuable internet resources.
Washington made his home at Mount Vernon starting in his late twenties. The former plantation now belongs to the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, a nonprofit organization that maintains the property, at private expense, as a national historic site. Their web presence includes online exhibitions of personal effects from Washington's life, detailed biographical information, analytic essays on Washington's domestic and political life, and a host of other educational resources.
Assembled by the Smithsonian Institution to celebrate the first cross-country tour of Gilbert Stuart's famous 1796 presidential portrait, this website uses imagery to open up Washington's world. The site's centerpiece is an interactive reproduction of the portrait, with commentary on the symbolic, artistic, and biographical significance of the painting's many details. Also includes a timeline, helpful orienting essays, and various games and puzzles.
A wonderful little website that gives a snapshot of Washington and his presidential administrations through short biographies. Also includes links to some of Washington's speeches, a bibliography, and a guide for further research.
This website was designed as a companion to the 2004 PBS special Liberty!. Although focused on the Revolutionary War, it includes a trove of multimedia resources designed to put the war into context, including photographs, interactive maps, timelines, interviews with prominent scholars, and short informative historical essays.
Launched in conjunction with a 2002 special on George Washington, this website seeks to humanize Washington by exploring his character and accomplishments. It includes short assessments of key historical events, a timeline, and ideological, moralistic essays of dubious value. Even so, the website is worth a look for its rich document collection: it includes highlights from the Gilder Lehrman Institute for American History, excerpts from famous eulogies on Washington, and even recordings of Charlton Heston reading from Washington's writings.