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Presidents' Day: 7 myths about George Washington

By Michael Gryboski, Editor

The cherry tree 

An 1860s engraving by John C. McRae depicting a young George Washington telling his father that he chopped down his father's favorite cherry tree.
An 1860s engraving by John C. McRae depicting a young George Washington telling his father that he chopped down his father's favorite cherry tree. | Screengrab: mountvernon.org

According to the classic story, when George Washington was a child, he cut down his father’s cherry tree, and later admitted to it, famously declaring “I cannot tell a lie … I did cut it with my hatchet.”

The website for the historic Mount Vernon, Washington’s home in Virginia, states that the story first appeared in 1806, being included in the fifth edition of the book The Life of Washington by Mason Locke Weems.

“There is almost no surviving historical evidence about Washington's relationship with his father, and Weems’ claims have never been verified,” noted Mount Vernon.

“The cherry tree myth has endured for more than two hundred years. It remains influential in Americans' beliefs about Washington. It has been referenced in countless books, movies, and television shows. The story has been featured in comic strips and cartoons, especially in political cartoons.”

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