HistoryFacts: George Washington Wore a Powdered Wig?

 

Photo credit: Print Collector/ Hulton Fine Art Collection via Getty Images

Myth: He Wore a Powdered Wig

Portraits of Washington in his older years showcase his distinct, neatly coiffed hair, pulled into a ponytail in typical founding father fashion, but it’s a common misconception that this was a wig. Powdered wigs from this era looked identical to Washington’s hairdo, but the military commander still had a full head of hair. Instead, he used white powder on his hair to make it appear brighter — white hair was very fashionable during the 18th century. What’s more, Washington was one of five redheaded Presidents, as seen in his younger portraits. 

Note:  The above comes directly from their website.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dictionary Scoop: #7 "Ostriches Heads":

Image
Popular Myths Busted by Science #7 "Ostriches Heads" A classic cartoon scene: the frightened ostrich burying its head in the ground. You've probably seen it, too, right? Although this is a common belief, ostriches never actually bury their heads. This myth likely stems from the way ostriches care for their nests. These birds make a small hole in the ground and place their nests there to keep them safe. From a distance, when we see the ostrich sticking its head in the ground, it is actually taking care of its chicks!
Read more

AP News: Four baby tortoises debut at Philadelphia Zoo, home to their nearly 100-year-old parents

Image
AP PHOTOS: Four baby tortoises debut at Philadelphia Zoo, home to their nearly 100-year-old parents Four baby Galapagos tortoises made their public debut Wednesday at the Philadelphia Zoo. They are the offspring of the zoo’s oldest residents, a female named Mommy and a male named Abrazzo, a pair of critically endangered Galapagos tortoises who have become first-time parents at the age of roughly 100. Mommy has been at the zoo since 1932 and is considered one of the most genetically valuable Galapagos tortoises in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ species survival plan. The zoo says she is also the oldest first-time mom of the Western Santa Cruz Galapagos species. Note: The above comes directly from their website.  Click here to read more.
Read more

Dictionary Scoop: #8 "Bulls and the Color Red": Popular Myths Busted by Science

Image
Popular Myths Busted by Science #8 " Bulls and the Color Red " This is one of the most widespread myths in the world, originating from bullfighting traditions. The myth claims that the color  red  makes bulls extremely angry, driving them into a mad rage. However, this isn’t true. In reality, bulls can’t even perceive red—or many other colors—the same way humans do. Experts believe bulls react to the  movement  of the bullfighter’s cape, not its color.
Read more