11 Unknown Facts About Your Favorite American Presidents

Presidents' Day, a holiday you can know (or take) to recognize the accomplishments of all past United States presidents. However, the story behind this holiday is much more complicated than you might think. You will also want to research these amazing facts you did not know about the presidents of the United States.

After George Washington's death in 1799, his followers recognized his birthday, February 22, as an annual anniversary of the first president of the United States. (Those who used the Gregorian calendar at least did. According to the Julian calendar, he was born on February 11. England switched to the Gregorian style in 1752.) Washington's birthday in 1879 became a federal holiday for the District of Columbia. the rest of the country in 1885. It was the first federal holiday to honor an individual.

In 1968, Congress introduced the Uniform Monday Holidays Bill, which hoped to change certain federal holidays from specific dates to designated Mondays, which would create more three-day weekends. (Talk about a policy that everyone can understand!) The idea was that more people on long weekends would be less likely to miss work. Make sure you don't believe these presidential "facts" that aren't true.

The bill also wanted to combine the birthdays of Washington and Abraham Lincoln into a single holiday (some states, like Illinois, already celebrated Lincoln's birthday, February 12). Senator Robert McClory, Illinois, has proposed that this holiday be 'Presidents' Day'. In 1971, the bill was passed and President Richard Nixon issued an executive order that the third Monday in February was now a holiday.

Here's the thing though: Under US code, that holiday is technically still called Washington's birthday. The name never officially changed after President's Day. But since the federal code allows local governments and private businesses to call federal holidays whatever they want, most states call it Presidents' Day. Many stores also use this middle name to promote February sales.

Two other commanders-in-chief celebrated their birthday in February: William Henry Harrison (February 9) and Ronald Reagan (February 6).

Abraham Lincoln turned down the opportunity to house elephants

In 1861, the King of Siam offered to give President Lincoln a few male and young female elephants, which were native to his country (today we know it as Thailand). Elephants can be bred to reproduce, the king suggested, and the herds can be used as 'load animals' that can work with the military during the civil war. The president politely declined the offer and preferred to use steam power instead of animal labor.

John Quincy Adams Approves a Journey to the Center of the Earth

In the 19th century, little was known about our planet. In the absence of scientific evidence, some people believed in a rather eccentric theory, such as the idea that planet Earth is actually empty. Our sixth president, John Quincy Adams, agrees. The commander-in-chief even signed an expedition proposed by a fellow Hollow Earth and aspiring explorer to the 'empty' core of the earth. But when Andrew Jackson was elected to office four years later, he remained a brake on a journey that never was.

George Washington grows marijuana

Before you start thinking that the country's first president was a clipper, you should know that George Washington grew hemp, not marijuana (both belong to the cannabis family). He grew hemp on his Mount Vernon farm for industrial uses, such as making rope and cloth.

George W. Bush is the cousin of Hugh Hefner

It turns out that our 43rd president and founder of Playboy are distant cousins. More specifically, they are ninth cousins who have been removed twice and share the same grandparents.

Another cousin shared by the two is former presidential candidate John Kerry.

Theodore Roosevelt gave the White House its name

Although the house at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue was painted white, it was known as The Executive Mansion and The President's Palace until October 1901, when then-President Theodore Roosevelt referred to it as The White House. The 26th president made the nickname official when he had it engraved on his stationery.

Ulysses S. Grant was arrested for speeding, on horseback

Our eighteenth president was pretty confident on a horse, perhaps too confident. While Grant rode his horse and motorcycle at a frantic pace during his presidency, he was arrested twice within a 24-hour period. The second time, a brave police officer decided to arrest the commander-in-chief, who was eventually fined. According to legend, the officer and the president eventually became friends.

Bill Clinton is an expert on My Little Pony

During part of the NPR show "Wait, wait ... don't tell me!" Is 42nd President Bill Clinton interviewed about the animated film My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. To the surprise of his hosts, he answered all three questions and won an award on behalf of the listener for whom he played.

Three presidents are Grammy winners

It may sound strange, but Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Jimmy Carter each won a Grammy. No, they are not singers or songwriters, but they are the best Spoken Words Album Awards for the audio versions of their biographies.

James Garfield's backbone is on display in a museum

At the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Washington DC, President Garfield's backbone was displayed along with other medical quirks in 2000.

A bullet hole from his assassination in 1881 is clearly visible.

Dwight Eisenhower ordered squirrel murder

Our 34th president, an avid golfer, has grown tired of squirrels ruining his game by digging up the green to bury their acorns. He ordered his valet to shoot rodents, but the secret service banned the use of firearms on the White House grounds, so the gardeners trapped and released the animals.

Four presidents were cheerleaders

What do Ronald Reagan, Dwight Eisenhower, Franklin Roosevelt and George W. Bush have in common? They all served as cheerleaders in high school or college.