What Did George Washington Look Like?

ABC News ^ | 2/19/06 | ABC News

[FormerACLUmember]

George Washington is known as the father of our country, but he might also have been the original American hunk.

The History Channel decided to try to figure out what the first president looked like. A team of artists, anthropologists and forensic scientists used cutting-edge technology to reconstruct Washington's looks. The result was a whole new look for a familiar figure.

"The most difficult part of the challenge in a way was morphing backwards when there are no images of the 19-year-old," said recreation team member, Ivan Schwartz. "Our 19-year-old mystery man — the man who would become leader of the country."

The team recreated Washington at age 57 when he was president; at age 45 when he commanded troops in the Revolutionary War and as a teenage surveyor.

The three life-size figures will be displayed in the new $95-million museum and education center in Washington's home, Mount Vernon, which is scheduled to open in October.

A Real Person

"When we ask people they say, 'Well Washington was great, but he's stiff, he's formal, he wears that white wig, he's got bad teeth,' " said James Rees, the executive director of Mount Vernon, which is located outside the nation's capital. "He's a darn good looking guy. And you're going to be shocked, I think, to see Washington looking like a movie star."

[Casloy]

Someone needs to post a pic of Monica Belucci and GW for comparison purposes. Just so we know what he didn't look like.

[dangus]

.... and half the colonies, from what I understand. More women could boast "Washington slept here" than B-and-Bs!

[Dick Vomer]

is to

as

is to

[dangus]

[Rakkasan1]

wears powder on his face as well as in his wig

[FormerACLUmember]

Excellent!

[Riley]

Gore, ever the arrogant pseudo-intellectual dim bulb, could not recognize busts of Ben Franklin or George Washington at a tour once of Monticello. Rush plays the video of this moron every once in a while. It is hilarious, since Clinton is there also and is seen shaking his head at how stupid Gore was.

I remember that. 'Who are those guys?'

[Element187]

They are depicting our founding father .. WE MUST RIOT AND SCREAM DEATH TO HISTORY CHANNEL, BURN DOWN THEIR EMBASSIES!

[mewzilla]

Hmmm. Reminds me of Howdy Doody for some reason. Maybe it's the freckles...

[lepton]

I thought the scuplture is a bit more like Matthew McConahey (sp?).

[Tijeras_Slim]

Heck, they should have just asked Robert Byrd, he was around when GW was a boy.

[FormerACLUmember]

My favorite painting of Washington, at the darkest moment of the Revolution, shortly before he crossed the Delaware for a surprise attack on Trenton:

[mewzilla]

Now what d'you 'spose he was doing there? Couldn't've been praying. No siree. That's against that whole separation of church and state thing.

[dangus]

>>Someone needs to post a pic of Monica Belucci and GW for comparison purposes. Just so we know what he didn't look like.<<

If you say so...

[Diamond]

Looks like "Data" on Star Trek.

Cordially,

[knittnmom]

Looks like Commander Data, with blue eyes instead of yellow.

[Red Boots]

A little too Sean Penn, don't you think?

I thought this exact thought...

[Mr. Lucky]

His face, not his ass.

[FormerACLUmember]

"Looks like "Data" on Star Trek."

[TheCrusader]

I've read in antique American history books whose authors saw Washington, that Washington was 6'4", handsome, broad shouldered, and commanded an imposing and striking presence.