Thanksgiving was first celebrated in 1621 by the settlers at Plymouth, Massachusetts to celebrate a successful harvest. It was a tradition that the Pilgrims brought with them from England. After the birth of the United States, President George Washington issued a proclamation honoring the Thanksgiving harvest during his presidency. The only other president to issue a Thanksgiving proclamation was President James Madison. As part of his attempt to maintain the union, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation that made Thanksgiving Day a national annual event.

Image of The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth by Jennie A. Brownscombe courtesy of the Pilgrim Hall Museum.