[2] He received a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College, and the same year received his PhD in the History of American Civilization from Harvard University.
For three years he taught history at the College of William and Mary.
From 1968 until 1997, he served as a director for the Smithsonian's American Studies Program.
Washburn died in 1997 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
[4] He also wrote 200 journal articles, and contributed chapters to various anthologies.