BGuthrie Photos: DC -- White House Visitor Center

DC -- White House Visitor Center:

Bruce Guthrie Photos Home Page: [Click here] to go to Bruce Guthrie Photos home page.

Description of Pictures: The White House Visitor Center reopened the previous week after an extensive remodeling job.

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Copyrights: All pictures were taken by amateur photographer Bruce Guthrie (me!) who retains copyright on them. Free for non-commercial use with attribution. See the [Creative Commons] definition of what this means. "Photos (c) Bruce Guthrie" is fine for attribution. (Commercial use folks including AI scrapers can of course contact me.) Feel free to use in publications and pages with attribution but you don't have permission to sell the photos themselves. A free copy of any printed publication using any photographs is requested. Descriptive text, if any, is from a mixture of sources, quite frequently from signs at the location or from official web sites; copyrights, if any, are retained by their original owners.

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Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
1. WHVC_140915_011.JPG: The Greenhouses: A hothouse, known as an orangery, was created on the east side of the White House in 1835. In 1857, it was removed and replaced by a greenhouse/conservatory to the west of the White House that was gradually expanded over the next four decades. In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09) removed the greenhouses to make room for the West Wing.
2. WHVC_140915_020.JPG: Unpainted Stone Painted Stone To protect its stone walls, workers whitewashed the presidential residence soon after it was built. The home soon became known informally as the "White House," a name that has stuck ever since.
3. WHVC_140915_023.JPG: The West Wing: Originally built in 1902, the West Wing was expanded significantly under President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-45). In 1934, he added a second story and enlarged the basement to provide desperately needed offices for his growing staff. The 1934 renovations also moved the Oval Office to its present location next to the Rose Garden. The West Wing, 1963.
4. WHVC_140915_026.JPG: The South Portico: Architect James Hoban added the semicircular South Portico in 1824. Its sweeping columns created an imposing facade and soon became one of the best-known features of the White House. The earliest known photograph of the White House, by John Plumbe Jr. c 1846.
5. WHVC_140915_033.JPG: The White House: You are looking at the South Front of the White House. Throughout its history, the house and its grounds have undergone many changes. Yet the White House has long been recognizable around the world as the home of the president of the United States. The South Lawn and semicircular South Portico offer an unforgettable vista to visitors gazing at the White House. This model shows the White House as it appears today.
6. WHVC_140915_037.JPG: The North Portico: Once the principal entrance for the first family and the public, the North Portico now serves primarily as a ceremonial entrance for presidents and honored guests. Built in 1829-30, the imposing feature dominates the north side of the building. The North Portico stripped of paint, 1984 The North Portico, 1999.
7. WHVC_140915_043.JPG: The Third Floor: In 1927, the White House attic was raised into a full Third Floor to provide the first family with more room. At the request of First Lady Grace Coolidge (1923-29), the new floor included a "sun parlor," a predecessor to today's Solarium. A view from the east toward the construction of the White House Third Floor, 1927.
8. WHVC_140915_046.JPG: The North Lawn: Set back from Pennsylvania Avenue, the North Lawn is currently planted with shade trees, boxwoods, and flowers. It previously featured an ornamental Victorian garden. The circular fountain, added for President Ulysses S. Grant (1869-77), replaced a bronze statue of President Thomas Jefferson (1801-09). The North Lawn, 1901.
9. WHVC_140915_051.JPG: The White House: You are looking at the North Front of the White House. Throughout its history, the house and surrounding grounds have undergone many changes. Yet the White House has long been recognizable around the world as the home of the president of the United States. The stately North Portico with its large hanging lantern is often used as a backdrop for televised news reports covering American political events. This model shows the White House as it appears today.
10. WHVC_140915_062.JPG: A Changing Landscape: In 1791, Pierre Charles L'Enfant designed a new capital city along the Potomac River. When they arrived in 1800, President and Mrs. John Adams (1797-1801) found a village of a few hundred houses surrounding unfinished government buildings. As the capital slowly grew during the 19th century, a series of proposals refined L'Enfant's original design while retaining his vision of the city as a symbol of government power. Under the 1901-02 McMillan plan, Washington truly became L'Enfant's monumental city. The plan called for reshaping the city's landscape by reclaiming parkland, erecting monuments, and creating vistas around the White House and Capitol.
11. WHVC_140915_065.JPG: President's Park is home to 12 statues and memorials commemorating important people and events in United States history. Lift up the panels to learn more about some of these memorials and monuments. Which memorial was modeled after the Battle Monument at the United States Military Academy at West Point? First Division Monument -- Erected in 1924 to commemorate the service of the US Army's First Division in World War I, the monument was expanded later to honor the division's service in subsequent military conflicts.
12. WHVC_140915_074.JPG: Which statue had a specially trained horse for its model? General Andrew Jackson Statue -- The sculptor had trouble portraying Jackson's horse rearing up on its hind legs, so he trained a real horse to model this action for him.
13. WHVC_140915_079.JPG: Which statues in Lafayette Park commemorate foreign nationals who aided America during the Revolutionary War? The statues at each corner of the park recognize key figures who supported the American fight for independence: General Lafayette (French), above, General Koscuiszko (Polish), General Rochambeau (French), and General von Steuben (Prussian).
14. WHVC_140915_085.JPG: Which general reportedly stood in the same location as his statue? General William T. Sherman -- In 1903, the statue was erected on the spot where Sherman supposedly watched his troops match during the Grand Review at the end of the Civil War in 1865.
15. WHVC_140915_101.JPG: White House as an Office: The White House serves as the office of both the president and the first lady. Every president since John Adams (1797-1801) has overseen the executive branch from within its walls. Presidents have made historic decisions in almost every room of the building, from the Second Floor offices used by early occupants to the vastly expanded office spaces built during the 20th century. The White House has provided the stage for key diplomatic meetings, unforgettable speeches, and the signing of landmark legislation. While the rooms have changed over time, the historical significance of the events occurring within them remains constant. "Being a President is like riding a tiger. A man has to keep on riding or be swallowed." -- President Harry S. Truman, 1945-53
16. WHVC_140915_104.JPG: Searching for Space: During the 19th century, most presidents worked on the White House Second Floor just down the hall from the first family's residence quarters. By the early 1900s, however, the cramped rooms could no longer accommodate the president and his staff. At the urging of President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09), Congress set aside $65,196 for construction of a temporary office building in 1902. Enlarged and remodeled several times since then, the West Wing now serves as the bustling headquarters for the Executive Office of the President.
17. WHVC_140915_107.JPG: 1800s: Presidents work within the Executive Residence, generally near the first family's living quarters on the Second Floor.
18. WHVC_140915_110.JPG: 1902: Builders tear down the conservatories to construct a temporary office building, today known as the West Wing.
19. WHVC_140915_113.JPG: 1909: An expansion of the West Wing includes a new presidential work area -- the Oval Office.
20. WHVC_140915_116.JPG: 1929: The West Wing catches fire on Christmas Eve. Although President Herbert Hoover (1929-33) considers expanding the office facilities, the looming economic crisis of the Great Depression convinces him to reconstruct the existing space.
21. WHVC_140915_119.JPG: 1934: President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-45) enlarges a West Wing, adds a second story and a basement, and changes the location of the Oval Office to its current spot in the southeast corner.
22. WHVC_140915_122.JPG: 1970: President Richard M. Nixon (1969-74) converts the indoor pool, pictured in 1963, into a new press room, shown here in 2010.
23. WHVC_140915_129.JPG: Working from Home
24. WHVC_140915_132.JPG: Working From Home: During the 19th century, the president and his staff worked in rooms near the first family living quarters. President Thomas Jefferson (1801-09) divided the east Room to create an office and bedchamber for his personal secretary, Meriwether Lewis. President James Madison (1809-17) used one of these rooms for his cabinet meetings. Other president worked in room son the Second Floor. President Abraham Lincoln (1861-65) used what is now the Lincoln Bedroom. His two secretaries also slept in the White House, and he frequently woke them in the middle of the night to talk. As the staff expanded, work areas became increasingly crowed. By 1901, 23 staff members crammed into five Second Floor rooms.
25. WHVC_140915_135.JPG: Mantel Clock: President Ulysses S. Grant (1869-77) selected this marble clock when he redecorated his Cabinet Room in 1869. The marble and malachite case also contains a barometer, thermometer, and perpetual calendar. (France, c. 1869)
26. WHVC_140915_145.JPG: "You have no idea how depressing and fatiguing it is to live in the same house where you work." -- President Chester A. Arthur, 1881-85
27. WHVC_140915_148.JPG: One of the first pictures taken inside the White House, this 1846 photograph shows President James K. Polk (1845-49), seated second from the right, and his cabinet. Polk created the first salaried federal job of secretary to the president. Before then, presidents personally paid their staff.
28. WHVC_140915_151.JPG: Alice Singer, seen here with other employees, joined the White House staff under President Benjamin Harrison (1889-93). A former stenographer at Harrison's Indianapolis law firm, Sanger was the first female White House office employee.
29. WHVC_140915_154.JPG: During the Spanish-American War, President William McKinley (1897-1901) and his staff utilized a special telegraph office known as the "War Room" on the Second Floor. The telegraph allowed McKinley to communicate quickly with army and navy officers.
30. WHVC_140915_166.JPG: President Grover Cleveland (1885-89, 1893-97) meets with the postmaster general at midnight, 1897. Although many presidents struggled with the demands of their office, not all kept such long hours. President Ulysses S. Grant (1869-77) and President Chester A. Arthur (1881-85) each worked only five or six hours a day.
31. WHVC_140915_169.JPG: George Cortelyou, secretary to President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09), at his desk, 1901. Cortelyou implemented office procedures that made the White House more business-like. Leaving nothing to chance, these rules set strict hours for office staff, required them to clean off their desks every day, and mandated dark suits. These rules even includes procedures for disposing of wastepaper and riding horseback with the president.
32. WHVC_140915_178.JPG: Job-seekers line up to see President Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-81) after his inauguration, 1877. Nineteenth-century presidents contented with streams of petitioners who crowded into the upstairs offices and often spilled over into the residence quarters.
33. WHVC_140915_185.JPG: Dear President...
34. WHVC_140915_188.JPG: History Happens Here
35. WHVC_140915_191.JPG: History Happens Here: People make history every day at the White House. Many of the country's most significant events happen with the White House walls. At the height of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln (1861-65) signed the Emancipation Proclamation in his Second Floor office. With a few months of becoming president, President Harry S. Truman (1945-53) discussed plans for invading Japan in the Cabinet Room. President Ronald Reagan (1981-89) consoled the nation from the Oval Office after the Space Shutting Challenger disaster in 1986. Every day, the president and his staff keep busy working on national programs, attending cabinet meetings, developing legislation, and preparing remarks for the press.
36. WHVC_140915_194.JPG: President Harry S. Truman announces the surrender of Japan to reporters on August 14, 1945. World War II was over.
37. WHVC_140915_199.JPG: Presidential Seal: President Abraham Lincoln (1861-65) used this seal on his letters and other official correspondence. The words "Seal of the President of the United States" surround an eagle and stars.
38. WHVC_140915_210.JPG: Typewriter: President Woodrow Wilson (1913-21) used this Hammond Multiplex typewriter when he toured the country in 1919 to gather support for the League of Nations.
39. WHVC_140915_216.JPG: Letter Opener: President William McKinley (1897-1901) and President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09) both used this letter opener in their White House offices.
40. WHVC_140915_226.JPG: "No easy matter will ever come to you. If they're easy they will be settled at a lower level." -- President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953-61
41. WHVC_140915_227.JPG: A Public Office
42. WHVC_140915_231.JPG: A Public Office: The White House may be the president's office, but it belongs to the American people. Keeping the people informed about presidential decisions is a cornerstone of American democracy. But the president also needs to listen to what people are saying. Throughout much of the 19th century, visitors could simply walk into the White House and ask to meet with the president. Security concerns have since ended such easy access, but the public can still contact the White House through telephone calls, letters, and e-mails. They can also add their voices to public protests and demonstrations.
43. WHVC_140915_234.JPG: Reporters linger outside the White House gates as they wait for news about the condition of President James A. Garfield (1881) after he was shot on July 2, 1881. Garfield died from his wounds two months later.
44. WHVC_140915_238.JPG: The Voice of Democracy: From paper and quill pens to the latest computers, the White House has adapted to changes in communications technology. Early presidents had to rely on letters, personal reports, or newspaper accounts to communicate wit the country. News traveled more quickly after President Andrew Johnson (1865-69) added a White House telegraph room in 1866. Twentieth-century presidents adopted mass media radio and television to reach a wider audience. The White House joined the internet revolution in 1994 with the launch of its first website under President William J. Clinton (1993-2001).
45. WHVC_140915_242.JPG: Newspapermen on the White House grounds raise their hats to President Calvin Coolidge (1923-29) after his first press conference, 1923. President Woodrow Wilson (1913-21) held the first formal White House press conference in 1913.
46. WHVC_140915_244.JPG: President Warren G. Harding (1921-23) makes a voice recording, 1922. President Calvin Coolidge (1923-29) began regular radio addresses in the 1920s.
47. WHVC_140915_247.JPG: President William H. Taft (1909-13) talks on the telephone, c. 1909. President Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-81) installed the White House's first telephone in 1879, but could only call a handful of people. His telephone number was simply "1".
48. WHVC_140915_252.JPG: President John F. Kennedy (1961-63) addresses the nation in a televised Oval Office speech during the Cuban Missile Crisis, October 1962. His predecessor, President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-61), first began televised broadcasts from the White House.
49. WHVC_140915_258.JPG: President Barack Obama (2009-) checks his cell phone outside the Oval Office, 2010. President Jimmy Carter (1977-81) acquired the first computer, and President George Bush (1989-93) sent the first e-mail in 1992.
50. WHVC_140915_265.JPG: "Even though we never like it and even though we wish they didn't write it, and even though we disapprove, there isn't any doubt that we could not do the job at all in a free society with a very, very active press." -- President John F. Kennedy, 1961-63
51. WHVC_140915_271.JPG: The White House Press Corps: President Theodore Roosevelt's (1901-09) temporary office building included a press room in 1902. Since then, reporters have become an ever-expanding presence at the White House. For presidents, the press can be both a necessity and a bother. After President Richard M. Nixon (1969-74) built a new press room over the White House swimming pool in 1970, observers joked that he could push a button and dump reporters into the pool if they asked too many difficult questions.
52. WHVC_140915_274.JPG: Telegraph Key: President Abraham Lincoln (1861-65) often visited the War Department telegraph office. There, operators used this key to acknowledge General Ulysses S. Grant's message that General Robert E. Lee had surrendered on April 9, 1865.
53. WHVC_140915_282.JPG: President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-45) held 1,023 press conferences while in office. Although he enjoyed a good relationship with the press, he set firm rules governing reporters' behavior. This 1942 cartoon shows Roosevelt in full control of a White House press conference.
54. WHVC_140915_286.JPG: Reports spring to the Press Room to announce that Japan had surrendered and World War II was over, August 14, 1945.
55. WHVC_140915_290.JPG: Press Room Chairs: The Press Briefing Room renovation under President Ronald Reagan (1981-89) included the addition of these theater-style chairs.
56. WHVC_140915_305.JPG: Events and Celebrations
57. WHVC_140915_307.JPG: Guests gather on the South Lawn for President Franklin D. Roosevelt's (1933-45) fourth inauguration, January 1945. The simple 15-minute ceremony was the only inauguration to take place at the White House.
58. WHVC_140915_314.JPG: Outside the White House
59. WHVC_140915_317.JPG: Outside the White House: Although the White House has more 100 rooms, presidents sometimes need more space to entertain guests. Fortunately, the president and his family have a large lawn. Presidents use the White House grounds as a stage for performances and a reception area for greeting guests. Fanfare and pageantry surround many events, including an aviator's dramatic landing on the South Lawn in 1911 and the arrival of the 2002 Olympic torch. The intimate gardens provide a beautiful setting for receptions and dinners, while the expansive grounds have witnesses picnics, concerts, and even T-ball games.
60. WHVC_140915_320.JPG: The White House Grounds
61. WHVC_140915_323.JPG: The White House Grounds: Once farmland and pasture, the White House grounds have been transformed into a garden oasis. The carefully tended lawns and elaborate plantings provide the first family with a peaceful retreat. Beautiful gardens, both formal and informal, offer intimate settings for official ceremonies and private celebrations. Greenhouses and conservatories have supplied the White House with fresh flowers, including roses, camellias, and orchids. THe grounds have also been used for recreation. At various times, they have included tennis courts, swimming pools, jungle gyms, horseshoe pits, putting greens, and basketball courts.
62. WHVC_140915_325.JPG: President Woodrow Wilson (1913-21) and First Lady Edith Wilson (1915-21) stand by the East Garden's lily pond, 1916.
63. WHVC_140915_329.JPG: Handprints: Lucinda Robb, granddaughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-69), made this handprint cast. Her print, along with those made by other presidential grandchildren, is embedded in the stone walkway in the Children's Garden.
64. WHVC_140915_338.JPG: Child's Swing: This swing hung on various trees on the South Grounds from the late 1970s until 2010.
65. WHVC_140915_343.JPG: Elm Tree Cross Section: This preserved tree section comes from an elm planted by President john Quincy Adams (1825-29). After removal of the sick tree in 1991, First Lady Barbara Bush (1989-93) planted a tree propagated from Adams's elm.
66. WHVC_140915_349.JPG: Abraham Lincoln State China Punch Bowl: First Lady Mary Lincoln (1861-65) selected a china service, decorated in New York in her favorite color, purple.
67. WHVC_140915_353.JPG: Chocolate Mold: White House executive pastry chef Roland Mesnier used plastic molds like this to emboss candies with the Presidential seal.
68. WHVC_140915_359.JPG: Centerpiece: First Lady Julia Grant (1869-77) acquired this silver centerpiece at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876. The boat depicts the story of Hiawatha from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem. (Rhode Island, 1871)
69. WHVC_140915_374.JPG: The White House Collection The White House is a living museum housing remarkable works of art and extraordinary examples of fine craftsmanship. Its collection includes priceless historical artifacts reflecting more than 200 years of the American presidency. Almost every item in the White House collection has been used at some point by presidents, their families, or the White House staff. These include furniture , textiles, silverware, and china that showcase American decorative arts. The White House collection also contains paintings selected for their artistic and historical value, including portraits of presidents and first ladies and works by leading American artists, including Albert Bierstadt, Thomas Eakins, John Singer Sargent, Mary Cassatt, and Georgia O'Keefe.
70. WHVC_140915_376.JPG: The White House Collection
71. WHVC_140915_383.JPG: Appeal to the Great Spirit: Sculptor Cyrus Edwin Dallin is known for his eloquent portrayals of American Indians. This bronze statue is a small-scale casting of a life-size sculpture at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. (c. 1916)
72. WHVC_140915_386.JPG: Princeton Landscape: A lifelong painter, First Lady Ellen Wilson (1913-14) created works like this one in her White House art studio during her tenure as first lady. (c. 1913)
73. WHVC_140915_397.JPG: Neighboring Pews: Sculptor John Rogers became famous for tabletop sculptures inspired by everyday life in small-town or rural America. These plaster sculptures sold for low prices to a mass marker in the 1800s. (c. 1883)
74. WHVC_140915_404.JPG: Gypsy Girl With Flowers: Many objects in the White House highlight the nation's history, diversity, and accomplishments. This painting is by Robert Henri, an American painter, teacher, and promoter of modern American art. (c. 1915)
75. WHVC_140915_407.JPG: Preserving White House History
76. WHVC_140915_411.JPG: Preserving White House History The White House is a living museum housing remarkable works of art and extraordinary examples of fine craftsmanship. Its collection includes priceless historical artifacts reflecting more than 200 years of the American presidency. During the 1800s, many White House furnishings and decorations were sold and discarded. Concern about preserving the historic nature of the house started growing in the late 1800s when first ladies began collecting tableware used by their predecessors. In the 1960s, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (1961-63) established a more formal museum program at the White House. Successive administrations have continued to expand the White House holdings into one of the country's best collections of American fine and decorative arts.
77. WHVC_140915_422.JPG: From Patent Room to Visitor Center: You are standing in Baldirge Hall, home of the White House Visitor Center. Located on the north end of the Department of Commerce headquarters, this room is named for Secretary of Commerce Malcolm Baldrige (1981-85). When the new Department of Commerce building opened in 1932, this pace originally served as the Patent Search Room. For the next 35 years, researchers came to Baldrige Hall to search more than three million patents cataloged by the Commerce Department. Baldrige Hall's rich historic legacy, stately architectural features, and proximity to the White House made it an ideal location for the White House Visitor Center, which opened in 1995.
78. WHVC_140915_433.JPG: "The patent system added the fuel of interest to the fire of genius." -- President Abraham Lincoln, 1861-65 A Storehouse of Invention: Patents give inventors sole rights to their inventions, but to be granted this protection, the idea must be a new one. When Baldrige Hall served as the Patent Search Room, inventors and attorneys filled the desks lining the room to explore existing patents and make sure their ideas were truly original. Stacks flanking the hall stored more than three million patents, the legacy of a few famous and many little-known inventors.
79. WHVC_140915_437.JPG: The National Park Service gratefully acknowledges its partnership with The White House Historical Association and the generous support of David M. Rubenstein who made possible the revitalized White House Visitor Center.
80. WHVC_140915_445.JPG: Welcome to the White House Visitor Center
81. WHVC_140915_448.JPG: The White House has stood as a symbol of the United States for more than 200 years. As the president's office, it serves as a cornerstone of America's national government. As a home, it has been the setting for everyday joys and sorrows of the families who have lived there. A living museum, it holds priceless historical artifacts and some of the finest examples of American craftsmanship and artistry. All of the presidents since John Adams (1797-1801) have called it home, yet the building belongs to the American people -- an enduring national icon reflecting the country's strength, stability, and democratic values.
82. WHVC_140915_453.JPG: House of the Nation
83. WHVC_140915_457.JPG: House of the Nation: After Washington DC became the site for the nation's capital city in 1790, leaders had to decide: Where would the president live? President George Washington (1789-97) envisioned a grand, Georgian-style mansion. Pierre Charles L'Enfant's plans for the capital city included a presidential palace five times larger than the house that was eventually built. Initially called the "President's House" and the "Executive Mansion," the residence officially became known as the "White House" in 1901. The house has evolved with the country, sometimes undergoing major renovations. Yet, throughout the changes, the White House has remained the historic home of the president and the nation.
84. WHVC_140915_460.JPG: Unbuilt Wings and Proposed Expansions: It is hard to imagine the White House any other way, but several presidents did just that in the second half of the 1800s. Their unrealized proposals included major changes to address the lack of space, aesthetic concerns, and growing security issues.
85. WHVC_140915_462.JPG: President Chester A. Arthur (1881-85) wanted to tear down the White House and rebuild it completely. When Congress refused to provide the funds, Arthur developed proposals to add a new private residence to the White House, as depicted in this drawing, c. 1881.
86. WHVC_140915_466.JPG: First Lady Caroline Harrison (1889-92) found the White House too small for her eleven-member family. In 1889, she worked with engineers to create this proposed expansion that included large wings for new offices and an art gallery.
87. WHVC_140915_470.JPG: At a reception celebrating the centennial of Washington as the nation's capital in 1900, army engineer Colonel Theodore Bingham showed President William McKinley (1897-1901) this plaster model of a vastly enlarged White House.
88. WHVC_140915_479.JPG: 1792: President Washington directed construction of the national capital. He selected the location for the presidential residence and after reviewing a number of competing proposals, chose Irish-born James Hoban as the architect and builder. Hundreds of workers, including enslaved African Americans, Scottish stonecutters, immigrant laborers, and local craftsmen, labored on the building for eight years. In 1800, President John Adams (1797-1801) became the first president to occupy the new White House.
89. WHVC_140915_486.JPG: 1817: During the War of 1812, British troops invaded Washington DC and burned the White House in August 1814. The charred ruins became a symbol of defeat. Congress even discussed moving the capital farther inland. However, General Andrew Jackson's final victory over British forces at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815 restored national pride. Illustrating the resilience of the American people, Hoban set out to rebuild the residence, completing the work in 1817.
90. WHVC_140915_487.JPG: 1902: By the late 1800s, the Second Floor of the White House no longer provided adequate office space for the president and his staff. At the request of President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09), Congress approved construction of the temporary office building later known as the West Wing.
91. WHVC_140915_490.JPG: 1952: By the late 1940s, engineers studying the White House noted that the building had become structurally unsafe and a potential firetrap. In 1948, the leg of a piano belonging to Margaret Truman, daughter of President Harry S. Truman (1945-53), even broke through the floor of her room. An extensive renovation project added a skeleton of steel beams and a new concrete foundation. Finished in 1952, the renovated White House also included a modern heating and cooling system controlled from the central monitoring post pictured here.
92. WHVC_140915_498.JPG: James Hoban Desk: According to family tradition, James Hoban built this mahogany desk from wood left over from the original White House construction. (Washington DC, c 1800)
93. WHVC_140915_505.JPG: A wax portrait is the only known life image of White House architect James Hoban.
94. WHVC_140915_509.JPG: Mantel Clock: With works designed by Louis Mallet, this French gilded bronze clock features George Washington in his general's uniform. It was donated to the White House in 1960. (French, c. 1816)
95. WHVC_140915_515.JPG: William J. Clinton State China Service Plate: The Clinton state service commemorates the 200th anniversary of the White House. The rim design is based on State Dining Room architectural elements. (New Jersey, 2000)
96. WHVC_140915_520.JPG: President's Park
97. WHVC_140915_525.JPG: President's Park: In the early 1800s, the White House grounds consisted of muddy fields filled with building debris and workmen's huts. As the city expanded, this land was transformed into a green oasis at the heart of a thriving urban center. Shaped by successive plans guiding the city's development, President's Park reached its current configuration in the 1960s. Today, it covers approximately 64 acres and includes Lafayette Park, the Ellipse and its side panels, the First Division Monument, and Sherman Park. Open to the public for celebrations, demonstrations, special events, and everyday recreation, President's Park highlights the White House's place is a democratic society.
98. WHVC_140915_528.JPG: 1791: Pierre Charles L'Enfant prepares a city plan for Washington DC, setting aside approximately 82 acres for a "President's Park." c 1820: North of the White House, Pennsylvania Avenue is extended to cut through President's Park. 1851: Leading American landscape architect Andrew Jackson Downing prepares a plan for developing the National Mall and President's Park. 1873: The South Grounds are extended to their current configuration. 1880: The Ellipse is completed on the south side of the White House.
99. WHVC_140915_531.JPG: 1873: The South Grounds are extended to their current configuration. 1880: The Ellipse is completed on the south side of the White House. 1924: The First Division Monument becomes the first memorial in Washington honoring soldiers who fought in World War I. Later additions commemorate soldiers from this division who served in subsequent conflicts. 1933: President's Park becomes part of the National Park System. 1935: The Olmsted Brothers, a landscape architecture firm, creates a White House landscape plan that includes a redesign of Sherman Park and extends E Street.
100. WHVC_140915_535.JPG: 1960s: Architect John Carl Warnecke redesigns Lafayette Park. As part of the historic preservation movement spearheaded by President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy (1961-63), Warnecke's plan also protects the historic character of the surrounding buildings. 1970: Lafayette Park and the surrounding buildings are designated a National Historic Landmark District. 1995: After many appeals from the Secret Service, Pennsylvania Avenue is closed to public vehicular traffic in front of the White House. It is now a pedestrian street.
101. WHVC_140915_538.JPG: President George W. Bush's (2001-09) second inaugural parade passes the reviewing stand on the north side of the White House as it travels down Pennsylvania Avenue, January 20, 2005.
102. WHVC_140915_541.JPG: Happy servicemen and civilians form a conga line in Lafayette Park as they celebrate the news of Japan's surrender ending World War II, August 14, 1945.
103. WHVC_140915_548.JPG: At the request of President John F. Kennedy (1961-63), White House butler John H. Johnson, shown on the right, brings hot coffee to demonstrators in Lafayette Park who are protesting nuclear testing, 1962.
104. WHVC_140915_553.JPG: State Christmas [???] Ornaments: These are examples of ornaments designed in 2010 by artists and volunteers for the 56 trees lining the Pathway of Peace. The trees represent the US states, territories, and District of Columbia.
105. WHVC_140915_560.JPG: President Harry S. Truman (1945-53) presses the button on the tree lighting switch box during the National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony, 1945.
106. WHVC_140915_564.JPG: Tree Lighting Switch Box: President Calvin Coolidge (1923-29) used a handheld button to illuminate the first National Christmas Tree in 1923. This box was made in 1937 and is still used to light the tree. The switch was replaced in 2011.
107. WHVC_140915_571.JPG: Protest Pins: Demonstrators in President's Park often wear pins to promote issues they support. These pins are examples worn by 1960s civil rights activists and by those speaking both for and against women's suffrage in the early 1900s.
108. WHVC_140915_576.JPG: Free Speech in President's Park: One of the basic foundations of American liberty, the First Amendment to the Constitution forbids Congress from making any law "abridging the freedom of speech." President's Park provides a forum for practicing this fundamental right. Individual demonstrators and large groups can safely gather to voice their concerns directly to the president. The National Park Service oversees the impartial rules governing the hundreds of demonstrations, vigils, marches, and other forms of peaceful protect that occur here each year.
109. WHVC_140915_579.JPG: Lighting the National Christmas Tree: President Calvin Coolidge (1923-29) lit the first National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse on Christmas Eve, 1923. Since then, the tree lighting ceremony has undergone many changes, sometimes using special effects. In 1926, a signal flare announced the lighting to the city. In 1932, holiday carols played over loudspeakers hidden in the branches. Cut trees were used from 1954 until 1972. A more permanent National Christmas Tree was planted on the Ellipse in 1973. The ceremony today includes live music and dance performances broadcast on television.
110. WHVC_140915_582.JPG: Caring for the White House and President's Park: The National Park Service (NPS) began caring for the White House and President's Park after they became part of the National Park Service in 1933. The NPS staff helps guide and educate visitors at the White House Visitor Center and in President's Park. The NPS is responsible for preserving and maintaining the White House exterior, the gardens surrounding the White House, the grounds of President's Park, and the principal public rooms of the Executive Residence.
111. WHVC_140915_587.JPG: Fence Finial: The White House fence posts are topped by urn-like finials. The earliest existing fence sections are located along Pennsylvania Avenue and date from c. 1818.
112. WHVC_140915_590.JPG: President Woodrow Wilson (1913-21) attends the Liberty Bond Parade on Pennsylvania Avenue, 1918.
113. WHVC_140915_598.JPG: The President's Home: Until the early 1900s, the Second Floor of the White House held both the president's office and the first family's private quarters. Official visitors often encroached on the family's privacy as they waited to meet with the president. Since the creation of the West Wing offices in 1902, however, the Second Floor has become a refuge for the president and his family. Although a dedicated residence staff takes care of many domestic duties, living in the public eye still poses unique challenges. Every first family struggles to balance their personal lives against the demands of public service.
114. WHVC_140915_602.JPG: Moving Day "Perhaps others have lived longer in this place and enjoyed it quite as much; but none have ever really had more fun out of it than we have." -- President Theodore Roosevelt, 1901-09 "I love the dear old house." -- First Lady Julia Grant, 1869-77
115. WHVC_140915_606.JPG: Moving Day: After each change of administration, the White House experiences a whirlwind of activity. The outgoing first family packs their belongings and says good-bye to the loyal staff that has served them for years. In the 1800s, some departing families lingered for weeks, but today the residence staff has just a few hours to prepare the White House for its next occupants. As soon as the inaugural parade ends, the new president and first family move in and begin exploring their new home.
116. WHVC_140915_608.JPG: 9:30am President and first lady say good-bye to the staff. 10:00am President and first lady have a traditional tea with the president-elect.
117. WHVC_140915_610.JPG: 11:00am Motorcade heads for the inaugural ceremony; moving trucks are waved onto the grounds. 11:30am First family's remaining belongings are loaded into vans, en route to their private home.
118. WHVC_140915_614.JPG: 12:01am Residence staff moves the new first family's belongings into the White House and begins unpacking.
119. WHVC_140915_615.JPG: 5:00pm New president and first lady return to the White House from the inaugural parade.
120. WHVC_140915_617.JPG: As President Barack Obama (2009-) prepares to leave for an inaugural ball, Malia Obama photographs her dad while her sister Sasha celebrates at the end of their busy first day in the White House, January 20, 2009.
121. WHVC_140915_624.JPG: Many presidents have mixed emotions about leaving the White House, as captured by this 1909 political cartoon depicting the departure of President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09).
122. WHVC_140915_628.JPG: Stage & Ceremony
123. WHVC_140915_634.JPG: Flagpole Finial: In 1898, the White House flagpole was replaced by one topped with a patriotic eagle. This gilded copper finial, possibly the original, was damaged in 1993 and replaced with an exact replica.
124. WHVC_140915_643.JPG: Desk: As the country faced the daunting problems of the Great Depression and World War II, President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-45) reached out to American families through a series of radio broadcasts known as "fireside chats." His talks, most of which he delivered from this desk, helped reassure Americans that their government was trying to help. Press a button in front of you to hear clips from presidential speeches.
125. WHVC_140915_651.JPG: Who ordered That?
126. WHVC_140915_657.JPG: Pressures of Daily Life: During their few years in the White House, first families have the same life experiences as families living anywhere else. They deal with personal tragedies and celebrate their time together whenever possible. Despite the pressures of living in the White House, many try to pursue their old hobbies and interests. Presidents exercise, play games, garden, and watch TV or listen to the radio, especially when these activities offer them precious time along with their families.
127. WHVC_140915_659.JPG: Child's Rocking Chair: When First Lady Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson created the Children's Garden in 1969, a suite of outdoor furniture, including this rocking chair, was placed in the garden.
128. WHVC_140915_665.JPG: Radio: In January 1941, the White House purchased Emerson radios for bedrooms on the Second and Third Floors. This radio is the only one that survives in the White House collection.
129. WHVC_140915_669.JPG: Bowling Ball: In 1947, President Harry S. Truman (1945-53) built the first White House bowling lanes in the West Wing basement. This bowling ball is designed for a woman's or child's hand.
130. WHVC_140915_675.JPG: Indian Club: White House exercise equipment included this government-issued "Indian club," modeled after ones swung by wrestlers in India. Vice President Calvin Coolidge uses Indian clubs shortly before becoming president (1923-29).
131. WHVC_140915_678.JPG: Indian Club: White House exercise equipment included this government-issued "Indian club," modeled after ones swung by wrestlers in India. Vice President Calvin Coolidge uses Indian clubs shortly before becoming president (1923-29).
132. WHVC_140915_689.JPG: Ring: President Ulysses S. Grant (1869-77) received this gold, agate and quartz ring as a souvenir of the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869. The ring was made from surplus metal in the casting of the golden spike that was ceremonially driven at Promontory Summit, Utah Territory on May 10, 1869.
133. WHVC_140915_698.JPG: Side Chair: President and Mrs. Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-81) used bamboo furniture in their White House bedroom, including this maple chair, pictured here.
134. WHVC_140915_701.JPG: Side Chair: President and Mrs. Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-81) used bamboo furniture in their White House bedroom, including this maple chair, pictured here.
135. WHVC_140915_703.JPG: Adapting to A New Life
136. WHVC_140915_706.JPG: Night Table: The maple night table came from the Val-Kill Furniture Shop, which First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (1933-45) helped establish in 1927 to provide employment around her home in Hyde Park, New York. (New York, c. 1933)
137. WHVC_140915_709.JPG: A White House guest room was furnished with this night table and matching bed, 1947.
138. WHVC_140915_715.JPG: In 1975, First Lady Betty Ford (1974-77) looks out toward the Oval Office from the same quiet spot.
139. WHVC_140915_719.JPG: First Lady Frances Cleveland (1886-89, 1893-97) sits in the West Sitting Hall, c. 1888.
140. WHVC_140915_722.JPG: Adapting to A New Life: Living in the White House can be a remarkable experience, and the first family enjoys many privileges. Today, the White House has amenities such as a swimming pool and a movie theater. A devoted permanent staff provides for comfort and security. Yet almost every first family has remarked how difficult life in the White House can be finding time to be together is never easy. And living in the "people's house" means the first family faces almost constant public scrutiny.
141. WHVC_140915_724.JPG: The People's House: The White House is a symbolic building belonging to the entire nation. Although some earlier presidents suggested moving or rebuilding the official residence. President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09) firmly established the White House as the president's permanent home in 1902. First families may bring their own furnishings and redecorate the living quarters, but the Committee for the Preservation of the White House advises the families regarding changes to the public parts of the Executive Residence. Moreover, first families have to adapt to a steady stream of visitors coming into what is also their home. During the 1800s, most first families decorated the public and private White House rooms according to their own personal tastes. In 1874, President Ulysses S. Grant (1869-77) refurbished the East Room for his daughter Nellie's wedding. The glittering decorations featured gilded woodwork and three new chandeliers.
142. WHVC_140915_732.JPG: "I pray heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house. And all that shall hereafter inhabit it, may none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof." Casting, State Dining Room Mantel: On his second night in the White House, President John Adams (1797-1801) wrote these words in a letter to his wife.
143. WHVC_140915_735.JPG: Sergeant Edson Dinsmore of the White House Police receives visitors in the Entrance Hall, 1881.
144. WHVC_140915_741.JPG: Television stars Roy Rogers and Dale Evans help David Eisenhower, grandson of President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-61), celebrate his eighth birthday at the White House, 1956.
145. WHVC_140915_748.JPG: President Calvin Coolidge (1923-29) walks along the White House West Colonnade with his Secret Service detail, 1925. The Secret Service has officially provided protection to the president and his family since 1902.
146. WHVC_140915_750.JPG: President John F. Kennedy (1961-63) plays with his son, John Jr., on the White House West Wing Colonnade, 1963.
147. WHVC_140915_774.JPG: Bison head carved on the State Dining Room mantel
148. WHVC_140915_778.JPG: 1837: Presented with a 1,400-pound wheel of cheese, President Andrew Jackson (1829-37) invited the public to the White House to eat as much as they wanted in celebration of George Washington's birthday. Visitors quickly devoured the cheese, but crumbs were ground into the rugs and left a smell that lingered for weeks.
149. WHVC_140915_779.JPG: 1839-40: In this cartoon, President Martin Van Buren (1837-41) was lampooned for "kingly" entertaining. Van Buren denied buying "gold knives or forks or spoons of any description," but the accusations by his political enemies ruined his chances for re-election.
150. WHVC_140915_782.JPG: 1841: The White House held the first funeral for a President when President William Henry Harrison (1841) died from pneumonia only one month after taking office. President John Tyler (1841-45) became the first vice president to take office after a predecessor's death.
151. WHVC_140915_785.JPG: 1874: President Ulysses S. Grant (1869-77) hosted the first state dinner for a ruling monarch when King David Kalakaua of the Hawaiiian Islands came to visit. Royal food testers examine every dish before passing it to the royal visitor.
152. WHVC_140915_788.JPG: 1877: As a nod to the temperance movement, President and Mrs. Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-81) stopped serving alcohol at White House dinners. This earned First Lady Lucy Hayes, on left, the nickname "Lemonade Lucy." As one observer noted during a White House reception, "The water flowed like champagne."
153. WHVC_140915_791.JPG: 1929-1933: President and Mrs. Herbert Hoover (1923-33) rarely dined alone and often added last-minute guests. Once, after ordering lunch for four, they ended up inviting 40. White House kitchen staff had to raid the refrigerator to prepare a last-minute banquet.
154. WHVC_140915_797.JPG: 1939: King George VI and Queen Elizabeth were the first reigning British monarchs to visit the White House. Before their arrival, their aides made a number of special requests. They asked that ham sandwiches be available should the royal couple return after midnight and requested a "very soft eider down quilt, which can be accordion-pleated at the foot of the bed."
155. WHVC_140915_801.JPG: 1964: In September, President Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-69) held the first Presidential cookout for retiring members of Congress. The meal, cooked over charcoal broilers set up on the West Terrace, included steak, baked potatoes, corn pudding, salad, and pecan pie. Suggestions for the Furnishing of His Majesty's room
156. WHVC_140915_803.JPG: 1978: The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) series In Performance at the White House began broadcasting White House concerts into American homes.
157. WHVC_140926_004.JPG: Stage & Ceremony: Some of the country's greatest entertainers perform at the White House. National heroes are often received here. Each president and first lady symbolizes American hospitality when welcoming world leaders. Whether the occasion is a momentous bill signing, an elaborate dinner for foreign dignitaries, or the annual children's Easter Egg Roll, the White House provides a stage for moments of national celebration and ceremony.
158. WHVC_140926_008.JPG: President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy (1961-63) and their guests listen to renowned cellis Pablo Casals during an East Room concert, 1961. Casals had last visited the White House in 1904, when he played for President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09).
159. WHVC_140926_014.JPG: During Japan's first diplomatic mission to Washington, President James Buchanan (1857-61) receives the Japanese envoys at an East Room reception, 1860.
160. WHVC_140926_018.JPG: Children scramble for eggs on the South Lawn, 1929. Held at the White House since 1878, the Easter Egg Roll is the largest annual public event on the White House grounds.
161. WHVC_140926_024.JPG: As part of the "War on Poverty," President Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-69) signs the Economic Opportunity Act in the Rose Garden, 1964.
162. WHVC_140926_031.JPG: Armchair: This gilded beechwood armchair, made by French cabinetmaker Pierre-Antoine Bellange and originally upholstered in crimson, was part of a 53-piece furniture suite ordered for the Oval Room (today's Blue Room) by President James Monroe (1817-25) in 1817.
163. WHVC_140926_043.JPG: The State Rooms: Located on the First Floor, the distinctive State Rooms play an important role in official entertaining. Bill signings and performances often taken place in the East Room. The Red Room and Green Room provide settings for smaller ceremonies and private functions. Receptions are often hosted in the Blue Room, while larger banquets are frequently served in the State Dining Room. Not all events are held indoors. Ceremonies for visiting dignitaries, cookouts, and music festivals take place on the South Lawn.
164. WHVC_140926_048.JPG: A military honor guard stands at attention over the body of President Warren G. Harding (1921-23) in the East Room, August 1923. Six other presidents who died in office have also lain in state in this room.
165. WHVC_140926_054.JPG: Living in the White House Despite their unique surroundings, first families often try to preserve some degrees of normal family life. Like many families, they celebrate birthdays, get together for the holidays, and gather for religious worship. Like any other home, the White House has witnessed joyous celebrations and unexpected sorrows. First families have hosted elaborate weddings in the East Room and outdoor parties in the Rose Garden. They have also mourned the passing of loved ones in the State Floor reception rooms.
166. WHVC_140926_058.JPG: Living in the White House Despite their unique surroundings, first families often try to preserve some degrees of normal family life. Like many families, they celebrate birthdays, get together for the holidays, and gather for religious worship. Like any other home, the White House has witnessed joyous celebrations and unexpected sorrows. First families have hosted elaborate weddings in the East Room and outdoor parties in the Rose Garden. They have also mourned the passing of loved ones in the State Floor reception rooms.
167. WHVC_140926_061.JPG: The boy standing in the White House lawn in this 1865 photograph (right) is Tad Lincoln, son of President Abraham Lincoln (1861-65). Tad (below) loved to play war games and watch the Union soldier protecting his house during the Civil War. Once he even interrupted his father's meeting by bombarding the door with a toy cannon.
168. WHVC_140926_069.JPG: President and Mrs. Gerald R. Ford (1974-77) celebrate their 26th wedding anniversary just days after Mrs. Ford underwent breast cancer surgery, 1974.
169. WHVC_140926_072.JPG: The only president to marry in the White House, President Grover Cleveland (1885-89, 1893-97) and his bridge Frances Folsom hold a small, private ceremony in the Blue Room in 1886.
170. WHVC_140926_079.JPG: First Lady Michelle Obama (2009-) and daughters Malia and Sasha go sledding on the South Lawn of the White House, 2009.
171. WHVC_140926_080.JPG: "We have not the least fence, yard, or other convenience, without, and the great unfinished audience room I made a drying room of, oto hang up the clothes in." -- First Lady Abigail Adams, 1797-1801 No Place Like Home: Early occupants of the White House had to share the Second Floor with the president's office space. Families crowded into this Second Floor living area, reserving the First Floor primarily for dining and entertaining. With the construction of the West Wing in 1902, the entire Second Floor became private living space. The family quarters continued to expand and evolve with the construction of a full Third Floor in 1927, a complete renovation finished in 1952, and the addition of a private dining room and kitchen in 1961.
172. WHVC_140926_085.JPG: Visitors hoping to receive government jobs father on the Second Floor of the White House shortly after President Abraham Lincoln (1861-65) assumed office, 1861.
173. WHVC_140926_096.JPG: No Place Like Home: Early occupants of the White House had to share the Second Floor with the president's office space. Families crowded into this Second Floor living area, reserving the First Floor primarily for dining and entertaining. With the construction of the West Wing in 1902, the entire Second Floor became private living space. The family quarters continued to expand and evolve with the construction of a full Third Floor in 1927, a complete renovation finished in 1952, and the addition of a private dining room and kitchen in 1961.
174. WHVC_140926_098.JPG: After moving into the White House in 1800, First Lady Abigail Adams (1797-1801) hangs laundry int he unfinished East Room. President Andrew Jackson (1829-37) finally finished decorating the room in 1829.
175. WHVC_140926_105.JPG: Creature Comforts 1801: Two water closets built, one on each end of the Second Floor -- President Thomas Jefferson (1801-09). 1853: First bathtub installed on the Second Floor -- President Franklin Pierce (1853-57). 1866: Telegraph room added on the Second Floor -- President Andrew Johnson (1865-69). 1881: First elevator installed -- President James A. Garfield (1881). 1891: Electric lighting installed -- President Benjamin Harrison (1889-93).
176. WHVC_140926_112.JPG: The family library, 1866
177. WHVC_140926_119.JPG: 1800: In the 19th century, the family living quarters and executive offices shared the Second Floor. This diagram shows how the Second Floor may have been divided.
178. WHVC_140926_126.JPG: 1915: First long-distance telephone call -- President Woodrow Wilson (1913-21). 1922: First radio, in a Second Floor study -- President Warren G. Harding (1921-23). 1933: First air-conditioning units, added to the Second Floor -- President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-45).
179. WHVC_140926_130.JPG: 1977: First solar panels installed on the West Wing roof (later removed) -- President Jimmy Carter (1977-81). 1992: E-mail and internet access become available -- President George Bush (1989-93).
180. WHVC_140926_133.JPG: 1902: After builders complete the West Wing, executive offices are moved out of the residence area and families gain more personal space on the Second Floor.
181. WHVC_140926_137.JPG: 1903: First tennis court installed behind the new West Wing. President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09).
182. WHVC_140926_144.JPG: 1927: A full Third Floor adds new guest and service rooms as well as a sun parlor facing the Potomac River.
183. WHVC_140926_147.JPG: 1933: Indoor pool installed in the West Terrace. President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-45).
184. WHVC_140926_150.JPG: 1942: Cloakroom in the East Terrace converted into a movie theater. President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933-45).
185. WHVC_140926_154.JPG: 1947: First bowling alley built in the West Wing basement. President Harry S. Truman (1945-53).
186. WHVC_140926_163.JPG: 1961: To create more privacy for her family, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (1961-63) converts two bedroom son the Second Floor into a dining room and a kitchen, pictured her in the 1980s.
187. WHVC_140926_166.JPG: 1927: A full Third Floor adds new guest and service rooms as well as a sun parlor facing the Potomac River.
188. WHVC_140926_169.JPG: "There is but little privacy here, the house belongs to the Government and everyone feels at home." -- Joanna Rucker, First Lady Sarah Polk's niece, 1846
189. WHVC_140926_172.JPG: President Richard M. Nixon (1969-74) shakes hands with entertainer Elvis Presley in the Oval Office, 1970.
190. WHVC_140926_175.JPG: President and Mrs. Barack Obama (2009-) dance while the hand Earth, Wind and Fire performs at the Governors' Dance in the East Room, 2009.
191. WHVC_140926_187.JPG: At a holiday party hosted by President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter (1977-81), Olympic Gold Medalist Peggy Fleming skates on an ice rink built on the South Lawn, 1980.
192. WHVC_140926_191.JPG: "Mrs. Hayes may have no influence with Congress, but she has great influence with me." -- President Rutherford B. Hayes, 1877-81 First Ladies: First ladies help shape the presidency and the nation as campaigners, advocates, and national hostesses. However, some first ladies faces disapproval for being active in political affairs. Critics referred to Abigail Adams (1797-1801) as "Mrs. President" and accused Edith Wilson (1915-21) of running a "petticoat government." Eleanor Roosevelt (1933-45) helped transform the role of the first lady by using her position to address a wide range of pressing national issues. Like presidents, many first ladies now juggle the competing demands of work, work, and public service. While continuing their traditional role as White House hostess, many also become advocates for causes such as volunteerism, literacy, health, and human rights.
193. WHVC_140926_194.JPG: First Ladies: First ladies help shape the presidency and the nation as campaigners, advocates, and national hostesses. However, some first ladies faces disapproval for being active in political affairs. Critics referred to Abigail Adams (1797-1801) as "Mrs. President" and accused Edith Wilson (1915-21) of running a "petticoat government." Eleanor Roosevelt (1933-45) helped transform the role of the first lady by using her position to address a wide range of pressing national issues. Like presidents, many first ladies now juggle the competing demands of work, work, and public service. While continuing their traditional role as White House hostess, many also become advocates for causes such as volunteerism, literacy, health, and human rights.
194. WHVC_140926_196.JPG: First Lady Hillary Clinton (1993-2001) discusses the Blue Room restoration, February 1994. Mrs. Clinton also helped establish the "Save America's Treasures" program to preserve the nation's historic and cultural legacy.
195. WHVC_140926_199.JPG: First Lady Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson (1963-69) examines a model of the National Mall area, 1967. Her efforts led to the nationwide 1965 Highway Beautification Act, limiting the use of roadside billboards.
196. WHVC_140926_207.JPG: "The Constitution of the United States does not mention the first lady. One man elects her only. The statue books assign her no duties; and yet, when she gets the job, a podium is there if she cares to use it." -- First Lady Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson, 1963-69
197. WHVC_140926_210.JPG: First Lady Barbara Bush (1989-93) reads to children in the White House Library. As first lady, she used her public platform to promote literacy, a cause she continued to support after leaving the White House.
198. WHVC_140926_212.JPG: First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (1933-45) meets with her personal secretary and aide Malvina Thompson. She helped change the public image of the first lady by actively participating in national affairs through radio addresses, a daily newspaper column, and public lecture tours.
199. WHVC_140926_219.JPG: At a "Just Say No" rally at the White House, First Lady Nancy Reagan (1981-89) promotes her crusade for drug education and prevention programs, 1986.
200. WHVC_140926_221.JPG: First Lady Michelle Obama (2009-) helps local schoolchildren learn about healthy eating while planting a vegetable garden on the White House grounds, 2009. To tackle the challenge of childhood obesity, she launched her "Let's Move" campaign.
201. WHVC_140926_224.JPG: First Lady Betty Ford (1974-77) speaks about women's issues at her first press conference, September 1974. Diagnosed with breast cancer shortly afterward, she openly discussed her illness to raise public awareness of the disease.
202. WHVC_140926_234.JPG: After President Woodrow Wilson (1913-21) suffered a stroke in 1919, First Lady Edith Wilson took over many of the president's routine administrative duties. She refrained from making major decisions or running the executive branch on the president's behalf.
203. WHVC_140926_237.JPG: A National Stage: Presidents and first ladies entertain guests in many different ways, depending on their personal tastes and current styles. Known for her easy hospitality, First Lady Dolley Madison (1809-17) held informal weekly receptions. The large crowds sometimes overflowed into the gardens. First Lady Julia Grant (1869-77) made the White House and center of Washington social life with celebrated meals that lasted for hours. Despite the national ban on alcohol during Prohibition, President Warren G. Harding (1921-23) often served cocktails to his private guests. Observers joked that the White House liquor came from the illegal shipments seized by government agents.
204. WHVC_140926_241.JPG: Music and Arts: Presidents have often used the White House to showcase American artists and musicians. Musical performances have been a part of White House entertaining ever since the US Marine Band played at President John Adams's (1797-1801) public reception on New Year's Day, 1801. Since then, famous artists from pianist Sergei Rachmaninoff to singer Frank Sinatra have given concerts at the White House. Presidents and their guests have also enjoyed ballet, opera, and Broadway musicals.
205. WHVC_140926_246.JPG: Visitors gather at the North Portico to attend an evening reception, of "levee," held by President Franklin Pierce (1853-57). Because President Pierce always had visitors at the White House, he hired the first full-time presidential bodyguard.
206. WHVC_140926_251.JPG: A National Stage: Presidents and first ladies entertain guests in many different ways, depending on their personal tastes and current styles. Known for her easy hospitality, First Lady Dolley Madison (1809-17) held informal weekly receptions. The large crowds sometimes overflowed into the gardens. First Lady Julia Grant (1869-77) made the White House and center of Washington social life with celebrated meals that lasted for hours. Despite the national ban on alcohol during Prohibition, President Warren G. Harding (1921-23) often served cocktails to his private guests. Observers joked that the White House liquor came from the illegal shipments seized by government agents.
207. WHVC_140926_254.JPG: First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (1933-45) and soldiers enjoy a performance on the South Lawn, 1942. President and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt entertained frequently. They often hosted several hundred houseguests a year and invited thousands of visitors for teas, dinners, and receptions.
208. WHVC_140926_256.JPG: Rock band Los Lobos performs during a celebration of Hispanic musical heritage on the South Lawn, 2009.
209. WHVC_140926_261.JPG: Representatives of the American Institute of Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, demonstrate a traditional dance in the East Room, 1963.
210. WHVC_140926_265.JPG: President Andrew Jackson's (1829-37) first inaugural party turned into a riot when large crowds gathered at the White House, similar to the scene depicted here. The celebrating mob smashed china and broke furniture. To avoid the chaos, President Jackson fled to a nearby hotel.
211. WHVC_140926_269.JPG: Honored Guests: As American society and democratic ideals have changed, so has the White House guest list. In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09) was criticized when he asked noted African American author and educator Booker T. Washington to dinner. Other famous visitors have ranged from author Charles Dickens to entertainer Elvis Presley. Presidents invite athletes, writers, performers, scientists, and other celebrities to recognize their achievements. These visits also provide a chance to discuss important cultural events or current social issues.
212. WHVC_140926_272.JPG: Honored Guests: As American society and democratic ideals have changed, so has the White House guest list. In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09) was criticized when he asked noted African American author and educator Booker T. Washington to dinner. Other famous visitors have ranged from author Charles Dickens to entertainer Elvis Presley. Presidents invite athletes, writers, performers, scientists, and other celebrities to recognize their achievements. These visits also provide a chance to discuss important cultural events or current social issues.
213. WHVC_140926_275.JPG: President Barack Obama (2009-) chats with Kennedy Center Honorees actor Robert De Niro and singer Bruce Springsteen in the Blue Room, 2009. Since 1978, the Kennedy Center's Lifetime Achievement Awards have honored some of the country's most celebrated performing artists.
214. WHVC_140926_278.JPG: President Richard M. Nixon (1969-74) invited jazz pianist Duke Ellington to the White House for Ellington's 70th birthday in 1969. After dinner, Nixon president Ellington with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
215. WHVC_140926_282.JPG: President Andrew Johnson (1865-69) receives an American Indian delegation, c 1867. American Indian leaders first came to the White house to visit President Thomas Jefferson (1801-09) in 1805.
216. WHVC_140926_287.JPG: President Ronald Reagan (1981-89) greets Girl Scouts from El Cajon, California in the West Garden Rooms, 1982.
217. WHVC_140926_292.JPG: President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-61) meets baseball player Jackie Robinson and movie actor Joe E. Brown, 1957.
218. WHVC_140926_296.JPG: In 1960, Wilma Rudolph became the first woman to win three track and field Gold Medals in one Olympics. President John F. Kennedy (1961-63) invited her to the White House in 1961 and talked with her for so long that he was 30 minutes late for his next appointment.
219. WHVC_140926_301.JPG: President Herbert Hoover (1929-33) presents aviator Amelia Earhart with the National Geographic Society Gold Medal at a White House ceremony, 1932. Earhart received the honor for becoming the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean a few months earlier.
220. WHVC_140926_305.JPG: Host for the Nation: Most people entertain friends and family in their homes. The president and first lady also host world leaders on behalf of the entire nation. Each carefully planned state visit follows strict protocol governing everything from the order in which guests enter a room to where they sit at dinner. Following the tradition set by President John F. Kennedy (1961-63), the president usually greets guests with a stately arrival ceremony on the State Lawn. The visitors then attend receptions, formal dinners, and performances which are frequently held on the State Floor. These official visits play a vital role in strengthening America's ties to other countries.
221. WHVC_140926_309.JPG: Arrival Ceremony: President John F. Kennedy (1961-63) introduced the modern White House arrival ceremony. Here, he welcomes Bolivian President Victor Estenssoro on the South Lawn at the beginning of a five-day visit, 1963.
222. WHVC_140926_314.JPG: Final Preparations: Formal events at he White House can take weeks of preparation. As she lights candles in the State Dining Room, First Lady Laura Bush (2001-09) adds the finishing touches before a State Dinner honoring Mexican President Vicente Fox, 2001.
223. WHVC_140926_321.JPG: Greeting: President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan (1981-89) welcome Japanese Prime Minister Zenko Suzuki, 1981. The president and first lady greet guests arriving for State Dinners under the North Portico.
224. WHVC_140926_326.JPG: Exchanging Gifts: Presidents and their guests traditionally exchange mementos and gifts to honor the occasion. At an intimate reception in the Second Floor Yellow Oval Room, President Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-69) receives a sword from Mexican President Gustavo Diaz Ordaz, 1967.
225. WHVC_140926_331.JPG: Place Setting: This place setting was used during the State Dinner for Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom in celebration of the American Bicentennial, July 7, 1976.
226. WHVC_140926_336.JPG: White House State Dinners: President Ulysses S. Grant (1869-77) held the first State Dinner for a ruling monarch in 1874. Since then, these elaborate events have become a key part of American diplomacy. State Dinners help strengthen ties and build a foundation of goodwill. The president and visiting leader exchange toasts highlighting the two nations' friendship before sitting down to a meal specially prepared in honor of the visiting leader.
227. WHVC_140926_340.JPG: Toast: President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09) toasts Prince Henry of Prussia at a State Dinner, 1902. The East Room was decorated so lavishly that one photographer recalled it was like eating "in a Christmas tree."
228. WHVC_140926_346.JPG: Formal Photograph: President and Mrs. Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-61) pose for the camera with King Frederik and Queen Ingrid of Denmark in the Blue Room before sitting down to dinner, 1960.
229. WHVC_140926_350.JPG: White House State Dinners: President Ulysses S. Grant (1869-77) held the first State Dinner for a ruling monarch in 1874. Since then, these elaborate events have become a key part of American diplomacy. State Dinners help strengthen ties and build a foundation of goodwill. The president and visiting leader exchange toasts highlighting the two nations' friendship before sitting down to a meal specially prepared in honor of the visiting leader.
230. WHVC_140926_353.JPG: Entertainment: Comedian Bob Hope entertains President and Mrs. Gerald R. Ford (1974-77), Queen Elizabeth II, and Prince Philip in the East Room following the State Dinner held in honor of the visiting British dignitaries. Afterward, President Ford dances with the Queen in the State Dining Room, 1976.
231. WHVC_140926_362.JPG: Grand Entrance: President and Mrs. George Bush (1989-93) escort Russian President and Mrs. Boris Yeltsin down the Grand Suitcase, 1992. During this formal entrance, the Marine Band plays a fanfare known as "Ruffles and Flourishes."
232. WHVC_140926_367.JPG: Did You Know? Presidents George Washington and John Adams greeted visitors with a formal bow. When President Thomas Jefferson took office in 1801, he established the more democratic custom of welcoming guests with a handshake.
233. WHVC_140926_370.JPG: In 1844, the Marine Band began playing "Hail to the Chief" before President John Tyler made his formal entrance at White House receptions. His successor President James K. Polk decided to carry on the tradition, and the custom continues today.
234. WHVC_140926_374.JPG: In 1860, President James Buchanan entertained the Prince of Wale.s This was the first visit to the United States by an heir to the British throne. The president gave up his own second floor bedroom to the prince and slept on a sofa.
235. WHVC_140926_377.JPG: In the 1800s, presidents held a series of official "State Dinners" every winter to honor Congress, the Supreme Court, and the diplomatic community. The "State Dinner" definition evolved and today specifically refers to dinner held in honor of world leaders.
236. WHVC_140926_383.JPG: "There is a loyalty born of time and experience. Administrations change from one political faith to another, but these fellows go on serving faithfully." -- Irwin "Ike" Hoover, electrician and chief usher, 1891-1933 Serving the First Family: The White House could not fulfill its many functions without a steadfast residence staff. For many years, each first family brought their own servants to the White House. However, the growing burden of presidential responsibilities and rising cost of maintaining the Executive Residence highlighted the need for a permanent White House staff. Today, the staff works behind the scenes to support the White House's official functions while also service the first family. Often laboring under extraordinary circumstances, the residential staff honors the presidency by truly making the White House a "home."
237. WHVC_140926_390.JPG: Serving the First Family: The White House could not fulfill its many functions without a steadfast residence staff. For many years, each first family brought their own servants to the White House. However, the growing burden of presidential responsibilities and rising cost of maintaining the Executive Residence highlighted the need for a permanent White House staff. Today, the staff works behind the scenes to support the White House's official functions while also service the first family. Often laboring under extraordinary circumstances, the residential staff honors the presidency by truly making the White House a "home."
238. WHVC_140926_395.JPG: Jerry Smith, seen here with his signature feather duster, came to the White House in the late 1860s and worked as a butler, cook, doorman, and footman for more than 30 years. President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09) visited Smith at his home shortly before his death in 1904.
239. WHVC_140926_399.JPG: In the 1890s, when this photograph was taken, White House doormen greeted those arriving by foot, cart, and carriage to the house. They also directed the work of maids and footmen.
240. WHVC_140926_406.JPG: White House staff members surprise President and Mrs. Jimmy Carter (1977-81) with a gift in celebration of their 31st wedding anniversary. The staff forms close bonds with the families they serve.
241. WHVC_140926_409.JPG: "It's just amazing to see the care that they put in, from housemen sweeping the floor, to the chef getting the menu and submitting it to the first lady and then making sure that every item on the plate looks just perfect." -- Nancy Mitchell, assistant usher, 1981-2006 A Changing Workforce: As the nation became more diverse, so did the White House staff. President Thomas Jefferson (1801-09) employed three Frenchmen and five Irishmen, and John Quincy Adams (1825-29) hired a Belgian valet. Before 1860, southern president also had enslaved workers, who worked alongside free African Americans and European-born servants. In 1909, President William H. Taft (1909-13) hired the first Filipino staff members, starting a tradition that continued throughout the 20th century. Today, a diverse staff from many backgrounds keeps the Executive Residence running smoothly.
242. WHVC_140926_412.JPG: Taken in 1877, this is the earliest known posed photograph of White House workers. It shows members of the household staff under President Rutherford B. Hayes (1877-81), including a messenger, cook, maid, nurse, and watchman, two laundresses, and two waiters.
243. WHVC_140926_417.JPG: A Changing Workforce: As the nation became more diverse, so did the White House staff. President Thomas Jefferson (1801-09) employed three Frenchmen and five Irishmen, and John Quincy Adams (1825-29) hired a Belgian valet. Before 1860, southern president also had enslaved workers, who worked alongside free African Americans and European-born servants. In 1909, President William H. Taft (1909-13) hired the first Filipino staff members, starting a tradition that continued throughout the 20th century. Today, a diverse staff from many backgrounds keeps the Executive Residence running smoothly.
244. WHVC_140926_421.JPG: Cristeta Comerford is the first female White House executive chef. Born in the Philippines, she came to the United States in 1985, started working at the White House in 1995, and became executive chef in 2005.
245. WHVC_140926_426.JPG: To prepare for thousands of visitors each week, the staff has to roll up the carpets, put down the mats on the floor, and put out the ropes and stanchions.
246. WHVC_140926_434.JPG: Maitre d'hotel Alonzo Fields oversees staff placing silverware in the new cabinets built during the Truman renovation of the White House, 1952.
247. WHVC_140926_446.JPG: Not all White House workers came voluntarily. The 1830 census recorded 14 enslaved African Americans living in the White House during Andrew Jackson's presidency (1829-37).
248. WHVC_140926_454.JPG: Soup Tureen: This silver tureen, purchased by President James Monroe (1817-25), is one of many furnishings that have contributed to the elegance of the White House as a stage for presidential activities.
249. WHVC_140926_461.JPG: "My children are the pulse and heartbeat of the White House." -- First Lady Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson, 1963-69
250. WHVC_140926_463.JPG: First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy (1961-63) visits Caroline Kennedy, on left, and two other students at school, 1963. Mrs. Kennedy created a classroom in the Third Floor Solarium, where both of Caroline's parents visited her frequently. Other children in the White House had private tutors or attended local schools.
251. WHVC_140926_467.JPG: Mary McKee, daughter of President Benjamin Harrison (1889-93), and her sister-in-law Mary Harrison play with their children on the Second Floor. President and Mrs. Harrison had great affection for their grandchildren and insisted that they live at the White House.
252. WHVC_140926_472.JPG: Even when the demands of the presidency weighed on him, Theodore Roosevelt continually thought about his children. This is an example of the "picture letters" he often wrote to them.
253. WHVC_140926_475.JPG: Quentin Roosevelt, son of President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09), plays with Roswell Newcomb Pinckney, the son of White House steward Henry Pinckney.
254. WHVC_140926_481.JPG: Benjamin McKee, grandson of President Benjamin Harrison (1889-93), often rode across the White House grounds in a cart pulled by the family's pet goat, His Whiskers.
255. WHVC_140926_490.JPG: Irvin and Abram Garfield, sons of President James A. Garfield (1881), hold a pillow fight while riding on plectocycles in the East Room. This room is normally used for formal parties and receptions.
256. WHVC_140926_495.JPG: President Barack Obama (2009-) walks along the White House West Colonnade with his daughters, Malia and Sasha, 2009.
257. WHVC_140926_504.JPG: President Jimmy Carter (1977-81) helps his daughter Amy and grandson Jason down from the self-supporting tree house on the South Lawn. President Carter designed this tree house especially for Amy. First families have also built swing sets and jungle gyms on the White House grounds.
258. WHVC_140926_507.JPG: White House Pets
259. WHVC_140926_511.JPG: A hero of the Mexican-American War, President Zachary Taylor (1849-50) let his famous war horse, Old Whitey, graze the White House grounds. Old Whitey grew fat and uncombed in his retirement, and even let visitors pluck tail hairs for souvenirs.
260. WHVC_140926_515.JPG: Shetland ponies Reb and Billy Button take the children of President Ulysses S. Grant (1869-77) to school, 1869. Reb was a spoil of war, captured at the Siege of Vicksburg during the Civil War.
261. WHVC_140926_519.JPG: First Lady Grace Coolidge (1923-29) shows off her pet raccoon, Rebecca. One of the more unusual White House pets, Rebecca lived in a little house built on the White House grounds.
262. WHVC_140926_525.JPG: One of the most famous White House pets, Fala, a Scottish terrier, traveled with President Franklin F. Roosevelt (1933-45) on many of his trips.
263. WHVC_140926_529.JPG: John Jr. and Caroline Kennedy bring their pony, Macaroni, to visit their father President John F. Kennedy (1961-63) outside the Oval Office.
264. WHVC_140926_533.JPG: President Lyndon B. Johnson (1963-69) howls with his dog, Yuki, in the Oval Office.
265. WHVC_140926_540.JPG: First Lady Barbara Bush (1989-93) proudly shows off Millie, the family's English springer spaniel, and her newborn puppies to King Hussein of Jordan, 1989.
266. WHVC_140926_544.JPG: President William J. Clinton (1993-2001) with his cat, Socks. Many children sent letters to Socks and the Clintons' dog, Buddy, which First Lady Hillary Clinton published in a book titled Dear Socks, Dear Buddy.
267. WHVC_140926_548.JPG: President Barack Obama (2009-) plays with the family dog, Bo, on the South Lawn, 2009.
268. WHVC_140926_558.JPG: The Usher's Desk: Used in the White House Usher's Office from 1902 to 1948, this desk had an intercom system allowing the White House usher to contact staff in various parts of the building. President Woodrow Wilson (1913-21) also sat at this desk when he signed a document declaring war on Germany on April 6, 1917. Press one of the buttons in front of you to hear firsthand accounts about working in the White House.
269. WHVC_140926_565.JPG: "My loyalty was not to any one president, but rather, to the presidency, and to the institution that is the White House." -- James Bernard "J.B." West, chief usher, 1957-69
270. WHVC_140926_568.JPG: The White House Usher: In the modern White House, the chief usher takes on the vital role on managing the historic home for the first family, directing the residence staff, responding to the needs of each first family, and helping to ensure the family's privacy. The chief usher is also responsible for staging official functions, meetings, and events taking place at the White House.
271. WHVC_140926_578.JPG: William Slade, a free African-American, served President Abraham Lincoln (1861-65) as both messenger and friend. In 1866, President Andrew Johnson (1865-69) made Slade the first official White House steward in charge of the residency's domestic staff. This role later evolved into that of chief usher.
272. WHVC_140926_581.JPG: The desk in the Usher's Office on the First Floor adjacent to the Entrance Hall, 1928.
Wikipedia Description: President's Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

President's Park, located in Washington, D.C., United States, includes the White House, a visitor center, Lafayette Park, and the Ellipse. President's Park was the original name of Lafayette Park and Square. The current President's Park is administered by the National Park Service.

White House Visitor Center:

The White House Visitor Center is located in the north end of the Herbert C. Hoover Building (Department of Commerce headquarters between 14th Street and 15th Street on Pennsylvania Avenue NW). The visitor center serves as a starting point for those going on a reserved tour of the White House. The various exhibits also provide an alternate visitor experience for those who did not schedule a tour. The themes of the six permanent exhibits include First Families, Symbols & Images, White House Architecture, White House Interiors, Working White House, and Ceremonies and Celebrations. A variety of other exhibits change frequently during the year.
Bigger photos? To save server space, the full-sized versions of these images have either not been loaded to the server or have been removed from the server. (Only some pages are loaded with full-sized images and those usually get removed after three months.) I still have them though. If you want me to email them to you, please send an email to guthrie.bruce@gmail.com and I can email them to you, or, depending on the number of images, just repost the page again will the full-sized images.
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Photo Contact: [Email Bruce Guthrie].