The 2025 National History Day (NHD) theme is Rights and Responsibilities. The White House Historical Association offers a variety of resources to assist students working on NHD projects.
Tuesday, March 15
12:00-6:00pm: Registration at the Adolphus Hotel
12:00-3:00pm: Optional Day Trip
The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
12:00-3:00pm: Shuttle will continuously run between The Adolphus and the Sixth Floor Museum
Join us for the pre-summit excursion to the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. The museum chronicles the assassination and legacy of President John F.
Sara Bon-Harper
is the executive director of James Monroe’s Highland, a division of the College of William & Mary. Sara’s experience at Highland since 2012 includes initiating new site directions, most notably developing evidence-based public narratives in collaboration with Highland’s descendant community. Sara’s research leading to the archaeological discovery of the Monroes’ main house was a key factor in
As a public and digital historian, my work explores how and why groups and individuals reimagine the spaces around them to create new urban futures. I am particularly interested in examining the concept of reimagining through the unique historical, geographic and methodological perspectives posed by African Diasporic and or Black Atlantic communities both past and present. As Assistant Professor of
In 2022, the White House Historical Association began partnering with UNTOLD, a project of the Driving Force Institute for Public Engagement, on a series of short educational videos highlighting lesser-known stories in White House history. These videos are produced by Makematic with support from DoGoodery.
Decatur House
8:00-8:45am
Light Breakfast
8:45-9:00am
Transition to the Carriage House
9:00-9:15am
Welcome
Stewart McLaurin, President, The White House Historical AssociationPaul Edmondson, President and CEO, The National Trust for Historic Preservation
9:15-10:30am
Preserving Presidential Sites
This panel will discuss the many challenges of preserving the residences of American presidents, along with how interpretations of those spaces (
Construction on the President’s House began in 1792. The decision to place the capital on land ceded by two slave states—Virginia and Maryland—ultimately influenced the acquisition of laborers to construct its public buildings. The District of Columbia commissioners, charged by Congress with building the new city under the direction of the president, initially planned to import workers from Europe
Construction on the President's House began in 1792 in Washington, D.C., a new capital situated in sparsely settled region far from a major population center. The decision to place the capital on land ceded by two pro-slavery states-Virginia and Maryland-ultimately influenced the acquisition of laborers to construct its public buildings. The D.C. commissioners, charged by Congress with building the
In 1802, Congress granted the citizenry of the District of Columbia limited local government and James Hoban served on the twelve-member city council for the next two decades, except for the years during which he was rebuilding the White House.Founder of Grand Lodge Number One of the Masonic Order, captain of a local militia company, a city councilman, and successful
The White House Historical Association, chartered in 1961, is a nonprofit historical and educational organization that plays a vital role in preserving the White House and recording its unique history. To enhance the understanding and appreciation of the President's home, the White House Historical Association has published and distributed more than eight million books, as well as videos and other educational
President Andrew Jackson was a slaveholder who brought a large household of slave domestics with him from Tennessee to the President’s House. Many of them lived in the servant’s quarters, but the president’s body servant slept in the room with him. Jackson’s servants worked under Rachel Jackson’s management at his Tennessee home for the better part of th