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Queen Elizabeth II
As the longest-reigning British monarch in history, Queen Elizabeth II met with more than a dozen sitting American presidents. Explore the gallery to learn more about these historic moments!
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Christmas Themes
The White House observance of Christmas before the twentieth century was not an official event. First families decorated the house modestly with greens and privately celebrated the Yuletide with family and friends. The first known White House Christmas tree, decorated with candles, was placed in the Oval Room on the Second Floor, then used as a library and family parlor,
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First Lady Portraits
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Presidential Vacations & Retreats
Presidents have found different ways to escape the pressures and politics of the position. For early leaders, it was a matter of course they would leave the White House for the summer to tend to a personal businesses or farms. The modern-day presidency is a year-round job. While the work often follows, the countryside of Virginia or seaside of Maine
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President Coolidge & Baseball
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China State Dinners
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Inside the White House: Stories from the World's Most Famous Residence
In collaboration with the White House Historical Association, National Geographic offers INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE: Stories from the World's Most Famous Residence (National Geographic Books; hardcover; $40). With a foreword by former First Lady Laura Bush and an introduction by historian and author William Seale, the book presents a vivid account of the people who have lived and worked in this
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Motor Cars Come to the White House: Taft Administration
"Henry Ford’s introduction of the Model T in 1908 revolutionized American society by creating an automobile affordable for the masses. To honor incoming President William Howard Taft, an automobile enthusiast, in 1909 Congress appropriated $12,000 for the purchase of the first two White House motor cars . President Taft’s endorsement of the motor car as the official means of presidential transport created trem
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Motor Cars Come to the White House: Wilson Administration
"Advancement of the motor age continued apace at the White House during President Woodrow Wilson’s tenure in office. By the end of 1913, America had produced 1,258,060 automobiles and the industry was symbolic of progress and the means to expand trade, tourism, and a greater unity of the states. America needed better roads and highways, and President Wilson embraced the cause." — Hill
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Motor Cars Comes to the White House: Harding Administration
"America’s acceptance of the automobile as the official and ceremonial mode of presidential transport was completed in the inaugural parade of President-Elect Warren G. Harding. In 1921, the flamboyant Harding rode to the Capitol in a Packard Twin 6 supplied by the Republican National Committee. Automobiles were now the way forward. They had transformed the landscape, economy, and society of America." — Hill
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Inside the Working White House: 20th Century
A Day in the Working White House: 20th Century: "Every day is wash-day at the White House,” housekeeper Elizabeth Jaffray recalled. The three maids assigned to the laundry when Jaffray first arrived in 1909 did not use electrical appliances; the immense amount of daily washing was done manually, then pressed with flat-irons. At least once a day, while the laundrywomen were at