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Educational Resource
The President's Office
The White House serves multiple functions, including providing an office for the President of the United States. For more than a century, the president's office has been located in the Oval Office of the West Wing, but this was not always the case. Whether the president is addressing the nation, signing legislation, discussing issues with cabinet members, or meeting with
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Educational Resource
The White House Grounds
The President's Park currently consists of approximately eighteen acres surrounding the White House and is used by the president, the first family, and—on special occasions—the public. These grounds are reputedly the oldest continually maintained ornamental landscape in the United States. Various changes have been made to the White House Grounds since the completion of the building in 1800, including the
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Educational Resource
Inaugurations and the White House
An inauguration is the act or ceremony of bringing someone into a position or an office. Every president of the United States has been inaugurated, dating back to the first executive, George Washington. These inaugurations symbolize a peaceful transition of power between administrations. Although the Constitution provides an oath for the new president to take, all other elements of the
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Educational Resource
First Kids
The White House is the official residence of the President of the United States, as well as their families. Children of presidents are often referred to as "first kids." These children have the opportunity to live in the White House, travel the world, and meet famous people. First kids are challenged by growing up in the public eye and are
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Educational Resource
First Pets
From the earliest days of the White House, a variety of animals have been kept as pets. Most of these animals were not different from those generally found in American households, although a few White House families have kept unusual pets. White House pets have provided companionship to presidents and their families, and they also sometimes have played important roles
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Educational Resource
Holidays and the White House
Presidents make important political decisions at the White House, but they also celebrate holidays, just like many everyday citizens. However, the way presidents and first families celebrate various holidays can differ slightly from the average American. Easter involves a large-scale public event with hundreds of people rolling eggs on the South Lawn, and at Christmas time the public is invited
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Educational Resource
Presidential Portraits
Over time, the White House fine art collection has added portraits of every president and most of the first ladies. Not only do these portraits remind us how a particular president looked, especially important before the invention of photography, but they also offer historical clues through a variety of symbols, props, or backgrounds. While some presidential portraits are more famous
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Educational Resource
The White House at Work
Ever since John and Abigail Adams moved into the President's House in 1800, hundreds of individuals have worked behind the scenes to help the White House fulfill its roles as a home, office, and museum. White House staff serve the many needs of the first family in a variety of occupations. They prepare family meals, serve elaborate State Dinners, maintain the
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Educational Resource
Presidents and the Press
The story of the White House cannot be told without discussing interactions between presidents and the press. From cordial to confrontational, this relationship is fueled by the public's desire for news about the leader of the nation and the administration's work. Methods of news delivery have greatly changed over the centuries, from printed newspapers to the 24-hour television news cycle.
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Educational Resource
War and the White House
The American colonies gained their independence by fighting a war against England. After the American Revolution, the newly formed United States began to establish itself as a nation by ratifying the Constitution, creating a capital in Washington, D.C., and building the President's House. As the home of the president, the White House has confronted war on various occasions in
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Educational Resource
Western Expansion and the White House
The White House is located in a federal district on the eastern coast of the United States. Today, the majority of states are located west of Washington, D.C., and the White House. However, when President George Washington chose the location for the new capital city, the United States was much smaller and situated on the Atlantic coast. As the
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Educational Resource
Space Exploration and the White House
Throughout the nineteenth century, the United States expanded westward toward the Pacific coast. With those aspirations achieved, the mid-twentieth century looked upward to explore outer space. The White House's ambitions to reach beyond the earth's atmosphere were largely fueled by the United States' space race with the Soviet Union. The subsequent competition between both nations brought about a surge of