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Educational Resource
Security and the White House
The President of the United States encounters many people, and not all those individuals have good intentions. Politics can create a hostile environment for the president's work and private life. Above all, the first family needs to feel safe in their home, the White House. Over the centuries, security measures at the Executive Mansion have drastically increased. Learn about the
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Educational Resource
Transportation and the White House
The president does not need to worry about a daily commute, since the White House functions as both a home and office. The commander in chief simply walks from the main house to the West Wing where the Oval Office is located. But what happens if the president needs to leave the White House Grounds? Presidents need transportation for many
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Educational Resource
Music and the White House
The White House is known by most people as the home and office of the President of the United States, but this famous residence also serves as a stage for American culture, particularly music. From John Adams, its first resident, to modern day presidents, musical performance of all kinds have enhanced life in the Executive Mansion. Learn about the connection
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Educational Resource
White House China
Many large formal events at the White House include meals served on official china. These plates, cups, and bowls function both as dinnerware and decorative arts. For two hundred years, different presidents have ordered china to suit their tastes and accommodate an increasing number of guests who dine at the Executive Mansion. Today, the White House has a room on
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Educational Resource
Diplomacy and the White House
Many guests have traveled to the White House to meet and dine with the president. Some of these visitors were leaders of foreign countries who came to manage international relations. These encounters at the Executive Mansion, combined with different presidents' agendas and goals, have helped shape the international position of the United States over the centuries. From the young nation
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Educational Resource
Lost Features of the White House
The White House is over two hundred years old and has seen more than forty presidents. Over the centuries, changes have been made to the home and grounds for both practical and aesthetic reasons. During the course of the building's history, several features have been lost to time. These range from small items to larger elements like structures, swimming pools,
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Educational Resource
Presidents' Retreats
The White House serves both as home and office for the president, but almost all chief executives have taken the opportunity to travel during their time in office. Early presidents typically returned to their own homes, as many had farms or estates that required attention. Some presidents found relief in cottages and cabins closer to the White House or just
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Video
Presidential Sites Summit: A Message from the National Cathedral Provost
The White House Historical Association is pleased to announce the Presidential Sites Summit attendees will have the chance to go on a private tour of the Washington National Cathedral. Provost Rev. Canon Jan Naylor Cope talks about the longstanding and important connection the National Cathedral has with presidents from inaugural prayer services to presidential memorial services. Register Today!
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Video
White House History 32: "Fashion"
The new issue of White House History, the award-winning journal of the White House Historical Association, focuses on fashion in the White House. Looking good speaks for itself. At the White House, it is a requirement. The desired image for presidents and first ladies traditionally mingles simplicity with appropriateness. They needn't be fashion plates, although some have been that. The
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Video
White House History 31: "The White House Neighborhood Revisited"
Our interest in the surroundings of the White House extends in this issue to include both public and private places, all except one of which survives today. Elizabeth Smith Brownstein's longtime interest in Civil War Washington has naturally attracted her to the Willard, the capital's most revered and venerable grand hotel. Saint John's Church, "The Church of The Presidents," has
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Video
White House History 30: "The Presidents and the Theater"
Nearly all the presidents have enjoyed theatrical performance and sought it out. For more than two hundred years the president's White House stage has welcomed scores of singers, actors, and other artists. This issue of White House History begins an exploration of theater at the White House, spanning the field from opera to musical comedy to presidents and Shakespeare, with