Significant Events
Featured Collection
State Dinners
A State Dinner honoring a visiting head of government or reigning monarch is one of the grandest and most glamorous of White House affairs. It is part of an official State Visit and provides the president and first lady the opportunity to honor the visiting head of state and his or her spouse. In this collection, explore the history of
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The Nation's Guest
On September 7, 1825, a tearful Marquis de Lafayette embraced President John Quincy Adams after delivering a farewell speech at the entrance to the White House. The ceremony signified the end of the famed Frenchman’s triumphant return to the United States from 1824 to 1825. This visit inspired patriotic celebrations and expressions across a young country during the waning days of the “Era of G
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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Protest at the White House
For more than 100 years, people have exercised their First Amendment rights to speak out using the White House as both their stage and audience. Many of these protests have influenced legislation and encouraged government action. Demonstrations at the White House have taken the form of nighttime vigils, marches, picketing, and other peaceful activities.
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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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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
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
