You Might Also Like
-
Video
The 1600 Sessions - Our Work and Recent Events: A Q&A with David M. Rubenstein
In this special episode of The 1600 Sessions, financier and philanthropist David Rubenstein interviews White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin to discuss the work and mission of the Association during the recent period of the COVID-19 pandemic and protests in Lafayette Square, and how the history of “The People’s House” provides context to the challenges of the present day.
-
Event
History Happy Hour: The History of Lafayette Square
Just north of the White House sits a seven-acre park named after a French revolutionary general, the Marquis de Lafayette – but why? This presentation will dive into the history behind the name of the park, highlighting Lafayette’s visits to the White House in 1824-1825, and how the neighborhood came to be known as Lafayette Square. Join us on September 29 for
-
Press Release
First Lady Jill Biden Delivers Remarks, White House Historical Association Dedicates Garden and Sculpture to Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy
The White House Historical Association today dedicated a newly installed garden and sculpture in honor of former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, who played a historic role in preserving Lafayette Square during the Kennedy presidency. First Lady Jill Biden underscored the importance of Mrs. Kennedy’s legacy in a ceremony that took place in front of the historic Decatur House. The Ja
-
Video
White House Historical Association First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Garden Dedication
On September 23, 2022, the White House Historical Association dedicated a newly installed garden and medallion in honor of former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, who played a historic role in preserving Lafayette Square during the Kennedy presidency. First Lady Jill Biden underscored the importance of Mrs. Kennedy’s legacy in a ceremony that took place in front of the historic Decatur House. Th
-
Event
History Happy Hour: Trouble in Lafayette Square
The park in Lafayette Square was designed as a tranquil space in the heart of Washington. Yet, for more than 200 years, it also has been the scene of shocking incidents of murder and mayhem right across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House. Join us on Thursday, October 27 at 5:30 pm for an illustrated talk with Gil Klein, author of “Trouble in La
-
Event
History Happy Hour: The Early Days of Lafayette Square
The White House has stood at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue for over 200 years, but have you ever wondered what came before it? Association historian Lina Mann will talk about the history of Native Americans in early Washington as well as the construction of the White House. She will also highlight the early use of Lafayette Park as a staging ground and living
-
Event
History Happy Hour: Love and Life - Controversy in Lafayette Square
Renowned Victorian painter George F. Watts gifted his painting "Love and Life" to the American people in 1893, and the painting made its way to the White House. Despite Watts’s celebrity, his gift caused a scandal after the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union protested the painting’s “immoral” depiction of two nude figures. As a result, Watts’s painting spent several admi
-
-
Educational Resource
The Bank War
Raucous crowds celebrated Andrew Jackson's inauguration as president in 1829, swarming through the streets of Washington and trashing the White House (at least according to Jackson's appalled opponents). Jackson, born in a log cabin and hailing from the West, symbolized to many a new era in American politics, an era which celebrated the common man and the common man in turn
-
Educational Resource
The White House as Home and Symbol
Although today's mailboxes are filled with magazines, catalogs, and bills, they lack an abundance of personal letters. The technologies of the electronic age allow people to communicate quickly and efficiently without ever having to pick up a pen. Up-to-the-minute reports via telephone, television, radio, and the Internet allow us to be informed of events as quickly as they happen. In
-
Educational Resource
White House Tea and No Sympathy
IntroductionIn the early summer of 1929, citizens in the nation's capital enjoyed reading about the White House activities of President Herbert Hoover and his wife, Lou Hoover, in their local newspaper. They learned that a "talking movie" was shown at the White House, that the president's pets had acquired silver-plated nametags, and that a policy had been implemented to reduce the
-
Educational Resource
The White House Neighborhood
The construction of the White House prompted the growth of the surrounding area into a vibrant neighborhood for the president. Today, Lafayette Square sits to the north side of the White House and serves as a public park. Visitors come to catch a glimpse of the Executive Mansion through the gates and, amidst this green space, encounter statues commemorating America's