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White House South Portico
The White House South Portico is one of the most defining architectural features of the Executive Mansion. James Hoban, designer and builder of the White House, completed the South Portico in 1824 for President James Monroe. In 1948, architect Lorenzo S. Winslow built a balcony on the South Portico for President Harry Truman, which then led to a full renovation of the
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Diplomatic Reception Room Fireplace
Throughout White House history, the Diplomatic Reception Room has gone through successive restorations and been used for many different purposes. The fireplace in the room was opened up in 1935 to provide President Franklin D. Roosevelt with a setting for his famous Fireside Chats. The fireplace is a centerpiece of the room, which is still used for presidents and first ladies
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The Ford White House: 1974-1977
Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr., the nation’s only unelected president and vice president, served thirteen terms in Congress before rising to national attention in 1973, when President Richard Nixon nominated him as vice president. Less than a year later, Ford became president, following President Nixon's resignation from office. The Fords made and celebrated history during their time in the White House, fr
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New Year's Day Receptions
On January 1, 1801, the first public reception was held in the President's House, and a democratic social custom began. From 1801 until its end in 1932, the New Year's Reception at the White House was a tradition met with anticipation by diplomats, government officials, military officers, and the public alike. Everyone from the common citizen to the highest-ranking diplomat was welcomed. By the
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Fourth of July
For most of the nineteenth century, the annual Fourth of July reception was a great day for public celebration at the White House. Although a reception is no longer held, presidents and their families continued to host garden events, picnics, and parties on and around the American holiday.
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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,