White House Gingerbread Exhibit Highlights 40 plus Years of History and Original Chef Roland Mesnier Design
HGTV Design Star Genevieve Gorder’s Holiday Décor Completes Free Holiday ExhibitWashington, D.C. —
The White House Historical Association announced today a free holiday exhibit White House Gingerbread: Holiday Traditions celebrating former White House Pastry Chef Roland’s Mesnier’s new publication The White House in Gingerbread: Memories and Recipes, November 6 – December 22, 2015.
Featuring the largest gingerbread White House ever designed by the Chef, the exhibit explores the tradition of gingerbread at the White House dating back to the Nixon administration.
Chef Mesnier’s house is complimented by White House holiday inspired décor designed by HGTV design star Genevieve Gorder, host of the annual HGTV White House Christmas Tour.
Visitors to the exhibit will find ideas to incorporate into their own holiday celebrations, and also see examples of marzipan figures and sugar sculpture created by Chef Mesnier. Also on view will be a fresh Red Room cranberry tree, handcrafted by Jennie Lewis, Former White House Floral Designer. The cranberry tree in the Red Room has been a favorite holiday tradition at the White House since 1975.
Exhibit Details
White House Gingerbread: Holiday Traditions
November 6 – December 22, 2015
Monday – Saturday
10a.m. – 3p.m. (Closed for Thanksgiving holiday November 26-28)
Free Admission
White House Historical Association
Historic Decatur House
Exhibit Related Programming
All programming is free and open to the public. No tickets are required.
1st Annual White House Holiday Shopping Event
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
11a.m. – 7p.m.
1610 H Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20006
Join us for a fun, festive day of holiday shopping, music, and treats in the Association’s Carriage House. Chef Mesnier will be on hand to autograph his new book, and guests can enjoy shopping special holiday displays and pick up their 2015 Official White House Christmas Ornament.
Chef Mesnier Book Signing
Friday, December 11, 2015
10:30a.m. – 2:30p.m.
White House Visitor Center
1450 Pennsylvania Ave, NW
Washington, D.C. 20230
Chef Mesnier will be on hand in the White House Historical Association’s retail shop at the White House Visitor Center to sign his book and meet visitors.
Holiday Open House
Sunday, December 13, 2015
10a.m. – 3p.m.
1610 H Street, NW
Washington D.C. 20006
This day long family friendly event will feature activities and demonstrations for all ages exploring the White House Gingerbread exhibit and the themes of this year’s Official White House Christmas Ornament honoring the first National Christmas Tree Lighting by President Calvin Coolidge in 1923. Music will be performed throughout the day by students from the Levine School of Music and demonstrations will be completed by Former White House Floral Designer Jennie Lewis, Former White House Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier, and others.
About the White House Historical Association
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy envisioned a restored White House that conveyed a sense of history through its decorative and fine arts. She sought to inspire Americans, especially children, to explore and engage with American history and its presidents. In 1961, the nonprofit, nonpartisan White House Historical Association was established to support her vision to preserve and share the Executive Mansion’s legacy for generations to come. Supported entirely by private resources, the Association’s mission is to assist in the preservation of the state and public rooms, fund acquisitions for the White House permanent collection, and educate the public on the history of the White House. Since its founding, the Association has given more than $115 million to the White House in fulfillment of its mission.
To learn more about the White House Historical Association, please visit WhiteHouseHistory.org.