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The United States Marine Band: Music as Diplomacy
Music has been an essential part of life in the White House from the earliest days of our nation, not only as a "companion" to divert, delight, and "sweeten many hours," as Thomas Jefferson professed, but also as an element of the pageantry accompanying international diplomacy. Through the years the United States Marine Band has musically represented the nation before
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The United States Marine Band: John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa, Director (1880-1892), brought world fame to "The President's Own." While the organization was already considered a national institution, Sousa's dynamic leadership transformed the Marine Band's repertoire, emphasized symphonic music, changed the instrumentation, and made rehearsals exceptionally strict. He conducted the band's first sound recordings, initiated its first national concert tour, and began to write the marches that
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White House Pets in the Past
Pet keeping in America evolved from Native Americans' and European settlers' domesticating animals as hunters, guardians, workers, and companions. Horses, cows, goats, chickens, dogs, cats, songbirds, parrots, and other small animals were a part of daily life during the early years of the White House.Since 1870, domestic pets at the White House have mirrored the species generally seen in American
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White House Pets: First Ladies with Family Pets
As companions, the playmates of first children, or objects of beauty, status, and pleasure, the pets of the White House have provided warmth and humor to White House history, as well as an image of a happy family life.
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The Red Room Through the Years
Today’s State Floor of the White House has rooms designated by color (Green, Blue, and Red), purpose (State Dining Room and Family Dining Room), and directional orientation (East Room), but this was not always so. During the early administrations, each president used the rooms of the State Floor differently. The “Red Room” first appeared during the presidency of James K. Pol
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Remembering President George H.W. Bush
The White House Historical Association joins the nation in remembrance of President George Herbert Walker Bush and the character, prudence and leadership be brought to his role as 41st President of the United States. President Bush, along with First Lady Barbara Bush, reactivated the Committee for the Preservation of the White House and helped establish the White House Endowment Trust,
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Native American Delegations, Diplomacy, and Protests at the White House: Hayne Hudjihini & Chief Sumonyeacathee
Thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans, the formation of the United States, and construction of the White House, Native peoples such as the Piscataway and Nacostines lived and prospered in the region of what is now Washington, D.C. As more colonists descended upon the area, they seized lands from Native Americans—including the land between the Potomac Ri
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Nettie Rosenstein
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Imagining James Hoban
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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,
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Italy in the White House
For more than 200 years, the White House and presidents have been a focal point for exchanges between Italy and the United States.From political philosophy and architecture to art and music, these interactions have facilitated cultural appreciation on both sides. Examples of these exchanges are depicted in the following gallery.
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The Working White House: Learning the Ropes
White House workers have frequently come to their jobs with experience in hotels and resorts, in large town or country houses, or in the railroad industry as conductors and porters. In these settings, workers developed the poise, polish, and professionalism needed to attend to the most discerning patrons. Their prior training served these individuals well in the White House, but