Podcast An Ordinary Man: President Gerald R. Ford
Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, welcomed respected author and historian Richard Norton Smith to a special...
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Selection of previous Official White House Christmas Ornaments
When Jacqueline Kennedy established the White House Historical Association in 1961, she envisioned an organization that would educate and inspire Americans — and particularly children — to take part in our shared history. Twenty years later, the Association launched an initiative to celebrate that history by offering unique annual Christmas ornaments to the public. All sales of the ornaments benefit the Association’s mission of education and support for the historical preservation of White House art and artifacts.
Since their introduction, the ornaments have become a sought-after and beloved collector’s item for millions of families around the country, providing an opportunity for admirers of the history and the elegance of the White House to share the traditions and stories of holidays past with the next generation.
Each year’s ornament honors either an individual president — we are working our way from Washington to present day — or a significant White House anniversary. For example, in addition to the presidents, we’ve celebrated the bicentennial anniversaries of the American presidency (1789), the laying of the White House cornerstone (1792), and the year the White House first served as home to the president (1800).
Though the ornaments themselves are conceived by a new designer every year, they have been manufactured since the beginning of the program by ChemArt, a veteran-founded small business in Lincoln, Rhode Island. If you would like to learn more about past years’ ornaments, view the full gallery below. And if you would like to add to your collection, all previous years’ designs are available for purchase in our shop. To enjoy your own piece of history and support the Association’s work, buy your Official 2023 White House Christmas ornament here.
1981 White House Christmas Ornament: Angel in Flight
1982 White House Christmas Ornament: Dove of Peace
1983 White House Christmas Ornament: The White House
1984 White House Christmas Ornament: The Jefferson Peace Medal
1985 White House Christmas Ornament: Madison Silhouettes
1986 White House Christmas Ornament: The White House
1987 White House Christmas Ornament: White House Doors
1988 White House Christmas Ornament: The President's Children
1989 White House Christmas Ornament: The Bicentennial of the Presidency
1990 White House Christmas Ornament: The Blue Room
1991 White House Christmas Ornament: White Charger
1992 White House Christmas Ornament: Bicentennial of the White House Cornerstone
1993 White House Christmas Ornament: May and September
White House Historical Association1994 White House Christmas Ornament: Imperial Christmas
White House Historical Association1995 White House Christmas Ornament: A Patriotic Christmas
1996 White House Christmas Ornament: The Presidential Seal
1997 White House Christmas Ornament: The White House Grounds
The 2016 White House Christmas Ornament: Herbert Hoover and the West Wing fire of 1929
White House Historical AssociationThe 2017 White House Christmas Ornament: Honoring the life and presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt
White House Historical AssociationThe 2018 White House Christmas Ornament: Honoring the life and presidency of Harry S. Truman
The White House Historical AssociationThe 2019 White House Christmas Ornament: Honoring the life and presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower
White House Historical AssociationThe 2020 White House Christmas Ornament: Honoring the life and presidency of John F. Kennedy
White House Historical AssociationThe Official 2023 White House Christmas Ornament: Honoring the life and presidency of Gerald R. Ford
David Wiegold for the White House Historical AssociationStewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, welcomed respected author and historian Richard Norton Smith to a special...
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