"A Beautiful Spot Capable of Every Improvement"
On July 16, 1790, Congress passed the Residence Act into law. It granted President George Washington authority to select a “district of te...
The Kennedy Rose Garden
It's hard to imagine that it was something as casual as a lunch conversation between a newly elected president and an amateur gardener that gave rise to one of our nation's most iconic outdoor spaces. In this collection we'll hear Rose Garden designer Rachel Lambert Mellon explain how the grounds were so thoughtfully transformed and explore the White House's diverse horticultural history.
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Lady Bird Johnson's Floral Legacy
Few first ladies have been so attuned to the natural beauty inside and outside the White House as First Lady...
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Monuments to the American Revolution in Lafayette Park
In 1853, Clark Mills’ statue of President Andrew Jackson on horseback is in the center of Lafayette Park. The park’s four...
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Arts Advisors in the Kennedy White House
President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s advocacy for the performing arts endures as a vital part of...
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The Arts in the Kennedy White House
Historians of American music, art, and dance often explore their subjects through different topical categories such as genres, schools, and...
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Reflections: A Secret Garden
Tucked away on the South Lawn, behind a tall hedge of hollies, is the White House Children’s Garden, a sp...
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Texas and the White House
While there have only been a handful of Texans who have called the White House “home,” this group has shaped the...
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John F. Kennedy at Gettysburg and Antietam Battlefields
In December 1960, as the country anticipated the centennial commemoration of the American Civil War, President Dwight D. Eisenhower asked the...
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Hoover Easter Egg Rolls
The annual White House Easter egg roll was a well-established tradition when President Herbert Hoover took office, and the Hoovers...
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A History of White House Flowers and Florists
April showers might bring May flowers, but White House florists keep the executive mansion in bloom year round. Today the...
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Gardening Past at the White House
George Washington in 1792 had set aside 85 acres for the “President’s Square,” presumably to have paddocks, sheepfolds, hay fields, meadows, and th...
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Nash Castro: A Board Member's Role with the Kennedy Rose Garden
I recently had the opportunity to visit with Nash Castro, the last surviving founder of the White House Historical Association,...