First Pets
Classroom Resource Packet
From the earliest days of the White House, a variety of animals have been kept as pets. Most of these animals were not different from those generally found in American households, although a few White House families have kept unusual pets. White House pets have provided companionship to presidents and their families, and they also sometimes have played important roles in humanizing the president's political image and promoting important issues in the United States.
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Animal Ambassadors
Animals, whether pampered household pets, working livestock, birds, squirrels, or strays, have long been a major part of White House life. Some pets provided companionship to the president and his family. Others gained fame for a role in shaping the president's image. No matter what job was bestowed upon them, pets at the Executive Mansion did it well.This collection
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Easter Egg Roll: Bunnies and Other Easter Animals
First pets are a popular attraction at the White House Egg Roll. Canine attendees of the event have included a wide variety of beloved purebreds and mutts. Animals as diverse as President Benjamin Harrison's toy pony, First Lady Grace Coolidge's raccoon and the 1,200-pound steer brought in by the Carters for their petting zoo have appeared on the South Lawn
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Our Partnership with the Washington Nationals
White House history and American baseball history have been intertwined for more than a century, creating a rich legacy of presidential fans, championship celebrations, and more than a few first pitches. During a three-year partnership with the Washington Nationals, the Association was able to reach a new audience with our mission through a fun, educational collaboration that elevates White House
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UNTOLD History
In 2022, the White House Historical Association began partnering with UNTOLD, a project of the Driving Force Institute for Public Engagement, on a series of short educational videos highlighting lesser-known stories in White House history. These videos are produced by Makematic with support from DoGoodery.
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Top Dogs at the White House
Families taking up residence at the White House since the Theodore Roosevelt administration have encountered the public's insatiable appetite for stories of everyday life in the Executive Mansion. With the common reproduction of photographs in newspapers and magazines by the early 20th century, presidential pets had to accept the same scrutiny as their distinguished masters. Whether providing companionship or humanizing
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White House Pets: Merry Menagerie
Two of the youngest presidents to reside in the White House brought their families and a menagerie of pets along with them. A pony, sheep, dogs, cats, a macaw, guinea pigs, rats, a snake, and many more animal friends lived at the Theodore Roosevelt White House. In 1908 the Washington Evening Star observed, "There is no home in Washington so full
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White House Pets
Animals -- whether pampered household pets, working livestock, birds, squirrels, or strays -- have long been a major part of life at the White House. Some pets simply provided companionship to the president and his family. Others gained fame for a role in shaping the president's public image. No matter what job was bestowed upon them, White House pets usually
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Video Resources
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