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White House South Portico

Gallery

  • The White House

    1 of 11

    This watercolor by an unknown artist shows the South Portico of the White House during the late 1800s. The watercolor is based after an engraving by V. Foulquier. The conservatory building is visible to the west of the house, but the East Wing and East Corridor are not yet present. Several well-dressed women converse on the lawn while a man and a woman pass each other on horseback in the center of the frame.

    White House Collection/White House Historical Association
  • Soldiers on the South Wall

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    This photograph of soldiers on the South Lawn of the White House was taken by Mathew Brady in 1862, during Abraham Lincoln's presidency. Brady was one of the first professional photographers in the United States. He studied under inventor Samuel B. Morse, who brought the daguerreotype from France to America. Brady achieved his fame documenting the Civil War. This photograph was printed as a carte de visite, popular Victorian collectables between 1859 and the 1870s. Much like modern trading cards, cartes de visite were exchanged between family and friends and displayed in albums.

    White House Collection/White House Historical Association
  • South View of the White House

    3 of 11

    This photograph presents a south view of the White House as it appeared during the mid-20th century, circa 1966-1987. The South Fountain is prominently featured. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller was executive chef at the White House for over 20 years, and served every president from Lyndon B. Johnson through Ronald Reagan.

    Courtesy of Henry & Carole Haller and Family
  • South Grounds During the Kennedy Administration

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    This aerial photograph of the White House and the South Grounds was taken by Bates Littlehales in April 1962, during the John F. Kennedy administration. The South Portico and fountain are visible.

    White House Historical Association
  • Snow on the White House South Grounds

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    This photograph was taken by James P. Blair in January of 1966 during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration. The photograph shows the Executive Mansion from the southwest after the Blizzard of 1966, which delivered over a foot of snow to Washington, D.C. The blizzard was one of the biggest snowstorms on record for the nation's capital. In this photograph you can see the South Portico and the Truman Balcony. The Truman Balcony was designed by architect Lorenzo Simmons Winslow and was built during the administration of its namesake, President Harry S. Truman. Winslow also oversaw the construction of the White House swimming pool for President Franklin D. Roosevelt and, later, the 1948-1952 Truman renovation.

    White House Historical Association
  • South View, Nixon Administration

    6 of 11

    This photograph, taken around May 1, 1969, presents a south view of the White House as seen from the South Fountain. A colorful array of tulips bloom around the South Fountain. This photograph is part of a collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served as executive chef at the White House from 1966-1987.

    Courtesy of Henry & Carole Haller and Family
  • South View, Gerald R. Ford Administration

    7 of 11

    This photograph of the south view of the White House was taken in July 1975 by Joseph H. Bailey during the administration of Gerald R. Ford. The South Portico and South Lawn are visible.

    White House Historical Association
  • South Grounds, Reagan Administration

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    This aerial photograph of the White House and South Grounds was taken in July 1982 by Joseph H. Bailey during the administration of Ronald Reagan. The South Portico and fountain are visible.

    White House Historical Association
  • U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps at 2019 Easter Egg Roll

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    In this photograph, taken by Matthew D'Agostino for the White House Historical Association, the U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps marches past the South Portico during the annual White House Easter Egg Roll, held on April 22, 2019. The U.S. Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps was established in 1960, and provides music in the style of Gen. George Washington's Continental Army. Uniforms reflect army musicians' attire, circa 1784, including black tricorn hats, white wigs, waistcoats, coveralls, and distinct red regimental coats. As of 2019, the band averages approximately 500 performances a year, and entertains during arrival ceremonies for visiting dignitaries and for inaugurations at the White House. Other military bands including the U.S. Marine Band, Army Band, Navy Band, and Air Force Band also entertained guests at the 2019 Easter Egg Roll.

    Matthew D'Agostino for the White House Historical Association
  • Halloween at the White House, 2020

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    This photograph of the South Portico decorated for Halloween was taken by Andrea Hanks on October 25, 2020. For the festivities, the South Portico was decorated with autumnal leaves, chrysanthemums, and cascading pumpkins. That evening, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump hosted a Halloween celebration at the White House for local schoolchildren, children of frontline workers, and military families. The event included performances of seasonal tunes by the United States Air Force Strolling Strings as well as display stands and giveaway booths on the South Grounds by government agencies including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Department of the Interior, and the Department of Transportation. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event incorporated safety measures including social distancing, hand sanitizing stations, a face mask requirement for guests ages 2 and up, and a "no touch" policy for giveaway distribution.

    Official White House Photo by Andrea Hanks
  • Marine One on the South Lawn at Christmastime, Biden Administration

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    This photograph of Marine One on the South Lawn was taken by Thomas Goertel from the Ellipse on December 2, 2021. A trio of Christmas wreaths adorn the Truman Balcony on the South Portico.

    Photo by Thomas Goertel for the White House Historical Association

About this Gallery

The White House South Portico is one of the most defining architectural features of the Executive Mansion. James Hoban, designer and builder of the White House, completed the South Portico in 1824 for President James Monroe. In 1948, architect Lorenzo S. Winslow built a balcony on the South Portico for President Harry Truman, which then led to a full renovation of the White House.

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