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...
Main Content
How Long? 2 minutes
Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech . . . or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. -Excerpt from the First Amendment, U.S. Constitution.
This photograph of the North Grounds of the White House from Lafayette Park was taken by William Phillips in 2002, during the George W. Bush administration. Clark Mills' equestrian statue honoring President Andrew Jackson appears in the foreground, and the Washington Monument can be seen in the distance.
White House Historical AssociationPresident’s Park is approximately 80 acres of urban landscape surrounding the White House. A fence encloses the house, providing 18 acres of gardens and grounds for the first family’s enjoyment. To the south is the Ellipse, the site of National Christmas Tree events. To the north of the White House is a seven-acre plot called Lafayette Park. Named after revolutionary war hero Marquis de Lafayette, who visited the White House in 1825, Lafayette Park has served many purposes throughout history. Early on, there was a graveyard. It was the site of a racetrack and also an encampment for soldiers during the War of 1812. Slaves were once sold here. In the 19th century it was a prime residential neighborhood. It is a reviewing area for inaugural parades. Like many spaces inside national parks, it also acts as a site for First Amendment activities.
Lafayette Park is a place where many influential protests have taken place. It has been, and continues to be, a focal point for the expression of American ideals. Inspired by the First Amendment, citizens continue to exercise their rights of free speech here, using Lafayette Park as their stage and the White House as their valued audience. This park currently serves as a safe place for congregation and the demonstration of grievances. Advocates of a wide variety of causes understand the relevance of the location and use it to try to affect change. Their campaigns sometimes change the views of fellow citizens and, they hope, government decision makers.
Demonstrations here take the form of nighttime vigils, marches, picketing, and other peaceful means of conveying wants and needs. The hundreds of annual protests in Lafayette Park are regulated by the National Park Service, the agency that monitors First Amendment activities in the park while aiming to preserve this historic area and make it available for citizens’ enjoyment.
In 1853, Clark Mills’ statue of President Andrew Jackson on horseback is in the center of Lafayette Park. The park’s four...
The Dolley Madison House, a yellow structure on the corner of H Street and Madison Place in “The President’s Neig...
The annual White House Easter egg roll was a well-established tradition when President Herbert Hoover took office, and the Hoovers...
April showers might bring May flowers, but White House florists keep the executive mansion in bloom year round. Today the...
Few people know the story of a brave woman named Charlotte Dupuy who was enslaved in Decatur House, the large...
Lafayette Square in the 19th century was the epicenter of political, social and civic activity in Washington, D.C. Originally...
Few first ladies have been so attuned to the natural beauty inside and outside the White House as First Lady...
On July 16, 1790, Congress passed the Residence Act into law. It granted President George Washington authority to select a “district of te...
Marian Anderson was a successful American contralto singer known for her enchanting performances in the United States and throughout the...
Tucked away on the South Lawn, behind a tall hedge of hollies, is the White House Children’s Garden, a sp...
In the second half of the nineteenth century Americans headed west to seek greater opportunities for themselves and their families....
Eugene Allen served in the White House for 34 years. Assisting eight presidents, Allen’s top priority was to make the Wh...