White House Historical Association Launches NEW Virtual Tour of White House Holiday Traditions Past and Present
The NEW virtual experience showcases 60 years of White House holiday decorations and traditionsWashington, D.C. —
Today, The White House Historical Association announces the debut of a virtual White House Holiday Tour, exclusively available on the White House Experience mobile app. The tour is also available as a web app. The inaugural White House Holiday Virtual Tour guides users through the history and evolution of holiday decor and traditions, past and present.
Download high-resolution images of the White House Holiday Tour here.
Further fulfilling the mission of the Association to provide public access to the People’s House, the tour features in-depth insights from each administration on the history of White House holidays over the years. Users can also view the Official 2021 White House Christmas Ornament as part of the annual White House holiday decor.
“The new White House Holiday Tour on our mobile app offers a unique look into the annual traditions and decor that past and present presidencies have adopted,” said Stewart McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association. “Our objective is always to provide the public access to the evolving history of the White House in honor of our founder First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.”
Each holiday season, the White House undergoes a spectacular transformation. Volunteers work together to hang wreaths on dozens of windows, create one-of-a-kind handicrafts, and decorate an abundance of Christmas trees. This tradition was started 60 years ago by White House Historical Association founder First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy who selected “The Nutcracker” as the theme for the decorations on her Christmas tree in the Blue Room. Since then, the theme selected by the First Lady has evolved to serve as the guiding inspiration for the decorations in the public rooms on the Ground and State Floors of the White House.
For more information on the White House Historical Association, please visit www.whitehousehistory.org.
P.D.F. Resources
Download the PDFAbout the White House Historical Association
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy envisioned a restored White House that conveyed a sense of history through its decorative and fine arts. She sought to inspire Americans, especially children, to explore and engage with American history and its presidents. In 1961, the nonprofit, nonpartisan White House Historical Association was established to support her vision to preserve and share the Executive Mansion’s legacy for generations to come. Supported entirely by private resources, the Association’s mission is to assist in the preservation of the state and public rooms, fund acquisitions for the White House permanent collection, and educate the public on the history of the White House. Since its founding, the Association has given more than $115 million to the White House in fulfillment of its mission.
To learn more about the White House Historical Association, please visit WhiteHouseHistory.org.
