Collection The Decatur House Slave Quarters
In 1821-1822, Susan Decatur requested the construction of a service wing. The first floor featured a large kitchen, dining room,...
Main Content
The extended family of Benjamin Harrison stretched the Executive Mansion's available living space to the limit and a number of beds were ordered to accommodate the family. Caroline Harrison was a life-long art student, and her interest in china painting led her to search the White House for old services. She had these repaired and preserved and can be credited with starting the collection of presidential china now displayed in the China Room. She also oversaw the refurbishing of the house after it was wired for electricity in 1891.
Grover and Frances Cleveland returned to the Executive Mansion in 1893. As before, they lived much of the time in a separate home for privacy. The Clevelands made few changes except to redecorate the Red Room with brighter red walls and a neo-classical frieze and to furnish the Cross Hall with a set of dark oak furniture. By the mid-1890s more flatware was needed for state dinners, and the first lady selected a high quality pattern of gilded silver with metal being provided by melting down old, miscellaneous White House flatware.
Dinner Fork and Breakfast Fork. Wm. B. Durgin Co., Concord, N.H., 1894. Ordered in 1894 by Frances Cleveland, this pattern is still used for state occasions.
In 1821-1822, Susan Decatur requested the construction of a service wing. The first floor featured a large kitchen, dining room,...
Thousands of people traverse historic Lafayette Park every day to get a glimpse of the White House. The park, right...
On November 22, 1963, about two hours after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Vice President Lyndon Baines Johnson took the...
Since the laying of the cornerstone in 1792, Freemasons have played an important role in the construction and the history of...
Native Americans hold a significant place in White House history. For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples, including the Nacotchtank and...
Honoring some of the greatest moments in sports history has become a tradition at the White House. Presidents and their...
Every year since 1981, the White House Historical Association has had the privilege of designing the Official White House Christmas Ornament....
President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected to office at the height of the Great Depression. He ushered in an environment...
From diplomatic dinners to holiday gatherings, the White House has always played a central role in the nation’s official en...
George Washington never lived in the White House, but played a major role in its design, as well as the...
While there has yet to be a female president, women have played an integral role in shaping the White House...
In this special episode of The 1600 Sessions, we turn the tables on our podcast’s usual format. Financier and philanthropist Da...