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White House Tours canceled effective Saturday, March 9, 2013
We regret to inform you that White House Tours are canceled effective Saturday, March 9, 2013, until further notice. For updates regarding this situation, please contact the White House Visitors Office 24 hour hotline at (202) 456-7041.
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White House Visitor Center Rehabilitation and Closure Information
The White House Visitor Center is closed for rehabilitation. A temporary visitor center is located near the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion, just west of the intersection of 15th and E streets, NW.
Lighting of the National Christmas Tree History
President Truman turns the switch to light the National Community Christmas Tree on December 24, 1945. Edward Kelly of the National Captial Parks holds the switchbox while Brigadier General Gordon Young looks on. NPS/Historic Photograph Collection, Harpers Ferry Center How is the Tree Lit? Did you ever wonder how presidents and other dignitaries actually light the tree? It's not quite as simple as plugging in a few strands of lights. In 1923, President Coolidge pushed a button at the end of a long cord which was attached to batteries stored beneath the branches of the 1923 tree. By the mid-1930s, a formal 'switch' box was introduced. Occasionally fitted with a switch - sometimes fitted with a button - the box has been held by each succeeding President. An engraved plaque containing the participating President's names is placed and when filled, replaced on the box. Between tree lightings the box remains in the possession of the President's Park. To learn more about the lighting ceremonies, browse by years at left. If you are interested in exploring details of the trees themselves, the individual pages are available for each tree. History of the tree lightings to 2000 by C. L. Arbelbide. About the author C.L. Arbelbide is a librarian, author and historian who specializes in federal holiday history. She is an author of the children's book, The White House Easter Egg Roll that was published in 1997 by the White House Historical Association. Ms. Arbelbide also contributes articles on federal holidays to the National Archives journal, Prologue. |
History of National Christmas Trees
National Christmas Tree Program
Did You Know?
John Quincy Adams regularly swam in the Potomac River. A journalist, Anne Royall, knew of his 5 a.m. swims. After being refused interviews many times, she went to the river, gathered his clothes and sat on them until she had her interview. Before this, no female had interviewed a president.