NPS Photo by Terry Adams

Date: January 4, 2008
Contact: Bill Line / Toni Braxton, (202) 619-7400

Beginning January 4, 2008 through January 31, 2008, visitors to the White House Visitors Center will have the opportunity to view the 2007 White House Blue Room Christmas Tree ornaments and the White House Gingerbread House.

Given the public interest in this year’s theme, "Holiday in the National Parks," and the 2007 decorations, the White House loaned the items to the National Park Service so more people would have the opportunity to enjoy the extraordinary holiday decorations.

The hand-designed park ornaments were used to decorate the White House Blue Room Christmas Tree. The one-of-a-kind tree decorations were created by selected park artists and represent 349 national parks, memorials, seashores, historic sites and monuments.

The White House Gingerbread House, very popular with children and adults, was created by White House Pastry Chef Bill Yosses and is based on the design of James Hoban's 1792 architectural plans for the presidential mansion. The White House, and President’s Park which surrounds it, are units of the National Park Service. The scaled-down masterpiece includes Bush family pets Barney, Miss Beazley, and Willie the cat sitting in Santa’s sleigh. Moose, elk, raccoons, coyotes, and other animals found in the national parks can be seen playing on the South Lawn. The reproduction of the White House has a gingerbread foundation and white chocolate exterior and weighs more than 300 pounds.

"It was an amazing honor for the National Park Service to be selected as the theme for the White House holiday decorations by the President and Mrs. Bush," said National Park Service Director Mary A. Bomar. "Every park was invited to join in the celebration by selecting an artist to create a park-specific ornament," said Bomar. "The ornaments tell the stories of our parks, just as our parks tell the stories of our nation."

Each December finds a holiday exhibit at the White House Visitor Center with jumbo photographs of the White House rooms decorated for the holidays. The holiday photographic portion of the exhibit also will remain at the visitor center through January.

The White House Visitor Center is located at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., near the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue between 14th and 15th Streets, N.W., in the north end of the Commerce Department building. The Visitor Center is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

An illustrated reference guide is available at the White House Visitor Center to help visitors locate particular ornaments of their favorite park areas. "Ornament Locators" are also available near the trees where the ornaments are displayed.

The National Park Service reminds all visitors that public parking is limited and visitors are encouraged to take METRO. The nearest stations are Metro Center and Federal Triangle, on the orange, blue and red lines. For more information about this event, call 202-208-1631 or visit www.nps.gov/whho .