In this photograph, President Jimmy Carter lights a menorah in celebration of Hanukkah on December 17, 1979. This was the first lighting of the National Menorah, and took place in Lafayette Park, across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House. President Carter, in dressed in a tuxedo for a State Dinner held in honor of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher of Great Britain, put on an overcoat and walked across the street to the ceremony, which featured a small crowd of a few dozen. The lighting of the National Menorah historically takes place on the Ellipse and is overseen by a politician of the Jewish faith.

In this photograph from May 1962, a photographer, possibly George F. Mobley of the National Geographic Service, ascends a ladder of a firetruck parked on Pennsylvania Avenue to capture an aerial view of the White House. The photo session was for the cover of the first edition of "The White House: An Historic Guide," a publication released by the White House Historical Association that serves a companion book for tours of the White House, providing history of the rooms, architecture, and furniture.

In this photograph from May 1962, a photographer, possibly George F. Mobley of the National Geographic Service, ascends a ladder of a firetruck parked on Pennsylvania Avenue to capture an aerial view of the White House. The photo session was for the cover of the first edition of "The White House: An Historic Guide," a publication released by the White House Historical Association that serves a companion book for tours of the White House, providing history of the rooms, architecture, and furniture.

In this photograph from May 1962, a photographer, possibly George F. Mobley of the National Geographic Service, ascends the ladder of a firetruck parked on Pennsylvania Avenue to capture an aerial view of the White House. The photo session was for the cover of the first edition of "The White House: An Historic Guide," a publication released by the White House Historical Association that serves a companion book for tours of the White House, providing history of the rooms, architecture, and furniture. This photograph was taken from Lafayette Square, just north of the White House.

This photograph was taken near Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C. during the evacuation of executive office staff following the terrorist attacks on the morning of September 11, 2001. The evacuation notice applied to approximately 1,800 staff members who worked in the East and West Wings of the White House, the Old Executive Office Building (later rededicated the Eisenhower Executive Office Building), the New Executive Office Building, and the Winder Building.

This photograph is of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy surveying the Lafayette Square reconstruction plans with architect John Carl Warnecke. With the support of Mrs. Kennedy, Warnecke designed the facades to resemble townhouses. The Lafayette Square plans were a part of a compromise to accommodate the need for new federal buildings while retaining the historic character of the formerly residential neighborhood. Robert L. Knudsen took this photograph on October 17, 1962 at the General Services Administration building in Washington, D.C.

This color photograph by Jack E. Boucher was taken from inside the White House through the window above the north entrance. The fountain on the North Lawn and Lafayette Square can both be seen through the North Portico columns. Boucher served as chief photographer for the National Park Service's Historic American Buildings Survey. He spent four decades documenting hundreds of historic buildings, including the White House.

This photograph of the north view of the White House was taken in July 1982 by Joseph H. Bailey during the administration of Ronald Reagan. The North Portico of the Executive Mansion is visible along with Pennsylvania Avenue in the foreground.

This photograph of the north view of the White House was taken in July 1982 by Joseph H. Bailey during the administration of Ronald Reagan. The North Portico of the Executive Mansion is visible along with Pennsylvania Avenue in the foreground.

This photograph of the north view of the White House was taken in July 1982 by Joseph H. Bailey during the administration of Ronald Reagan. The North Portico of the Executive Mansion is visible along with Pennsylvania Avenue in the foreground.

This photograph of the north view of the White House was taken in July 1982 by Joseph H. Bailey during the administration of Ronald Reagan. The North Portico of the Executive Mansion is visible along with Pennsylvania Avenue in the foreground.

This photograph of the north view of the White House was taken in July 1982 by Joseph H. Bailey during the administration of Ronald Reagan. The North Portico of the Executive Mansion is visible along with the Washington Monument in the background.

This photograph of the north view of the White House was taken in July 1982 by Joseph H. Bailey during the administration of Ronald Reagan. The North Portico of the Executive Mansion is visible along with the Washington Monument in the background.

This photograph of the north view of the White House was taken in July 1982 by Joseph H. Bailey during the administration of Ronald Reagan. The North Portico of the Executive Mansion is visible along with the Washington Monument in the background.

This photograph of the north view of the White House was taken in July 1982 by Joseph H. Bailey during the administration of Ronald Reagan. The North Portico of the Executive Mansion is visible along with the Washington Monument in the background.

This photograph of the north view of the White House was taken in July 1982 by Joseph H. Bailey during the administration of Ronald Reagan. The North Portico of the Executive Mansion is visible along with the Washington Monument in the background.

This photograph of the north view of the White House was taken in July 1982 by Joseph H. Bailey during the administration of Ronald Reagan. The North Portico of the Executive Mansion is visible along with the Washington Monument in the background.

This photograph of the north view of the White House was taken in July 1982 by Joseph H. Bailey during the administration of Ronald Reagan. The North Portico of the Executive Mansion is visible along with the Washington Monument in the background.

This photograph of the north view of the White House was taken in July 1982 by Joseph H. Bailey during the administration of Ronald Reagan. The North Portico of the Executive Mansion is visible along with the Washington Monument in the background.

This photograph of the north view of the White House was taken in July 1982 by Joseph H. Bailey during the administration of Ronald Reagan. The North Portico of the Executive Mansion is visible along with Pennsylvania Avenue in the foreground.

This photograph of the north view of the White House was taken in July 1982 by Joseph H. Bailey during the administration of Ronald Reagan. The North Portico of the Executive Mansion is visible along with Pennsylvania Avenue in the foreground.

This photograph of the north view of the White House was taken in July 1982 by Joseph H. Bailey during the administration of Ronald Reagan. The North Portico of the Executive Mansion is visible along with Pennsylvania Avenue in the foreground.

This photograph of the north view of the White House was taken in July 1982 by Joseph H. Bailey during the administration of Ronald Reagan. The North Portico of the Executive Mansion is visible along with Pennsylvania Avenue in the foreground.

This photograph of the White House was taken by Matthew D'Agostino from the atop the historic Hay-Adams Hotel on July 25, 2013, during the Barack Obama administration. The Washington Monument, surrounded in metal scaffolding, is visible in the background. The Washington Monument underwent repairs from 2011 to 2014 following a 5.8 magnitude earthquake. The trees in the foreground are part of Lafayette Park.

This photograph of the White House was taken by Matthew D'Agostino from the atop the historic Hay-Adams Hotel on July 25, 2013, during the Barack Obama administration. The Washington Monument, surrounded in metal scaffolding, is visible in the background. The Washington Monument underwent repairs from 2011 to 2014 following a 5.8 magnitude earthquake. The trees in the foreground are part of Lafayette Park.