• 2023 Blue Room Holiday Decorations, Biden Administration
    David Wiegold
    winter holidays
    decorations
    State Floor
    Christmas
    Blue Room
    Blue Room Christmas Tree
    This photograph of the Blue Room Christmas Tree was taken by David Wiegold on November 27, 2023 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "Magic, Wonder, and Joy" as the 2023 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by children and how they embrace and revel in the holiday season. The tree was an 18½ foot Fraser Fir from Fleetwood, North Carolina with decorations spanning across the country with merry landscapes, neighborhoods, and the names of every state, territory, and the District of Columbia represented. A replica of a vintage passenger train circled the base of the tree. The train set was loaned by the Train Collectors Association. Siblings Amber Scott and Alex Church of Cline Church Nursery presented the tree to Dr. Biden on November 20, 2023.
  • 2023 State Dining Room Holiday Decorations, Biden Administration
    David Wiegold
    winter holidays
    decorations
    Christmas
    State Floor
    State Dining Room
    This close-up photograph of the decorations in the State Dining Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 27, 2023 during a press preview of the White House decor. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "Magic, Wonder, and Joy" as the 2023 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by children and how they embrace and revel in the holiday season. Scenes from Santa’s Workshop filled the State Dining Room. Around Christmas tree, seen here, were workbenches, stools, and ladders for the elves as well as toys and gifts in progress. Life-sized nutcrackers and dancing ballerinas were on display throughout the room, next to the trees and in the window wells. A garland of ribbons and gift tags adorned the mantel, wrapping up the room’s festive décor with a bow.
  • 2023 Cross Hall Holiday Decorations, Biden Administration
    David Wiegold
    Christmas
    State Floor
    decorations
    winter holidays
    Cross Hall
    This photograph of the Cross Hall was taken by David Wiegold on November 27, 2023 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "Magic, Wonder, and Joy" as the 2023 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by children and how they embrace and revel in the holiday season. The 200th anniversary of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas influenced the decorations in the Cross Hall and the adjoining Entrance Hall. Throughout the space, including in the niches along the Cross Hall’s south wall and a soaring Santa Claus and sleigh above the Entrance Hall, were scenes from the famous holiday tale. Also in the Cross Hall was the menorah from the White House Collection. The menorah was crafted by the skilled White House carpenters using wood recovered during the Harry S. Truman renovation in the 1950s.
  • 2023 Blue Room Holiday Decorations, Biden Administration
    David Wiegold
    winter holidays
    decorations
    State Floor
    Christmas
    Blue Room
    Blue Room Christmas Tree
    This photograph of the Blue Room Christmas Tree was taken by David Wiegold on November 27, 2023 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "Magic, Wonder, and Joy" as the 2023 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by children and how they embrace and revel in the holiday season. The tree was an 18½ foot Fraser Fir from Fleetwood, North Carolina with decorations spanning across the country with merry landscapes, neighborhoods, and the names of every state, territory, and the District of Columbia represented. A replica of a vintage passenger train circled the base of the tree. The train set was loaned by the Train Collectors Association. Siblings Amber Scott and Alex Church of Cline Church Nursery presented the tree to Dr. Biden on November 20, 2023.
  • 2023 Entrance Hall Holiday Decorations, Biden Administration
    David Wiegold
    Christmas
    State Floor
    decorations
    winter holidays
    Entrance Hall
    This photograph of the Entrance Hall was taken by David Wiegold on November 27, 2023 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "Magic, Wonder, and Joy" as the 2023 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by children and how they embrace and revel in the holiday season. The 200th anniversary of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas influenced the decorations in the Entrance Hall and adjoining Cross Hall. Throughout the space, including in the niches along the Cross Hall’s south wall and a soaring Santa Claus and sleigh above the Entrance Hall, were scenes from the famous holiday tale.
  • 2023 White House Gingerbread, Biden Administration
    David Wiegold
    winter holidays
    decorations
    State Floor
    State Dining Room
    Christmas
    food & drink
    gingerbread
    This photograph of the White House Gingerbread House was taken by David Wiegold on November 27, 2023 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "Magic, Wonder, and Joy" as the 2023 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by children and how they embrace and revel in the holiday season. The 2023 White House Gingerbread House, on display in the State Dining Room, commemorated the 200th anniversary of the publication of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. The display featured a sugar cookie replica of the book and Santa’s sleigh soaring over the White House grounds.
  • 2023 Green Room Holiday Decorations, Biden Administration
    David Wiegold
    winter holidays
    decorations
    Christmas
    State Floor
    Green Room
    This photograph of the Green Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 27, 2023 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "Magic, Wonder, and Joy" as the 2023 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by children and how they embrace and revel in the holiday season. The power of faith was represented with candles, stained glass windows, and prisms throughout the Green Room. The tranquility of the decorations reminded visitors to value the quiet moments of reflection and appreciation for the wonders around us. Also throughout the room were orchids, a favorite of Dr. Biden's.
  • 2023 State Dining Room Holiday Decorations, Biden Administration
    David Wiegold
    winter holidays
    decorations
    Christmas
    State Floor
    State Dining Room
    This photograph of the State Dining Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 27, 2023 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "Magic, Wonder, and Joy" as the 2023 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by children and how they embrace and revel in the holiday season. Scenes from Santa’s Workshop filled the State Dining Room. Around Christmas tree were workbenches, stools, and ladders for the elves as well as toys and gifts in progress. Life-sized nutcrackers and dancing ballerinas were on display throughout the room, next to the trees and in the window wells. A garland of ribbons and gift tags adorned the mantel, wrapping up the room’s festive décor with a bow.
  • Historic Crèche in the East Room, Biden Administration
    David Wiegold
    winter holidays
    decorations
    Christmas
    State Floor
    East Room
    This photograph of the East Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 27, 2023 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "Magic, Wonder, and Joy" as the 2023 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by children and how they embrace and revel in the holiday season. Advent calendars counting down the days until Christmas decorated the East Room. Behind each number was a special surprise for visitors to enjoy. Also in the East Room was the traditional crèche, seen here. The crèche was donated to the White House Collection by Mrs. Charles W. Engelhard, Jr. of Far Hills, New Jersey in 1967. The donation included 39 hand-painted figurines that date back to the 18th-century. The crèche has been displayed in the East Room every holiday season since 1967.
  • 2023 Green Room Holiday Decorations, Biden Administration
    David Wiegold
    winter holidays
    decorations
    Christmas
    State Floor
    Green Room
    This photograph of the Green Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 27, 2023 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "Magic, Wonder, and Joy" as the 2023 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by children and how they embrace and revel in the holiday season. The power of faith was represented with candles, stained glass windows, and prisms throughout the Green Room. The tranquility of the decorations reminded visitors to value the quiet moments of reflection and appreciation for the wonders around us. Also throughout the room were orchids, a favorite of Dr. Biden's.
  • 2023 East Room Holiday Decorations, Biden Administration
    David Wiegold
    winter holidays
    decorations
    Christmas
    State Floor
    East Room
    This photograph of the East Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 27, 2023 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "Magic, Wonder, and Joy" as the 2023 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by children and how they embrace and revel in the holiday season. Advent calendars counting down the days until Christmas decorated the East Room. Behind each number was a special surprise for visitors to enjoy. Also in the East Room was the traditional crèche.
  • 2023 East Room Holiday Decorations, Biden Administration
    David Wiegold
    winter holidays
    decorations
    Christmas
    State Floor
    East Room
    This photograph of the East Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 27, 2023 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "Magic, Wonder, and Joy" as the 2023 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by children and how they embrace and revel in the holiday season. Advent calendars counting down the days until Christmas decorated the East Room. Behind each number was a special surprise for visitors to enjoy. Also in the East Room was the traditional crèche.
  • Historic Crèche in the East Room, Biden Administration
    David Wiegold
    winter holidays
    decorations
    Christmas
    State Floor
    East Room
    This photograph of the East Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 27, 2023 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "Magic, Wonder, and Joy" as the 2023 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by children and how they embrace and revel in the holiday season. Advent calendars counting down the days until Christmas decorated the East Room. Behind each number was a special surprise for visitors to enjoy. Also in the East Room was the traditional crèche, seen here. The crèche was donated to the White House Collection by Mrs. Charles W. Engelhard, Jr. of Far Hills, New Jersey in 1967. The donation included 39 hand-painted figurines that date back to the 18th-century. The crèche has been displayed in the East Room every holiday season since 1967.
  • 2023 White House Gingerbread, Biden Administration
    David Wiegold
    winter holidays
    decorations
    State Floor
    State Dining Room
    Christmas
    food & drink
    gingerbread
    This photograph of the White House Gingerbread House was taken by David Wiegold on November 27, 2023 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "Magic, Wonder, and Joy" as the 2023 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by children and how they embrace and revel in the holiday season. The 2023 White House Gingerbread House, on display in the State Dining Room, commemorated the 200th anniversary of the publication of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. The display featured a sugar cookie replica of the book and Santa’s sleigh soaring over the White House grounds.
  • 2023 Red Room Holiday Decorations, Biden Administration
    David Wiegold
    winter holidays
    decorations
    Christmas
    State Floor
    Red Room
    This photograph of the Red Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 27, 2023 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "Magic, Wonder, and Joy" as the 2023 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by children and how they embrace and revel in the holiday season. The 2023 Red Room décor looked to the joy, creativity, and collaboration involved in making holiday crafts. Representing Dr. Biden’s Joining Forces initiative, the ornaments in the room featured handprints and painted family portraits made by children with military connections.
  • 2023 Red Room Holiday Decorations, Biden Administration
    David Wiegold
    winter holidays
    decorations
    Christmas
    State Floor
    Red Room
    This close-up photograph of a garland and ornaments in the Red Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 27, 2023 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "Magic, Wonder, and Joy" as the 2023 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by children and how they embrace and revel in the holiday season. The 2023 Red Room décor looked to the joy, creativity, and collaboration involved in making holiday crafts. Representing Dr. Biden’s Joining Forces initiative, the ornaments in the room, including those seen here, featured handprints and painted family portraits made by children with military connections.
  • 2023 Red Room Holiday Decorations, Biden Administration
    David Wiegold
    winter holidays
    decorations
    Christmas
    State Floor
    Red Room
    This close-up photograph of holiday crafts in the Red Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 27, 2023 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "Magic, Wonder, and Joy" as the 2023 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by children and how they embrace and revel in the holiday season. The 2023 Red Room décor looked to the joy, creativity, and collaboration involved in making holiday crafts. Representing Dr. Biden’s Joining Forces initiative, the ornaments in the room featured handprints and painted family portraits made by children with military connections.
  • 2023 Red Room Holiday Decorations, Biden Administration
    David Wiegold
    winter holidays
    decorations
    Christmas
    State Floor
    Red Room
    This photograph of the Red Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 27, 2023 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "Magic, Wonder, and Joy" as the 2023 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by children and how they embrace and revel in the holiday season. The 2023 Red Room décor looked to the joy, creativity, and collaboration involved in making holiday crafts. Representing Dr. Biden’s Joining Forces initiative, the ornaments in the room featured handprints and painted family portraits made by children with military connections.
  • 2023 Red Room Holiday Decorations, Biden Administration
    David Wiegold
    winter holidays
    decorations
    Christmas
    State Floor
    Red Room
    This photograph of the Red Room was taken by David Wiegold on November 27, 2023 during a press preview of the White House holiday decorations. President Joseph R. Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden selected "Magic, Wonder, and Joy" as the 2023 holiday theme. The decor was inspired by children and how they embrace and revel in the holiday season. The 2023 Red Room décor looked to the joy, creativity, and collaboration involved in making holiday crafts. Representing Dr. Biden’s Joining Forces initiative, the ornaments in the room featured handprints and painted family portraits made by children with military connections. The room also featured the White House cranberry tree, seen here, a tradition dating back to the presidency of Gerald R. Ford.
  • Bergère (Enclosed Armchair), White House Collection
    Pierre-Antoine Bellange
    seats
    furniture
    State Floor
    Blue Room
    furnishings
    This bergère by Pierre-Antoine Bellangé of Paris is part of a 53-piece gilded beechwood suite ordered for the Oval Room (later called the Blue Room) by President James Monroe in 1817. A bergère is an armchair with upholstered and enclosed sides. The bergère is one of two made for the president and first lady. The bergère was photographed by Bruce White in the Blue Room of the White House.
  • Monroe Plateau in the State Dining Room
    Denière et Matelin
    State Dining Room
    State Floor
    furniture
    furnishings
    centerpieces
    This gilded bronze and mirrored plateau or centerpiece was made by the Parisian firm Denière et Matelin circa 1817, during James Monroe's presidency. Elements of the plateau may have been based on designs by the famed French architects Charles Percier and Pierre Fontaine, who completed many commissions for Napoleon. Visitors marveled over the elegant piece, shown here in the White House State Dining Room.
  • East Room Decorated for the Roosevelt-Longworth Wedding
    Harris & Ewing
    weddings
    State Floor
    East Room
    celebrations
    decorations
    In this photograph, the East Room of the White House is elegantly decorated for the wedding of Alice Roosevelt to Nicholas Longworth, which took place on February 17, 1906. Alice Roosevelt, daughter of President Theodore Roosevelt and Alice Lee Roosevelt, married Longworth, a member of the House of Representatives from the state of Ohio, before an estimated one thousand guests in attendance. The dais, pictured here, was set up along the large window on the east side of the room. Astilbe japonicas, palm fronds, Easter lilies, greenhouse smilax, asparagus vines, bride roses, and rhododendrons filled the room and white satin ribbons covered the ropes that created the aisle amongst all of the invited guests.
  • Jessie Woodrow Wilson and Francis Bowes Sayre's Wedding Cake
    Bain News Service
    celebrations
    weddings
    Family Dining Room
    State Floor
    This is a photograph of a wedding cake created for the wedding of Jessie Woodrow Wilson to Francis Bowes Sayre. Jessie Wilson, the daughter of President Woodrow Wilson and First Lady Ellen Axson Wilson, married Sayre in the East Room of the White House on November 25, 1913. The Wilson-Sayre wedding cake was decorated in the popular Art Nouveau style of the day with flowing, rhythmic lines and floral motifs, which embraced nature. The cake was served in the private Family Dining Room to only 20 of the couples’ closest friends and family as the dinner party continued in the State Dining Room for the remaining guests.
  • East Room Decorated for the Wilson-Sayre Wedding
    Harris & Ewing
    weddings
    celebrations
    State Floor
    East Room
    decorations
    In this photograph, the East Room of the White House is decorated for the wedding of Jessie Woodrow Wilson, daughter of President Woodrow Wilson and First Lady Ellen Axson Wilson, to Francis Bowes Sayre on November 25, 1913. The ceremony took place at an altar constructed in the East Room surrounded by palms, maidenhair ferns, and annunciation lilies, which complemented Jessie’s bouquet.
  • Wedding Ceremony of Lynda Bird Johnson and Charles S. Robb
    Robert L. Knudsen
    celebrations
    weddings
    State Floor
    East Room
    In this photograph by Robert L. Knudsen, Lynda Bird Johnson, daughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson and First Lady Lady Bird Johnson, stands at the altar alongside her groom, Marine Corps Capt. Charles S. Robb, on their wedding day, December 9, 1967. The Johnson-Robb wedding took place in the East Room of the White House. Lynda's younger sister, Luci Baines Johnson, in red at right, served as maid of honor while Reverend Canon Gerald N.McAllister, far right, performed the wedding ceremony. Lynda wore a white silk satin-paneled wedding gown designed by Geoffrey Beene featuring embellished vertical lines of silk floss, embroidered flowers, and delicate seed pearls. Her wedding ensemble was topped with a 15-yard-long tulle veil.