This photograph of the Washington, D.C. skyline was taken by Matthew D'Agostino for the White House Historical Association on November 30, 2022 at the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony and concert. A flock of birds is captured in this photograph with the roof of a building, likely DAR Constitution Hall, in the foreground. The 2022 tree lighting took place on The Ellipse and was the second presided over by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. They were joined in the festive celebration by host LL Cool J and performances by Shania Twain, Yolanda Adams, The Estefans, Andy Grammer, Ariana DeBose, Joss Stone, and the United States Marine Band.

This aerial photo of the exterior of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office building was taken by Bill Fitz-Patrick on June 23, 1981. During the Ronald Reagan presidency, the building was known as the Old Executive Office Building but was renamed the Eisenhower Executive Office Building with legislation signed by President Bill Clinton in 1999 and with a rededication ceremony presided over by President George W. Bush in 2002. Commissioned by President Ulysses S. Grant and completed in 1888, the majestic building was designed by Alfred Mullet in the Second Empire style, which is characterized by a sloping mansard roof and grand embellishments. Originally known as the State, War, and Navy Building, the building houses the offices of much of the president’s staff.

This photograph showing guests toasting Tricia Nixon and Edward Cox at their wedding rehearsal dinner was taken on June 11, 1971 by Jack E. Kightlinger. The rehearsal dinner took place at Blair House. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and is known as the President's Guest House. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits to the White House, and it is where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.

In this photograph taken on May 26, 1971, by Robert L. Knudsen, Tricia Nixon opens gifts at a bridal shower in her honor, hosted by the women of the press. Sitting on the couch with Tricia are, from left to right: reporter Helen Thomas, Tricia's mother, First Lady Pat Nixon, and her future mother-in-law Anne Crane Delafield (Finch) Cox. Julie Nixon Eisenhower, Tricia Nixon's younger sister sits on the floor. The bridal shower was held at Decatur House. Completed in 1818, Decatur House was the third building on Lafayette Square and its first private residence. It was designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, the architect of the Capitol, and several other famous buildings, for Commodore Stephen Decatur (1779-1820) and his wife, Susan Wheeler Decatur. Tragically, on March 22, 1820, Stephen Decatur was mortally wounded during a duel. After his death, his widow Susan Decatur rented out the house to foreign ministers and several secretaries of state. The house was eventually sold and passed through several hands, including the Gadsby family, the U.S. Subsistence Bureau, and the Beale family. Marie Ogle Beale, a society maven, and the last owner, left the house to National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1961. In 2010, the White House Historical Association and National Trust entered into a co-stewardship arrangement of Decatur House.

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.

This photograph of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was taken by Carol M. Highsmith. Commonly known as the Kennedy Center, the complex features three main theaters, several smaller performance venues, and both river and rooftop terraces. The Kennedy Center, which opened on September 8, 1971, is located along the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. and serves as the United States National Cultural Center.

This photograph of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts was taken by Carol M. Highsmith. Commonly known as the Kennedy Center, the complex features three main theaters, several smaller performance venues, and both river and rooftop terraces. The Kennedy Center, which opened on September 8, 1971, is located along the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. and serves as the United States National Cultural Center.

This photograph, taken by Andrea Hanks on November 24, 2019, shows a turkey enjoying its stay in a guest room at the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C. Turkeys Bread and Butter arrived at the luxury hotel in advance of the Turkey Pardon ceremony at the White House two days later. Butter was selected to receive a pardon from President Donald Trump in the Rose Garden ceremony following a national contest. After the ceremony, the pair of turkeys were transferred to 'Gobblers Rest' reserve in Blacksburg, Virginia to be cared for by veterinarians and students of Virginia Tech's Animal and Poultry Sciences Department. Presidents and their families have received turkeys for the holidays as far back as the 1870s. However, the origin of the turkey pardon is said to have started with President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, after he offered clemency to a turkey purchased for Christmas dinner at his son's request. The pardoning of a Thanksgiving turkey became a formalized tradition during the Ronald Reagan administration.

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.

In this photograph, taken on June 4, 1932, Vice President Charles Curtis throws the opening pitch at the Congressional Baseball Game at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. The friendly competition between Republican and Democrat members of Congress was first held in 1909, and soon became an anticipated tradition. The first Congressional Baseball Game since the start of the Great Depression, the 1932 game was held as a fundraiser to benefit unemployed people in the District of Columbia. The Republicans defeated the Democrats with a final score of 19-5.

In this photograph, taken by Eric Draper on September 11, 2002, President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Welch Bush light a candle at St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., during a private service of prayer and remembrance honoring the victims of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. This first anniversary of the attacks was also the first observation of Patriot Day, a day designated by President Bush for national participation in remembrance ceremonies. On September 11, 2002, President Bush also participated in a moment of silence at the White House and visited the location of the terrorist attacks in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, the former site of the World Trade Center in New York city, and the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia.

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 was taken from the corner of H Street and Jackson Place 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 as the Eisenhower Executive Office Building), the New Executive Office Building, and the Winder Building. Other evacuees including members of the press can be seen among the crowd, including CNN correspondent John King.

In this photograph, White House Executive Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier (fourth from left, wearing chef's hat) reunites with members of the White House pastry team at the corner of H Street and Connecticut Avenue near Lafayette Square following the evacuation of the White House on September 11, 2001. Although White House Chief User Gary Walters issued the evacuation notice to White House Residence staff following the terrorist attacks that morning, communication regarding the evacuation was difficult due to a lack of government-issued communication devices carried by White House staff. Unable to reach his colleagues working in the White House Pastry Shop, Chef Mesnier relied on his large chef's torque for his staff to identify him among the crowd of evacuees outside the White House.

This photograph was taken 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 as the Eisenhower Executive Office Building), the New Executive Office Building, and the Winder Building. Here, fleeing staffers can be seen among the traffic and tourists outside the Old Executive Office Building at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 17th Street.

In this photograph, taken near Lafayette Square at corner of Jackson Place and H Street, officer C. J. Djossou directs pedestrians away from the White House following the terrorist attacks on the morning of September 11, 2001. Decatur House, the historic home of Commodore Stephen Decatur and headquarters of the White House Historical Association, is visible in the background. On September 11, 2001, the streets of Washington, D.C. were crowded with employees ordered to evacuate due to the threat of the terrorist attacks. Among those ordered to evacuate were approximately 1,800 executive office staff who worked in the East and West Wings of the White House, the Old Executive Office Building (later rededicated as the Eisenhower Executive Office Building), the New Executive Office Building, and the Winder Building.

In this photograph, White House Executive Chef Walter Scheib gathers with members of the White House Kitchen staff including Staff Kitchen chef Rachel Walker and contractor Marybeth Williams at the corner of H Street and Connecticut Avenue near Lafayette Square following the evacuation of the White House on September 11, 2001. Although White House Chief User Gary Walters issued the evacuation notice to White House Residence staff following the terrorist attacks that morning, communication regarding the evacuation was difficult due to a lack of government-issued communication devices carried by White House staff. Staff working in the White House Staff Kitchen were informed of the evacuation notice when assistant chef Cristeta Comerford telephoned from the Northwest Gate, and when Chef Scheib traveled to the underground kitchen in search of his remaining staff.

This photograph was taken from the corner of H Street and Connecticut Avenue 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 as the Eisenhower Executive Office Building), the New Executive Office Building, and the Winder Building. Here, staffers watch the sky for incoming aircraft.

This painting of Decaur House was created by E. Vaile in June 1822. A man stands at the door, as a carriage approaches. Completed in 1818, Decatur House was the third building on Lafayette Square and its first private residence. Decatur House was designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, the architect of the Capitol and several other famous buildings, for Commodore Stephen Decatur and his wife, Susan. Tragically, in 1820 Stephen Decatur was mortally wounded during a duel and his widow Susan subsequently rented out the house to foreign ministers and several secretaries of state. The house was eventually sold and passed through several hands, including the Gadsby family, the U.S. Subsistence Bureau, and the Beale family. Marie Ogle Beale, a society maven and the last owner left the house to National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1961. In 2010, the White House Historical Association and National Trust entered into co-stewardship arrangement and the house now serves as the David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History.

This photograph, taken on October 1, 1991, shows President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush at the first annual Olympic Dinner at the Washington Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. The dinner was co-hosted by President Bush and the United States Olympic Committee in an effort to raise funds for athlete participation in the 1992 Olympics. The event was attended by dozens of former Olympic champions including track-and-field gold medalists Bob Beamon, Carl Lewis, and Florence Griffith-Joyner, basketball gold medalist Oscar Robertson, and boxing gold medalist George Foreman.

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 photograph of the family dining room in Decatur House was taken by Bruce White on December 17, 2017. The reproduction 19th century dining room table is set with Chinese export famille rose dinnerware and Beale family silver from the Decatur House Collection. On the mantel is a statue called the Bronco Buster by Frederic Remington. The painting above the mantel is Horses Quenching Their Thirst, Camels Disdaining by Ernest E. de F. Narjot and depicts the U.S. Camel Corps, an experimental military unit. Completed in 1818, Decatur House was the third building on Lafayette Square and its first private residence. It was designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, the architect of the Capitol and several other famous buildings, for Commodore Stephen Decatur (1779-1820) and his wife, Susan Wheeler Decatur. Tragically, on March 22, 1820 Stephen Decatur was mortally wounded during a duel. After his death, his widow Susan Decatur rented out the house to foreign ministers and several secretaries of state. The house was eventually sold and passed through several hands, including the Gadsby family, the U.S. Subsistence Bureau, and the Beale family. Marie Ogle Beale, a society maven and the last owner left the house to National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1961. In 2010, the White House Historical Association and National Trust entered into a co-stewardship arrangement of Decatur House.

This is a kakemono panel (also known as a vertical hanging scroll) containing either text or a painting, intended to be viewed on a wall and rolled when not in use. It was created in 1872 by the artist Utagawa Kunitsuru and depicts a pheasant among flowering branches. This is one of a set of six paintings displayed in the dining room of Decatur House and remain a part of the Decatur House Collection. After nearly 150 years, they began to deteriorate, but with funding provided by the Sumitomo Foundation, they were conserved to their original state.

This photograph of the open doors in the curved doorway of Decatur House was taken by Bruce White on December 18, 2017. The doors lead to the main staircase which takes guests to the upstairs parlors. The doorway also features wooden faux vaulting, including a shallow dome. Completed in 1818, Decatur House was the third building on Lafayette Square and its first private residence. It was designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, the architect of the Capitol and several other famous buildings, for Commodore Stephen Decatur (1779-1820) and his wife, Susan Wheeler Decatur. Tragically, on March 22, 1820 Stephen Decatur was mortally wounded during a duel. After his death, his widow Susan Decatur rented out the house to foreign ministers and several secretaries of state. The house was eventually sold and passed through several hands, including the Gadsby family, the U.S. Subsistence Bureau, and the Beale family. Marie Ogle Beale, a society maven and the last owner left the house to National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1961. In 2010, the White House Historical Association and National Trust entered into a co-stewardship arrangement of Decatur House.