• Kakemono Panel: A Pheasant in Flowering Branches
    Utagawa Kunitsuru
    painting
    Decatur House
    textiles
    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.
  • Kakemono Panel: Woman Holding a Parasol
    Utagawa Kunitsuru
    painting
    Decatur House
    textiles
    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 woman holding a parasol during a gentle snowfall. 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.
  • Kakemono Panel: Woman With A Shamisen
    Utagawa Kunitsuru
    painting
    Decatur House
    textiles
    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 woman holding the three-stringed instrument or shamisen. 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.
  • Kakemono Panel: A Pair of Cranes Under A Crabapple Tree
    Utagawa Kunitsuru
    painting
    Decatur House
    textiles
    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 two cranes beneath a crabapple tree. 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.
  • Kakemono Panel: Woman in A Snowstorm
    Utagawa Kunitsuru
    painting
    Decatur House
    textiles
    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 woman braving a snowstorm. 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.
  • Kakemono Panels: Man With Swords
    Utagawa Kunitsuru
    painting
    Decatur House
    textiles
    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 man with swords near a flowering tree. 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.
  • Drawing of the Front Hall's Curved Doorway, Decatur House Collection
    Benjamn Henry Latrobe
    plans
    Decatur House
    Washington, D.C.
    This architectural drawing of the entrance hall doors to Decatur House was created by Benjamin Henry Latrobe in January 1818. The drawing also depicts the door elevation and reflected ceiling. Latrobe is best known as the architect who designed the United States Capitol, St. John's Church, Decatur House in Lafayette Square, the White House East and West Terraces, and the Madison state rooms. He was also the chief engineer for the U.S. Navy. 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 a co-stewardship arrangement of Decatur House.
  • West End of the President's House
    Samuel Blodget Jr.
    White House
    drawings and plans
    This architectural sketch of the west end of the White House was drawn in 1810 by Samuel Blodget, Jr., a merchant and amateur architect and artist.
  • James Hoban White House Competition Design
    James Hoban
    drawings & plans
    White House
    This plan was drawn by James Hoban circa his 1793-1794 designs for the White House. Hoban, an Irish-born architect, won the competition to design the President's House. The competition was announced by then-Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and the prize for the winner was $500 or a medal of equal value. This drawing captures an initial plan for the North Front of the White House. Winfield Parks photographed this plan in 1962.
  • James Hoban White House Competition Design
    James Hoban
    drawings & plans
    White House
    This plan was drawn by James Hoban circa his 1793-1794 designs for the White House. Hoban, an Irish-born architect, won the competition to design the President's House. The competition was announced by then-Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and the prize for the winner was $500 or a medal of equal value. This drawing captures an initial plan for the North Front of the White House. Winfield Parks photographed this plan in 1962.
  • James Hoban White House Competition Design
    James Hoban
    drawings & plans
    White House
    This plan was drawn by James Hoban circa his 1793-1794 designs for the White House. Hoban, an Irish-born architect, won the competition to design the President's House. The competition was announced by then-Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and the prize for the winner was $500 or a medal of equal value. This drawing captures an initial plan for the North Front of the White House. Winfield Parks photographed this plan in 1962.
  • Index Page from the "Journal of Musick"
    Charlotte Le Pelletier
    music
    book
    This is the index page from the "Journal of Musick" published by Charlotte Le Pelletier, under the name Madame Le Pelletier, which is now housed at the Library of Congress. This volume is a copy of the one First Lady Dolley Madison purchased to provide entertainment for her guests during events at the White House. The volume consists of 31 pieces, mostly of light operas composed by British, Italian, and French composers, including Le Pelletier.
  • Forecourt of the Folie de la Bouëxière
    Guillaume-Martin Couture
    drawings & plans
    This is an ink and gouache depiction of the Folie de la Bouëxière, the estate future president James Monroe purchased on March 28, 1795 while serving as the United States Minister to France under President George Washington. This representation highlights the unique, off-set approach to the estate, which appeared suddenly at the end of a long road lined with trees instead of at a more common straight axis. Monroe purchased the estate for 350,000 francs and lived there with wife Elizabeth, daughter Elizabeth "Eliza" Kortright Monroe, seven servants, a chef, a coachman, and a gardener for two years. The Monroes entertained at the estate, inviting a social circle that included other Americans and French officials.
  • View of the Folie de la Bouëxière
    Guillaume-Martin Couture
    drawings & plans
    This is an ink and gouache depiction of the Folie de la Bouëxière, the estate future president James Monroe purchased on March 28, 1795 while serving as the United States Minister to France under President George Washington. This representation highlights the gardens and slopes used to keep the estate private for its residents. Berms and banks were used on the east and west sides to conceal the estate. Monroe purchased the estate for 350,000 francs and lived there with wife Elizabeth, daughter Elizabeth "Eliza" Kortright Monroe, seven servants, a chef, a coachman, and a gardener for two years. The Monroes entertained at the estate, inviting a social circle that included other Americans and French officials.
  • Garden Front of the Folie de la Bouëxière
    Guillaume-Martin Couture
    drawings & plans
    This is an ink and gouache depiction of the Folie de la Bouëxière, the estate future president James Monroe purchased on March 28, 1795 while serving as the United States Minister to France under President George Washington. This representation highlights the south front of the estate, with its rows of French doors leading from the large salon inside out onto the terrace and the gardens beyond. Atop the estate is a rooftop tent, used for dinners and afternoon teas. Monroe purchased the estate for 350,000 francs and lived there with wife Elizabeth, daughter Elizabeth "Eliza" Kortright Monroe, seven servants, a chef, a coachman, and a gardener for two years. The Monroes entertained at the estate, inviting a social circle that included other Americans and French officials.
  • Forecourt of the Folie de la Bouëxière
    Guillaume-Martin Couture
    drawings & plans
    This is an ink and gouache depiction of the Folie de la Bouëxière, the estate future president James Monroe purchased on March 28, 1795 while serving as the United States Minister to France under President George Washington. This representation highlights the unique, off-set approach to the estate, which appeared suddenly at the end of a long road lined with trees instead of at a more common straight axis. Monroe purchased the estate for 350,000 francs and lived there with wife Elizabeth, daughter Elizabeth "Eliza" Kortright Monroe, seven servants, a chef, a coachman, and a gardener for two years. The Monroes entertained at the estate, inviting a social circle that included other Americans and French officials.
  • Dolley Payne Todd Madison
    Bass Otis
    portrait
    First Family
    This reproduction is of a portrait of First Lady Dolley Payne Todd Madison painted by Bass Otis in the mid-19th century. Dolley Madison served as first lady during her husband's tenure as the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817.
  • Abigail Smith Adams
    Unknown
    portrait
    silhouette
    This ink silhouette on paper of First Lady Abigail Adams by an unknown artist was completed circa 1810. Inscribed on the lower right is "Mrs. Adams." Abigail Adams was first lady when her husband John Adams served as president of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Their family was the first to live in the White House, which was ready for occupancy in 1800, toward the end of his term in office.
  • Thomas Jefferson Sends Meriwether Lewis
    Paul Hoffmaster
    Drawing
    Lewis and Clark Expedition
    In this drawing completed in 1966 by Paul Hoffmaster, President Thomas Jefferson sends Meriwether Lewis to explore the vast Louisiana country. Lewis served as a private secretary to President Jefferson, and later joined with William Clark to complete the first transcontinental journey by the United States to the Pacific coast. The author of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson served as president from March 4, 1801 until March 4, 1809.
  • Corner of East Room Drawing
    Joseph Pennell
    East Room
    This ink on paper on board depiction of the East Room, titled Corner of East Room, was completed by Joseph Pennell in 1881.
  • Sketch of the Blue Room Showing Center Divan
    J. M. Gleeson
    Blue Room
    State Floor
    This ink and paper drawing of the Blue Room was drawn by J. M. Gleeson around 1896 during Grover Cleveland's second administration. The drawing shows a richly dressed woman looking towards the fireplace on the east side of the room. Gleeson's drawing was published in Munsey's Magazine in September 1896.
  • Sketch of the East Room
    J .M. Gleeson
    East Room
    State Floor
    This circa 1896 sketch of the East Room was published in Munsey's Magazine in September 1896. It depicts the East Room as it appeared during the second administration of President Grover Cleveland.
  • Trying to Lower the White House Temperature
    W. A. Rogers
    North Portico
    North Drive
    drawings
    North Grounds
    This ink and charcoal drawing by W. A. Rogers (often referred to as William Allen Rogers) depicts men delivering ice on a hot morning in 1881, during the weeks following the shooting of President James Garfield. A line of horse-drawn carriages delivering the ice extends down the north drive of the White House. The ice was intended to help cool the temperature in the house and aid the ailing president. Drawn from the perspective of the North Portico of the White House, facing north towards Lafayette Park, a column is at the forefront on the left side of the drawing with a large, ornate sconce or lantern extending out of the column. The first air conditioning system was installed in the White House in 1933. Rogers was an American cartoonist and illustrator, who replaced Thomas Nast at Harper's Weekly in 1877.
  • Miss Kennedy
    Unknown
    silhouettes
    portraits
    likeness
    This ink silhouette on paper of an unidentified "Miss Kennedy" was done by an unknown artist around 1840-1850. Miss Kennedy's features and attire are drawn on the silhouette in white. Silhouette portraits were fashionable and readily available throughout Europe and the United States in the 1800s.
  • East Entrance to the White House
    Joseph Pennell
    White House
    East Entrance
    east view
    This ink drawing of the east entrance to the White House as seen from the adjacent Treasury Building was created by Joseph Pennell circa 1901, when Theodore Roosevelt became president. The Philadelphia-born artist was one of the most prominent book illustrators of his time, specializing in historic landmarks and landscapes.