This is a portrait of the Marquis de Lafayette. The framed piece hangs on the left wall in the Entrance Hall of Blair House and is the first work of art guests observe upon entering the house. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.

This portrait is of Montgomery Blair, son of Francis Preston Blair, who served as postmaster general of the United States under President Abraham Lincoln. The Blair family, in addition to being politically active, are also known for residing in their namesake home, Blair House. The house is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and is historically known to serve as the President's Guest House. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and it is where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.

This is a portrait of Dorothy Quincy Hancock that is part of the Blair family's collection at Blair House. Throughout the house there are images of Blair family members and ancestors. Hancock was Gist Blair's mother's aunt. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office. This portrait has historically been hung in the guest rooms.

This is a Berlin work embroidered picture of a red-tailed hawk perched among flowers and foliage. Berlin work is an embroidery technique similar to modern-day needlepoint. This piece is one of the many examples of Americana found in the guest rooms of Blair House. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.

This is a portrait of John Cook Rives completed in 1822. Rives started a newspaper called "The Globe" with Francis Preston Blair. At first wealthy supporters funded the newspaper but, later, Congress gave federal contracts to the paper. Rives and Blair also started to print the proceedings of Congress. This turned out to be a successful project and is still in practice today as "The Congressional Record." This portrait is a part of Blair's family collection. When he moved his family from Kentucky to Washington, D.C., the family took up residence is in what is now known as Blair House. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.

This is a commemorative plate that is part of the Curio Room collection in Blair House. The plate commemorates the ship "Caroline" which was a passenger ship, but also carried convicts to Australia in the 1820s. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.

This textile is the detail of the upholstery of the wing chair in the Curio Room of Blair House. The chair is an 18th century Queen Anne with cabriole legs and padded feet. The chair is descended from the family of President Theodore Roosevelt before it was donated to Blair House by Selwa "Lucky" Roosevelt, who served as Chief of Protocol for the Department of State during the Reagan administration. 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 with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.

This is a sewing table owned by the Blair family, the former residents of Blair House. The lyre shaped support for this table reflects the Greek Revival stylings of the late 18th century. Today this piece is used as a bedside table in the North Bedroom of 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 with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.

This is a pole screen that is located in the Truman Study of Lee House, part of the four building complex known as Blair House. The screen is covered by a needlework cover that displays fruit in a basket. These screens were used to shield a person from the heat of a fireplace and could be adjusted to shield someone's face from direct heat. 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 with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.

These two porcelain elephant candleholders are from China and are a part of the Blair House Collection. They reflect a desire in the late 18th century for goods from China. These pieces are some of the many porcelain objects that can be found in the Lee House Drawing Room. Lee House is one of four buildings that constitute the Blair House complex, which serves as the President's Guest House. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.

This cellaret, a cabinet used to store bottles, was passed down in the Blair family and is a part of the Blair House Collection. 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 with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office. Francis and Violet Blair, the first of the Blairs to reside there, used this cellaret as both a medicine cabinet and storage for liquor. Violet Blair believed in alcohol based cures and was always ready to use them if needed. The size of the piece allowed it to be taken on trips.

These two etched glass windshades are part of the Blair family collection. They are made in an hour glass shape and are used to prevent a candle from blowing out. The etched designs in the glass increased the effectiveness of the candle light. The Blair family resided in the eponymous Blair House beginning in 1837. Since 1942, Blair House has been referred to as the President's Guest House. Located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House, visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.

This leather fire bucket with the name "Clap" painted on the outside is from the Blair House Collection. The bucket possibly descended from Elizabeth Quincy Clapp, the great grandmother of Gist Blair. In the 19th century these buckets were filled with wet sand to put out small fires. These buckets were the predecessors to the fire extinguisher. Fire buckets were common in American and British households at the time and this one was likely used by the Blair family, who lived in Blair House. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.

These two molded glass plates are in the Blair House Collection. The plate on the left shows a bust with the name Henry Clay surrounding it. The plate on the left commemorates future president Gen. William Henry Harrison, "Old Tippecanoe." The central image of the plate is of Fort Meigs where Harrison commanded his troops. Gist and Laura Blair of the eponymous Blair House purchased antique pieces like these plates for their collection. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.

This photograph is of a set of glass salt cellars and a glass reproduction of Uncle Sam's top hat. The blue glass salt cellar towards the back of the photo was made in Sandwich, Massachusetts, possibly at the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company. The pieces in the front of the photograph were made in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania These antiques are a part of the Blair family's collection at Blair House. Gist and Laura Blair enjoyed purchasing antiques like these pieces for their collection. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.

This is a tea caddy passed down in the Blair family. Gist Blair wrote the label for this object as part of his endeavor to curate the Blair Family Collection. According to the label this caddy was owned by six members of the Blair family. One of the earliest owners was Blair's great grandmother Elizabeth Quincy Clapp. This tea caddy was made in the shape of a pear however, the stem of the pear has broken off. The Blair family were residents of the eponymous Blair House beginning in 1837. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.

This pearlware breadbasket was made circa 1840. Pearlware was a popular earthenware during the late 18th century. This particular piece of pearlware is historically located in the Curio Room of Blair House. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.

This is a tortoiseshell tea caddy from 1815 that is part of Blair family collection. It is made of carved tortoiseshell mounted with silver. Gothic arches are carved into the faces of the caddy. The elegance of this piece speaks to the value of tea in the United States. The Blair family were residents of the eponymous Blair House beginning in 1837. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.

This is a lion statuette made by one of the Bennington Pottery factories of Bennington, Vermont circa 1850. While the Blair family collected this piece as an antique, its original purpose may have been to serve as a doorstop. The Blair family resided in Blair House beginning in 1837, when the family, lead by family patriarch Francis Preston Blair, moved to Washington, D.C. from Kentucky. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.

This is a commemorative cream-ware bowl that is a part of the Curio Room collection in Blair House. The bowl commemorates the return of the Marquis de Lafayette to the United States in 1824-1825. The image of Lafayette copies the Ary Scheffer portrait that can be found in the House of Representatives. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.

This is one of four gouache paintings that depict the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in Italy. Known primarily for the eruption in 79 AD that destroyed the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, the volcano was quite active in the 18th and 19th centuries as well. The set of paintings start with this image that depicts smoke rising and concludes with the volcano erupting. These paintings are historically located in the North Bedroom, a guest room, of Blair House. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.

This is a photograph of Gist Blair and his classmates at Princeton University. Blair is in the second row sitting second from the right with his dog. After graduating from Princeton University, Blair received his law degree from the George Washington University. By 1912 Blair purchased all of his siblings parts of Blair House. In 1917 he was part of Gen. John J. Pershing's legal staff. Blair was the grandson of Francis Preston Blair, the first of the Blair family to reside in Blair House. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office. While living in the house, Gist acted as curator and archivist of the family's extensive collection.

This is a painting that depicts St. Petersburg, Russia that was given to Phillips Lee by Gustavus Vasa Fox in 1866. Fox and Lee were close friends from their time together in the Battle of Tabasco during the Mexican American War in 1847. Fox was also Montgomery Blair's brother-in-law. Blair and Lee, through marriage, were members of the Blair family that resided in Blair House and Lee House, respectively. This painting is a part of the Blair family's collection. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.

This is an illustration of the ironclad ship "Monadnock" on a voyage to the Pacific. This ship was built during the Civil War and went for this voyage in 1866. There is an inscription on the illustration from Commodore John Rodgers and likely belong to Phillip Lee who served on the "Monadnock." This illustration is a part of the Blair family's collection. Phillip Lee was, through marriage, a member of the Blair family that resided in Blair House. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. Visiting diplomats and dignitaries stay at Blair House while on official visits with the White House and is historically where the president-elect and first family reside prior to taking the oath of office.

This is a hand-colored photographic portrait of the Empress Dowager Cixi of China. The Empress Dowager sent this photograph to President Theodore Roosevelt in 1904 as a gesture of goodwill. It historically resides in the Jackson Place Conference Room. Jackson Place is a part of the Blair House complex. Blair House is located across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House and has been used as the president's guest house since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration.