This photograph of the White House gingerbread house in the State Dining Room was taken by Matthew D'Agostino on November 30, 2020 during a press preview of the year's holiday decorations. The gingerbread house featured detailed reproductions of the Executive Mansion, its East and West Wings, and historic gardens. It was the first White House gingerbread house to include reproductions of the Rose Garden and the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden. The White House pastry team used 275 lbs. of gingerbread dough, 110 lbs. of pastillage dough, 25 lbs. of chocolate, 30 lbs. of gum paste, and 25 lbs. of royal icing to recreate the People’s House with extraordinary detail. This photograph shows a close-up of the recreated Rose Garden.

The holiday theme for 2020 was “America the Beautiful,” which celebrated the natural wonders of the American landscape. Selected by First Lady Melania Trump, the White House decorations also paid tribute to the courage and resilience of frontline workers, members of the military, and other American heroes. In 2020, American frontline and essential workers faced unique challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic.