• Portrait of Liliʻuokalani, Queen of Hawai'i
    Unknown
    This portrait photograph of Liliʻuokalani, Queen of Hawai'i, was taken circa 1891, around the time of the beginning of her reign. Liliʻuokalani was the last sovereign of the Kingdom of Hawai'i before it was overthrown by the United States on January 17, 1893. She was the sister of Kalākaua, King of Hawai'i, who was the first head of state to be honored with a formal State Dinner, held in 1874 and hosted by President Ulysses S. Grant and First Lady Julia Dent Grant at the White House. Liliʻuokalani herself would visit the White House on numerous occasions.
  • President Eisenhower Signs the Hawai'i Admission Act of 1959
    Abbie Rowe
    bill
    signing
    Oval Office
    West Wing
    This photograph by Abbie Rowe of President Dwight D. Eisenhower signing the Hawai'i Admission Act of 1959 in the Oval Office was taken on March 18, 1959. Standing next to him is Henry R. McPhee, associate special counsel to President Eisenhower. In June of 1959 the citizens of Hawai'i voted on a referendum to accept the statehood bill and on August 21, 1959, President Eisenhower signed the official proclamation admitting Hawai'i as the 50th state. The Oval Office is located in the West Wing of the White House.
  • President Eisenhower Formally Admits Hawai'i into the United States
    U.S. Army Pictorial Agency
    signing
    This photograph is of President Dwight D. Eisenhower at the signing of the proclamation formally admitting Hawai'i as the 50th state to join the union. Pictured with President Eisenhower are Secretary of the Interior Fred A. Seaton, Representative Daniel K. Inouye of Hawai'i, Secretary of the Hawai'i Territory Edward E. Johnston, Speaker of the House Sam Rayburn, Vice President Richard M. Nixon, Lt. Col. James S. Cook, Jr., and Lt. Gen. Andrew T. McNamara. This photograph was taken on August 21, 1959 by a member of the U.S. Army Pictorial Agency.
  • President Eisenhower Signs the Hawai'i Admission Act of 1959
    Abbie Rowe
    Oval Office
    West Wing
    signing
    bill
    This photograph by Abbie Rowe of President Dwight D. Eisenhower signing the Hawai'i Admission Act of 1959 in the Oval Office was taken on March 18, 1959. Standing next to him is Henry R. McPhee, associate special counsel to President Eisenhower. In June of 1959 the citizens of Hawai'i voted on a referendum to accept the statehood bill and on August 21, 1959, President Eisenhower signed the official proclamation admitting Hawai'i as the 50th state. The Oval Office is located in the West Wing of the White House.
  • President Clinton Signs Official Apology to Native Hawaiians
    Sharon Farmer
    Oval Office
    bills
    signing
    commeration
    West Wing
    This photograph by Sharon Farmer of President Bill Clinton signing Public Law 103-150 in the Oval Office was taken on November 23, 1993. The resolution acknowledged the 100th anniversary of the January 17, 1893 overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawai'i and offered an apology to Native Hawaiians on behalf of the United States. Vice President Al Gore joined President Clinton alongside Hawai'i's representatives in Congress: Senator Daniel K. Inouye, Senator Daniel K. Akaka, Representative Patsy T. Mink, and Representative Neil Abercrombie.
  • Black Cloth Composite
    White House Historical Association
    north view
    funerals
    WHHA
    State Floor
    North Portico
    East Room
    White House Collection
    This composite is made of fashion plates showing mourning wear, an illustration of the President Abraham's Lincoln lying in state in the East Room of the White House, and the North Portico draped in black cloth in mourning for President James Garfield. The image was used for the digital exhibit called "Black Cloth: Mourning Dress and Drapery at the White House." It may only be used for press and publicity purposes related to the exhibit. All other uses must be approved by the White House Historical Association in writing.
  • President Carter Arrives at Camp David to Discuss Iran Hostage Crisis
    Marion S. Trikosko
    Camp David
    travel
    meetings
    crisis & controversy
    This photograph by Marion S. Trikosko captures President Jimmy Carter arriving at Camp David in Catoctin Mountain Park, Maryland on November 23, 1979. Accompanying President Carter on the helicopter trip from the White House to Camp David was, from left to right, Secretary of Defense Harold Brown, Secretary of State Cyrus R. Vance, and Vice President Walter F. Mondale. The group was on hand to meet and discuss the Iran Hostage Crisis, which began earlier that month, on November 4. The hostages would be held for 444 days, until January 20, 1981. Camp David was established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, then called Shangri-La, as a presidential retreat. President Dwight D. Eisenhower renamed the retreat Camp David after his grandson, David Eisenhower.
  • Mrs. Obama Announces the Academy Award for Best Picture
    Pete Souza
    arts & culture
    Ground Floor
    Diplomatic Reception Room
    ceremonies
    merits & awards
    In this photograph by Pete Souza, First Lady Michelle Obama announces the Academy Award winner for Best Picture on February 24, 2013. Her appearance on the live televised Oscar ceremony was filmed in the Diplomatic Reception Room on the Ground Floor of the White House. The winner of Best Picture, "Argo", was a film about the rescue of six United States diplomats who sought safety at the home of the Canadian ambassador to Iran during the 1979 to 1981 Iran Hostage Crisis in Tehran.
  • South Lawn Ceremony for Freed American Hostages
    Unknown
    South Grounds
    South Lawn
    South Portico
    military
    honor guards
    This photograph was taken at a ceremony held on the South Lawn of the White House in honor of the freed American hostages who were held in Iran. The ceremony, held on January 27, 1981, included a speech by President Ronald Reagan, who was just seven days into his first administration. 66 United States citizens, diplomats, and military personnel were held in the U.S. embassy in Tehran beginning on November 4, 1979 and lasting for 444 days. On January 20, 1981, the remaining 52 hostages still in captivity were finally released.