1917 Easter Egg Roll on the National Mall,
This photograph of crowds at the Easter Egg Roll on the grounds of Washington Monument was taken circa 1917 by Harris & Ewing. Due to safety measures because of World War I, the event was moved from the White House to the grounds of the Washington Monument.
Dating back to 1878, the Easter Egg Roll is a cherished springtime tradition in Washington, D.C., with children and their families gathering on the South Lawn to enjoy the annual festivities. Although this tradition has continued mostly uninterrupted, periodically, due to food rationing, wartime security measures, the renovation of the White House, and other reasons the White House Easter Egg Roll has to be moved, canceled, or suspended.