• Washington Monument at the 2022 Tree Lighting
    Matthew D'Agostino
    Ellipse
    Washington Monument
    Washington, D.C.
    This photograph of the Washington Monument was taken by Matthew D'Agostino for the White House Historical Association on November 30, 2022 at the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony and concert. The 2022 tree lighting took place on The Ellipse and was the second presided over by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. They were joined in the festive celebration by host LL Cool J and performances by Shania Twain, Yolanda Adams, The Estefans, Andy Grammer, Ariana DeBose, Joss Stone, and the United States Marine Band.
  • Washington Monument at the 2022 Tree Lighting
    Matthew D'Agostino
    Ellipse
    Washington Monument
    Washington, D.C.
    This photograph of the Washington Monument was taken by Matthew D'Agostino for the White House Historical Association on November 30, 2022 at the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony and concert. The 2022 tree lighting took place on The Ellipse and was the second presided over by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. They were joined in the festive celebration by host LL Cool J and performances by Shania Twain, Yolanda Adams, The Estefans, Andy Grammer, Ariana DeBose, Joss Stone, and the United States Marine Band.
  • Washington Monument at the 2022 Tree Lighting
    Matthew D'Agostino
    Ellipse
    Washington Monument
    Washington, D.C.
    This photograph of the Washington Monument was taken by Matthew D'Agostino for the White House Historical Association on November 30, 2022 at the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony and concert. The 2022 tree lighting took place on The Ellipse and was the second presided over by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. They were joined in the festive celebration by host LL Cool J and performances by Shania Twain, Yolanda Adams, The Estefans, Andy Grammer, Ariana DeBose, Joss Stone, and the United States Marine Band.
  • 2022 Turkey Pardon, Biden Administration
    Matthew D'Agostino
    Turkey Pardon
    Thanksgiving
    South Portico
    South Lawn
    South Grounds
    military
    This photograph of the South Portico of the White House was taken by Matthew D’Agostino before the 2022 turkey pardon on November 21, 2022. During the ceremony, President Joseph R. Biden formally “pardoned” the official National Thanksgiving Turkey, Chocolate, and the alternate, Chip. Chocolate and Chip were raised by National Turkey Federation (NTF) chairman Ronnie Parker at Circle S Ranch near Monroe, North Carolina. After the ceremony, the turkeys were transferred to the Talley Turkey Education Unit at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. Presidents and their families have received turkeys for the holidays since the 1870s. The origin of the turkey pardon, however, dates to 1863—when President Abraham Lincoln offered clemency to a turkey purchased for Christmas dinner at his son's request. The pardoning of a Thanksgiving turkey became a formalized tradition during the George H. W. Bush administration.
  • South View of the White House at Christmastime, Trump Administration
    Matthew D'Agostino
    south view
    holidays
    Christmas
    South Portico
    Christmas Tree Lighting
    This photograph, showing a south view of the White House, was taken by Matthew D'Agostino on December 5, 2019. For the holiday season, wreaths were hung and lights from the interior decorations, including the Blue Room Christmas Tree, were captured faintly through the windows. This photograph was taken from the Ellipse, ahead of the 97th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony.
  • South View of the White House at Christmastime, Trump Administration
    Matthew D'Agostino
    south view
    holidays
    Christmas
    South Portico
    Christmas Tree Lighting
    This photograph, showing a south view of the White House, was taken by Matthew D'Agostino on December 5, 2019. For the holiday season, wreaths were hung and lights from the interior decorations, including the Blue Room Christmas Tree, were captured faintly through the windows. This photograph was taken from the Ellipse, ahead of the 97th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony.
  • Flock of Birds Near Eisenhower Executive Office Building
    Matthew D'Agostino
    holidays
    Eisenhower Executive Office Building
    Christmas
    Christmas Tree Lighting
    This photograph, taken by Matthew D'Agostino on December 5, 2019, shows a flock of birds atop a tree near the Eisenhower Executive Office Building during the pre-show of the 97th annual National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony. While the birds were not a scheduled part of the evening's performance, they served as a reminder that the event took place on protected natural parkland: the Ellipse on President's Park, managed by the National Park Service. The lighting of the National Christmas Tree is a cherished holiday tradition in Washington, D.C. When President Calvin Coolidge lit the first tree in 1923, the celebration attracted more than 6,000 spectators. The opening ceremony and nightly holiday concerts have annually drawn hundreds of attendees.
  • South View of the White House at Christmastime
    Unknown
    Christmas
    holidays
    south view
    South Portico
    This photograph presents a south view of the White House at night in December 1972, during the Richard M. Nixon administration. The house is framed between foliage strung with lights, likely two decorated Christmas trees. For the holiday season, wreaths are hung from the South Portico, and garland winds down its east and west steps. The official White House Christmas Tree can also be seen through the window of the Blue Room, in the center of the State Floor.
  • South Portico Decorated for Christmas, Obama Administration
    Matthew D'Agostino
    holidays
    Christmas
    south view
    This photograph of the festively decorated South Portico was taken by Matthew D'Agostino on December 4, 2014, shortly before the 92nd annual National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony. The Blue Room Christmas tree can faintly be seen through the window on the lower balcony. The lighting of the National Christmas Tree is a cherished holiday tradition in Washington, D.C. When President Calvin Coolidge lit the first tree in 1923, the celebration attracted more than 6,000 spectators. The opening ceremony and nightly holiday concerts draw hundreds of attendees.
  • Children's Garden, Trump Administration
    Matthew D'Agostino
    South Grounds
    Children's Garden
    This photograph of the Children's Garden was taken during the 141st White House Easter Egg Roll by Matthew D'Agostino on April 22, 2019. Established in 1968 during the Lyndon B. Johnson administration, the Children's Garden is small, secluded, and private. The Children's Garden is famous for the handprints of the presidential grandchildren embedded in the stone paths.
  • Close Up of the White House Kitchen Garden
    David Wiegold
    South Lawn
    South Grounds
    Easter Egg Roll
    This closeup of a marker from one of the White House Kitchen Garden plots was taken on April 2, 2018 at the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn. 2018 marked the second Easter Egg Roll in the White House for President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. Both attended the festivities, with Mrs. Trump reading a book to young guests and President Trump helping a group of children decorate cards for members of the United States military. The United States Marine Band performed as well as the U.S. Army Voices. Children were also invited to participate in the annual egg roll and egg dyeing.
  • Close Up of the White House Kitchen Garden
    David Wiegold
    South Lawn
    South Grounds
    Easter Egg Roll
    This closeup of a marker from one of the White House Kitchen Garden plots was taken on April 2, 2018 at the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn. 2018 marked the second Easter Egg Roll in the White House for President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. Both attended the festivities, with Mrs. Trump reading a book to young guests and President Trump helping a group of children decorate cards for members of the United States military. The United States Marine Band performed as well as the U.S. Army Voices. Children were also invited to participate in the annual egg roll and egg dyeing.
  • Close Up of the White House Kitchen Garden
    David Wiegold
    South Lawn
    South Grounds
    Easter Egg Roll
    This closeup of sea kale in the White House Kitchen Garden was taken on April 2, 2018 at the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Law. 2018 marked the second Easter Egg Roll in the White House for President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. Both attended the festivities, with Mrs. Trump reading a book to young guests and President Trump helping a group of children decorate cards for members of the United States military. The United States Marine Band performed as well as the U.S. Army Voices. Children were also invited to participate in the annual egg roll and egg dyeing.
  • Saucer Magnolia Tree on the South Lawn
    David Wiegold
    South Lawn
    South Grounds
    Easter Egg Roll
    This close-up of a flowering saucer magnolia tree was taken on April 2, 2018 at the White House Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House Grounds. 2018 marked the second Easter Egg Roll in the White House for President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. Both attended the festivities, with Mrs. Trump reading a book to young guests and President Trump helping a group of children decorate cards for members of the United States military. The United States Marine Band performed as well as the U.S. Army Voices. Children were also invited to participate in the annual egg roll and egg dyeing.