Window openings provide bursts of light into the cavernous interior of the White House, supported only by a web of temporary steel supports. The exterior walls rest on new concrete underpinnings, which allow earth-moving equipment to dig a new basement.

Official Portrait 2015.

“President Wilson’s Sheep at White House” Photo Credit: Martin A. Gruber/Smithsonian Institution Sheep were a common sight on the White House grounds during World War I. President Wilson and the First Lady kept sheep on the lawn for two reasons: firstly it reduced the cost of cutting the grass and, secondly, it offset the lack of manpower as many of the gardeners volunteered to serve in the armed forces.. The wool was also auctioned off and over $52,000 was raised for the Red Cross. Share…

Jackie Kennedy- decorating the White House

Actress Nichelle Nichols, who played Lt. Uhura in the original 1960s Star Trek television series, recently had the chance to visit the White House, where she had her photo taken with President Barack Obama in the Oval Office. And what are the two of them doing in the photo? Flashing the Vulcan salute. Awesome. Check out the photo here below. Nichols met with Obama on February 29, 2012, and posted the photo to her Twitter account today. "A photo came to me in the mail that I've kept for…

The Dining Room restored to the 1815 scheme showing the new carpet. Photo courtesy of Ralph Harvard, Ralph Harvard Inc. One of the most popular posts of The Devoted Classicist blog has been Historic Paint Color At Monticello which presents the re-creation of the 1815 chrome-yellow paint scheme for the Dining Room. One of the pleasures of authoring a blog is making new acquaintances, and hearing from old ones. So it was a great treat to get an email from the distinguished New York City…

White house china ordered by and used by James and Sarah Polk. A dessert plate is featured.

Since it’s increasingly hard to step inside the White House for a tour, we offer up two presidential homes just outside Washington, D.C. that have festive holiday tours every year. Visit Monticello, Thomas Jefferson‘s home in Charlottesville, Virginia, just two hours south of the District. The guided Holiday Signature Tour will take guests through the…

Jackie Kennedy's White House bedroom. www.pinkpillbox.com

Each day we bring you one stunning little glimpse of history in the form of a historical photograph. Enjoy!

White house china, ordered by and used by Franklin and Jane Pierce.

White house china ordered by and used by Bill and Hilary Clinton.

White House China of President Franklin Pierce

Besides the Reagans bringing a bit of Hollywood into the Oval Office back in the 1980’s, did you know that Nancy Reagan was responsible for hiring Los Angeles interior designer Ted Graber, once dubbed the “First Decorator” of the White House.

The light display caps a day of jubilation over the decision at the executive mansion.

Go inside the White House with White House Curator Bill Allman as he shows you how the effects of the White House fire of 1814 still linger untill this day. ...