



The Vermeil Room displayed portraits of "recent" First Ladies. I found the statement "recent" humorous considering the majority of the portraits were from the mid 20th century. Each President (and First Lady) chooses their own China. Some choose lavish designs showing American Wildlife while others choose simple deigns. My favorite was Bill Clinton's but I also liked Andrew Jackson's and FDR's. To view the White House China, visit the White House Museum's Website.

Next we walked into the Green Room. From the video we watched at the Visitors Center, we were immediately able to recognize several famous paintings, including one of Ben Franklin, Independence Hall in Philadelphia and one of the Mosquito Net by John Singer Sargent. This room also houses an interesting work table and a coffee urn from England with John and Abigail Adams monogram.
After the Green Room, we wandered into the Blue Room. The President often receives guests in the Blue Room and this is where the White House Christmas Tree is placed. My favorite part of this room is honestly the view of the south lawn. You can easily see both the Washington Monument and the Jefferson!
Next we viewed the Red Room which is still used today to entertain guests. Like many of the rooms in the White House, this room has been renovated many time. Next we discovered the State Dining Room, like the East Room this room holds various functions including dinners for 130 seated guests!!! My favorite part of this room was the mantle and portrait of Lincoln. The mantle has a long history, but my favorite parts are the two bisons (which were considered more "American") and a quote from on of Adam's letters to his wife:
I pray Heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this House, and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.Next we ventured into the Cross Hall and Entrance Hall. The stereotypical image of the President walking on the red carpet to make a speech occurs in the Cross Hall. This hall also connects the various rooms on the first floor of the White House. My favorite aspect of this room (and the Entrance Hall) are the various Presidential Portraits including Kennedy, Bush Sr. and Clinton.
The Entrance Hall is also interesting and I think overlooked by many as the last stop on the tour. This room houses a grand piano that has images depicting several eras of America music, Presidential Portraits, the Grand Staircase and a plaque commemorating the building, rebuilding, renovation and reconstruction of the House.
Well that concludes my tour of the White House. If you live in DC or are visiting from far away I would definitely recommend trying to get tickets from your local Congressmen. The Secret Service was very friendly and would answer any question you have about the House, historic and everyday! We learned so much about when the President and his family live, eat and their schedule to accommodate visitors like us. So, if you go, talk to the Secret Service!! They are a wealth of information and they love to tell you about the house and how it is used.
Have you ever been to the White House? What was your favorite part?
