At Home at the White House

Dinner plate designed for President Hayes

After 9/11 it is difficult to tour the White House. However, if you would like to see something of what life is like in the nation's first home, you can visit the Renwick Gallery just a few blocks away and view the current exhibition Something of Splendor: Decorative Arts from the White House.

Some of the items are extremely personal. There is a crocheted bed cover created in 1927 by First Lady Grace Coolidge, who hoped to encourage all subsequent First Ladies to leave a memento of their own making. (Aside: Good plan, but no takers. To date, only Mrs. Coolidge has left such an item).

Some are historic such as a Chinese box left by Dolley Madison. The box is lined with the original pink wallpaper she had installed in the White House just before the British burned it down during the War of 1812.  Then, there is a Gothic Revival chair which was one of those in the room when  President Abraham Lincoln first read his Emancipation Proclamation to his cabinet.

Others are opulent and true works of art like the custom designed purple, pink, and gold oyster, dinner, and ice cream plates from the administration of Rutherford Hayes.

White House decor has often been a subject of discussion. Especially during America's early years, many people were concerned that presidents not live like kings, but have their furnishings more in line with the common people.  But that view eventually faded away. As inventor Samuel Morse said in 1814: "Something of splendor is certainly proper about the home of the Chief Magistrate for the credit of the nation."

Tips, Tales, and Traveling Tips
Many teenagers believe their high school prom was memorable. But for President Gerald Ford's daughter, Susan, her prom truly was - it was held in the White House. Susan is just one of the residents of the White House who discuss their lives in the film "At Home in the White House" video which is being shown as part of the exhibition.