New Educational and Engaging Elements Added to the White House Public Tour Route; Aimed at Enhancing Civics Education for Students of All Ages; First Significant Improvement to Tour in Decades
New Expanded Public Tour Will Now Include the Diplomatic Reception Room, where President Franklin D. Roosevelt held his famous fireside chats, and Further Entry Access to Rooms
For photos of the enhanced tour elements, please visit the White House FLICKR page.
Washington, DC – First Lady Jill Biden is unveiling today a new enhanced, educational White House public tour for visitors. A classroom teacher for 40 years, Dr. Biden knows that learning has to be engaging and interactive. The public tour, which accommodates approximately 10,000 visitors per week, is a significant opportunity to educate students of all ages about the living history of the White House. The public tour of the White House has not seen significant improvements in decades, until now.
“I’ve been a classroom teacher for 40 years, and I know learning has to be interactive and engaging. It has to evoke the senses, and you have to meet students where they are, giving them what they need to spark their curiosity and imagination,” said First Lady Jill Biden. “We hope the tour inspires everyone who visits the White House to learn more about our shared history.”
The enhanced White House public tour will now:
- include more educational and engaging elements along the tour route;
- incorporate more story-telling in the tour using technology and digital components;
- provide visitors with more historic context to their tour;
- entreat the senses with compelling and tactile content; and
- present more opportunities for learning about our nation’s history, civics, and the lives of Presidents and first families, past and present.
The enhanced tour elements are supported by The History Channel, in partnership with ESI Design, which is known for its educational improvements to the Liberty Island and Ellis Island museums, which like the White House are also cared for by the National Park Service. The History Channel has previously produced short films for historic sites across the country including the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, the Statue of Liberty, the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center, and more.
“Preserving our country’s history, investing in education, and engaging the next generation is at the heart of the new expanded White House tour,” said Paul Buccieri, President & Chairman, A+E Networks Group, which includes The History Channel. “We are honored to join First Lady Jill Biden on this special initiative to enhance the White House tour experience for the American public and visitors from around the globe.”
“More than 10,000 visitors come through these doors each week on the public tour and it’s such an opportunity for students of all ages to learn about our country’s history, civics, and the lives of Presidents and their families,” said First Lady Jill Biden. “When Joe became President, I took a look at the public tour, which I’m told hasn’t seen any significant improvements in decades, and thought there
has to be a way to reimagine this tour experience, add more educational content and story-telling, while also preserving and protecting its history. So, we did.”
The First Lady added: “Throughout the past two years, we’ve been working with the National Park Service, White House Curator’s Office, White House Historical Association, presidential libraries, and The History Channel to enhance and expand the public tour of the White House. We’ve added flexible, versatile, and dynamic tools of learning to the tour; created more pathways in the house to bring people further into the rooms; expanded the tour to now include the Diplomatic Reception Room where President Roosevelt hosted his famous fireside chats; and we’ve included more educational content that visitors can touch, hear, and see up close.”
“The White House, like all national parks, are living classrooms that provide the public with inspirational and educational opportunities to connect with our nation’s shared heritage,” National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said. “The National Park Service is honored to support these tour and exhibit enhancements that will elevate the thrill level of walking the halls of the White House and experiencing firsthand the rooms where history has been, and continues to be, made.”
Stewart D. McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association said: “Dr. Biden’s passion for
education inspired this deeper engagement every visitor will now have with the White House. It has been a privilege to work with her and her team to deploy innovative and creative tools to better share the lessons and stories of White House history.”
The following enhancements have been made to the new expanded White House public tour route:
More Educational Story-telling and Civics Education Incorporated Throughout the Public Tour: The enhanced public tour now contains more historic, educational content, and story-telling elements throughout the visitor experience. For example, the Diplomatic Reception Room, used to welcome foreign dignitaries and home to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s famous fireside chats, will be open to the general public for the first time. One reader rail highlights the room’s panoramic wallpaper, Views of North America, and hosts a recreation of a 1939 Philco radio that plays snippets of various fireside chats given by FDR during his presidency.
Educational, Experiential Signage, and Video Greetings: New signage along the tour route will augment visitors’ educational experience, helping to set expectations for the tour and guiding visitors to more points of interest. The new educational content updates the 18 existing room introduction signs, with an additional six signs to mark new tour elements and critical views. As guests enter the public tour through the East Wing, they will be welcomed by a video message from the First Lady. A video from the President will greet visitors in the East Room, giving further historic context and depth to the tour.
“A Living Timeline” of White House History: Previously, the East Colonnade contained static photo collages, which were arduous to update and lacked key historic context or information. Visitors will now approach the East Colonnade and see a long corridor punctuated by permanent digital displays nestled below archways, embracing the design and feel of the previous collages. The graphic and media displays at each archway will showcase various “eras” of American history, segmented to capture historic moments of the White House and the presidency.
The Living Timeline accommodates various experience modes ranging from Tour Mode, to Residential Mode, and Special Events Mode. These modes ensure the Living Timeline is a versatile tool that can evolve with the White House and moments across history.
Three-Dimensional Architectural Model of the White House: After passing through the East Colonnade, visitors enter into the East Garden Room, where they will be greeted by a new 3D architectural model of White House’s 18-acre complex. Four supporting models depict the White House at key stages in its evolution. The dynamic model takes guests through the architectural history of the White House, beginning in 1792 and encompassing significant architectural milestones. The model is internally illuminated. Lighting cues are choreographed with a supplemental media screen that highlights important milestones pertaining to the architectural history of the White House. Over the course of the experience, visitors gain an appreciation of how the White House has evolved over time.
More Access to White House Rooms: Previously, several rooms on the public tour of the White House were roped off and visitors could only look inside. Now, visitors will be able to go further inside each room and learn more about the room and its history.
Expanded Tour Route to Now Include the Diplomatic Reception Room: Previously, the public tour route on the ground floor of the White House only included the Library, Vermeil Room, and China Room. Now, visitors will get to see the Diplomatic Reception Room, the location of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s (FDR) historic “fireside chats” during the Great Depression and World War II. Audio of some of FDR’s fireside chats will play for visitors as they come through the room.
Multi-sensory Reader Rails: Once visitors go further into each room, they will be treated to multi-sensory “reader rails,” full of educational information and tactile, engaging content. These reader rails detail the historic uses of each room and highlight pertinent artifacts. Additionally, these rails offer opportunities for visitors to touch replicas of the materials in various room. This not only provides a new sensory experience for visitors, it also improves the accessibility of the experience for those who are blind or have low vision. The White House Historical Association currently provides an audio guide to the White House tour through their app, the WHExperience, which is available on whitehousehistory.org.
Dynamic Digital Partition Panel: As guests exit the Diplomatic Reception Room, they will see a dynamic digital partition panel on the left, before ascending the stairs to the State Floor. This panel is a versatile large photo frame, presenting educational content and imagery of the White House beyond the areas visible to the public tour.
East Room Welcome Pillar and Reader Rails: Speaking to visitors from the same room where Presidents have so often addressed the nation, a video from the President provides an introduction to the State Floor via a dedicated Welcome Pillar. Supporting reader rails provide educational information about the purpose and history of the East Room, the special items on display, such as the George and Martha Washington portraits featured in the center of the room, and the many momentous events that have happened there.
Additional Educational Content in the State Dining Room: As visitors enter the State Dining Room, they will be surrounded with educational content, with three reader rails. One rail exhibit highlights the history of the room itself, including the numerous State Dinners. Another rail features a quote inscribed on the mantel taken from a letter John Adams wrote to his wife, Abigail, on his first night at the White House. A tactile replica of the mantel’s inscription is positioned at the center of the rail, inviting visitors to feel the carving and reflect on Adams’ hope for the future. A final rail highlights art and artifacts in the room, such as the famous Lincoln Portrait, which rarely moves from its revered position over the room’s mantel.
Grand Staircase Frame: Positioned near the landing of the Grand Staircase, the Grand Frame serves as a window into special events at the White House, featuring rotating imagery of First Families at the staircase during State Dinners, holidays, or other special occasions.
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