Tickets went fast for the event, but the grounds will be open to public 24-hours through January 1, 2009.

Besides the National Christmas Tree, visit the Pathway of Peace, with decorated Christmas trees from each of the states and U.S. territories, along with the National Yuletide Log.

The grounds are illuminated each evening from dusk until 11:00 p.m.  Musical performances by volunteer groups, choirs and dancers are held each night on the Ellipse stage.  Evening performances on weeknights occur between 6:00 – 8:30 p.m., and from 4:00 – 8:30 p.m. on weekends.

Nation Christmas Tree and Walk of Peace
1600 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC‎  (map it)

Dates and Times – December 4, 2008 through January 1, 2009

Admission - FREE

Nearest Metro Subway Stations – Metro Center, Federal Triangle and McPherson Square, than a short walk to the Ellipse, or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – Limited street parking is available, especially during the day and on weekends.

Image – from personal collection   ©2008, Jon Rochetti  _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

Twenty years later, the 7-acre President’s Park was renamed Lafayette Park, after the French General who participated in the Revolutionary War.  He was one of the six foreigners that were ever granted Honorary Citizenship of the United States, along with Winston Churchill; humanitarian Raoul Wallenberg; governor of the American colony of Pennsylvania, William Penn and his wife; and Mother Teresa.

Over the year, Lafayette Park has been used for many purposes, besides a comfortable park – a race track, a graveyard, an apple orchard, a zoo, and even a slave market. Within blocks of the park, slaves were housed who labored constructing the White House.  

During the Civil War, parts of the park were used as a Union Army encampment for as well as to corral their horses, mules and cattle. 

The park hosts five statues, four of foreign Revolutionary War heroes, including Lafayette, French General Rochambeau, Poland’s General Kosciuszko and General Frederich Wilhelm von Steuben of Prussia. One American, President Andrew Jackson also has a statute in the park.  He is probably most recognized as the face on the $20 bill. 

In 1963, protesters, led by Rev. Martin Luther King, gathered at St. John’s Church at the northeast corner of the park (H Street and Madison Place) before starting the famous March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

Today, the park is popular with chess players, feeding the birds, quiet relaxation or as an occasional  site for a protest or rally.

Lafayette Park is just a block from the White House and is surrounded by historical buildings, including the Old Executive Office Building (now called the Eisenhower Executive Building) at 17th and Pennsylvania.

Lafayette Park
Pennsylvania Ave. and Jackson Pl, NW
Washington, DC 20006

Dates and Times – The park is open to the public 24-hours a day.

Admission – FREE

Nearest Metro Subway Station – McPherson Square or Farragut West, Blue and Orange lines, then a 2-3 block walk, or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – Limited metered street parking is available in the area.

Images – Jackson statue, Lafayette statue, cannon, chess players, birds 

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Kids of all ages get to to hunt for Easter eggs and listen to stories.  The Easter Bunny is even going to make a visit. 

While at the White House Visitor getting your tickets, check out the 2008 State Easter egg display.  Artists from around the U.S. States decorate eggs representing their state. Check out some of this year’s eggs.

Annual White House Easter Egg Roll
Tickets – White House Visitor Center
1450 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20230   (map it)

White House - 

Dates and Times – Monday, Mar. 24, 2008, 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

Tickets – FREE, but tickets are required.  First-come, first-served, timed tickets will be distributed by The National Park Service, at the White House Visitor Center (15th and E Streets, NW – SW corner) on Saturday, Mar. 22nd starting at 7:30 a.m.  A smaller block of tickets will also be distributed on Monday morning, March 24th.

Maximum of 5 tickets per person. One child in each group must be under 8 years old, and a maximum 2 adults per group is allowed. All visitors must have a ticket, including all children. 

The White House Visitor Center is open daily 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. 

This even it very popular, so plan on arriving VERY early to line up for tickets.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Farragut West or McPherson Square – Blue and Orange lines, or Metro Center – Blue, Orange and Red lines.  Both are within a 5 block walk or use the DC Circulator.

Parking – Parking is limited near the White House.  Limited metered or nearby garage parking is available.

Images – Washington egg – White House Visitor Center (WHVC) , by NPS Photo, egg by Pamela Gompf.  Laura Bush White House – Shealah Craighead, South Lawn – NPS Photo by Donna Spiewak, Event sign – personal collection – © 2008 – Jon Rochetti 

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Post from: The DC Traveler

The tour will commence at Sherman Park located between E. Executive Drive and 15th Street, NW near E Street, just to the south of the Department of the Treasury building.

For some additional information on the White House gardens and their history check out my post from the Fall tour.

White House Spring Garden Tours
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dates and Times – Saturday, April 21st 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, April 22nd Noon – 4:00 p.m.

Tickets – A free time designated ticket is required for each person, including kids and are available on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 8:100 a.m. each day at the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion (15th and E Streets, NW). Only one ticket will be issued per person so you need to have everyone in your party in line.  Since these tours are very popular, you should plan on arriving VERY early for tickets.

Nearest Metro subway station – Farragut West – Blue line, then a 4 block walk.

Photo credits: photo 1 & 2 – Paul Morse, photo 3 – Tina Hager

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Post from: The DC Traveler

Photo Location

Several government agencies that make up the Executive Office of the President work in the building, including the Office of the Vice President, the National Security Council and the Office of Management and Budget.

The closed street, which is now a pedestrian mall in front of the building, is also used for pick-up street hockey games.

Post from: The DC Traveler

During President Kennedy’s term, he had the Rose Garden, located just steps from the Oval Office redesigned to accommodate functions and ceremonies.  It was later used for events such as the signing of the Israel-Jordan peace treaty in 1994.  Lady Bird Johnson renamed the east garden for Jackie Kennedy and Pat Nixon first opened the gardens to periodic public tours starting in 1772.

The Annual White House Fall Garden Tour happens Saturday and Sunday, October 26-27 starting at 10:00 am on Saturday and Noon on Sunday with tours ending at 4:00 pm both days.   The tours will include the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, Rose Garden, Children’s Garden and the South Lawn. There are also several military bands scheduled to perform.

Free timed tickets are required and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 8:00 am each day at the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion (15th NE and E Street NE).   Plan on arriving VERY early to get tickets for this popular annual event.  If you need multiple tickets, plan on having everyone in your party (including the little ones) at the Pavilion, as the National Park Service will distribute only one ticket per person.  Plan on leaving backpacks and other large items behind as only strollers, wheelchairs and cameras are permitted and smaller personal items. If the weather is bad, the tours may be cancelled.

For more infromation about the upcoming garden tours or White House tours, contact the White House Visitor Center for 24-hours recorded information at 202-456-7041, or for live information from 7:30 am – 4:00 pm daily at 202-208-1631.

Have you even heard the phrase “a rose garden strategy”?  It implies the sitting president is hiding on the White House grounds and avoiding traveling to face the people. 

Photo credit: flickr

Post from: The DC Traveler