My Time at the White House - by Landry Schoennauer

The White House houses the President and his family. It has been a scene of many important events in our nation's history. The White House doesn't just house the President either. It is the place where national and international decisions are made and new legislation is approved.

Our tour of the White House started in the Visitor's Entrance Building.

While that name doesn't sound too exciting, this room focuses on White House history and celebrations. Right out the side window, I couldn't help but notice the soccer goal. I thought it was kinda funny that it was there because the White House is this really fancy place and then there is just a soccer goal on a side lawn area. I really wanted to play but I knew I couldn't!

After the Visitor's Entrance Building, we headed into the White House Library.

The room had books running up and down the walls. There were books about history, fiction, the sciences and biographies; books that were all written by American authors. There is a lot of fancy furniture in this room also. For example, the chandelier once belonged to the family of James Fenimore Cooper and the paneling of this room was made from the timber from the reconstruction of the White House in 1948-1952.

Next, we headed to the Vermeil Room. It was covered in gold and silver and many picture frames. In these frames are pictures of recent First Ladies. But, this room hasn't always been the home of these portraits. It used to be a billiard room!

After that was the China Room. This room was established by Edith Wilson in 1917. On display are pieces of china and glass used by the Presidents. I thought it was interesting how the different pieces of china and glass didn't evolve much over the years. Also in this room, was a portrait of Grace Coolidge that was painted in 1924 by Howard Chandler Christy.

Then, we headed up the stairs to the largest room in the White House: The East Room.

The East Room is used for receptions, ceremonies, press conferences and many other events. The East Room has been the place of many weddings, including Nellie Grant, Alice Roosevelt and Lynda Bird Johnson. The bodies of seven dead Presidents have been laid to state there also. The chandeliers on the roof of the East Room where made in 1902.

Up next, was the Green Room. In case you didn't figure it out, the Green Room is covered in GREEN!

It went from green walls to green furniture - everywhere you look there is green! This room was once the dining room of Thomas Jefferson but now it is a parlor and it is used for reception in the White House. Most of the furniture in this room was made by Duncan Phyfe in New York around 1810. The coffee urn in this room was owned by John Adams, and it was covered on each side by French candlesticks that were used by James Madison.

After the Green Room was the Blue Room.

The color blue was first used when Martin Van Buren was in office. It was mainly used for the President to welcome incoming guests. James Monroe purchased many pieces of this room in 1814 after the building caught fire. The portraits in this room consist of John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe and John Tyler.

Then, we went through the Red Room.

This room in the White House was used for small receptions and it was one of the favorites of the First Ladies. John Adams used The Red Room as his breakfast room and President Hayes used it to take his oath of office on March 3, 1877. The room is decorated as an American Parlor from the early 1800's.

Last, but not least, was the the State Dining Room.

This room could seat 130 guests for lunch and dinner. The patterns on the walls were painted during the White House renovation in 1902. There is also a quote by John Adams carved into the fireplace. It states: "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."

We ended our tour in the Entrance and Cross Halls of the White House, where to floors are covered in Tennessee marble and the construction and renovation dates are engraved into that floor. The second and third floors of the White House are only used by the President, his family, and his guests. Located on these floors are the Lincoln Bedroom, the former President's office and the Queen's bedroom (named for its royal visitors).

By Landry Schoennauer