the W hite H ouse G arden An exhibition developed and supported by the white house historical association and organized for travel by the smithsonian institution traveling exhibition service Exhibition Prospectus
If the White House is the People s House, then its gardens are truly America s gardens. The White House grounds are the oldest continuously maintained landscaped gardens in the United States. Ancient oaks and elms shaded George Washington as he walked the farmlands of the future presidential park. The trees there today provide an organic link to the presidents who followed him. Over the centuries, the lawns and gardens of the White House have been the backdrop for the activities of first families, receptions for kings and queens, and signings of laws and treaties affecting the world. They have also provided the setting for more personal events, like the exchange of wedding vows, by young couples, the sounds of presidents hitting golf balls and tossing horseshoes, and the joyous laughter of children rolling Easter eggs. Carved from 82 acres set aside for a President s Park by Washington city planner Pierre Charles L Enfant in 1792, the 18-acre president s garden is a spectacular ensemble of formal gardens, secluded natural retreats, and expansive parkland. Flowers, herbs, and more than 500 trees, including the ancient magnolia thought to have been planted by Andrew Jackson in the 1830s, thrive in the garden. Inside the White House, living plants and cut flowers contribute to its long tradition of grace and hospitality. Presidents and first ladies have all played a part in the development of the White House gardens. John Adams requested a vegetable garden but was out of office before it was harvested. Farmer-statesman Thomas Jefferson cultivated figs and orange trees in his office. Theodore Roosevelt asked that the mint patch behind the White House be saved during a construction project so that he and his wife, Edith, could continue to enjoy their mint Exhibition at a glance juleps. John F. Kennedy had the Rose Garden redesigned as a stage for Freestanding units with text official ceremonies, press conferences, and elegant dinners. And, as first and graphics lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton installed contemporary sculpture in the 1,000 square feet East Garden. Some of the nation s best-known landscape designers and Limited security $4,500 plus outgoing shipping architects, including Andrew Jackson Downing, Beatrix Farrand, and Tours May 2008 July 2012 Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., have also left their mark. The White House Garden, organized in collaboration with the White House Historical Association, traces the development of the White House gardens and grounds from the 1790s to the present. Thematic sections address presidents and first ladies, presidential children, White House gardeners and historical plantings, and the Rose Garden, East Garden (the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden), and Children s Garden. Reproductions of historic and contemporary photographs, drawings, maps, and correspondence from various resources convey the aesthetic, social, political, and historical significance of this magnificent landscape.
The White House Rose Garden is one of the world s most famous gardens. Located adjacent to the Oval Office, it is the scene of announcements, bill signings, and diplomatic ceremonies. Photo by Erik Kvalsvik, White House Historical Association
The East Garden, now known as the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, was re-designed in the 1960s by the Kennedys friend, Rachel Lambert Mellon, and landscape architect Perry Wheeler. Photo by Eric Kvalsvik, White House Historical Association Opposite: The Rose Garden serves as a setting for diplomacy. President George H.W. Bush and Queen Elizabeth present official gifts at a 1991 ceremony. Photo by Joseph H. Bailey, White House Historical Association
Exhibition Collaborators White House Historical Association The White House Historical Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of the White House. The association produces educational literature and films; develops and sponsors special programs, including lectures, exhibits, and other outreach activities; and maintains a website interpreting the White House and its history and the persons and events associated with it. The association supports the acquisition of artwork and objects for the White House collection and contributes to the conservation of the public rooms. www.whitehousehistory.org Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 50 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science, and history, which are shown wherever people live, work, and play. www.sites.si.edu No garden has ever been so lovingly tended nor any garden known so many famous people. Author and historian William Seale
Exhibition Specifications Contents: Freestanding units with text and reproductions of images, drawings, maps, correspondence, and other graphic elements Participation fee: $4,500, per 8-week booking period, plus outgoing shipping Size: 1,000 square feet Weight:2,200 pounds, est. Crates: 15, est. Shipping: Outgoing Security: Limited Tour begins: May 2008 Exhibition Support As a host of The White House Garden, you will receive: Complete curatorial and registrarial information Complete shipping, handling, and installation instructions Wall-to-wall fine-arts insurance coverage under the Smithsonian s policy Public relations support, including sample press release, images, logos, and advice on promoting the exhibition and hosting special events Digital graphic templates of programming and promotional materials 2,500 exhibition brochures One complimentary copy of The White House Garden by William Seale and a 30-minute dvd, Upon These Grounds: Exploring the White House Garden Educational and programming resources, educator resources, speaker list, bibliography Ability to link to and from the SITES website Registrarial Requirements This exhibition has been designated Limited Security and will be offered to institutions able to meet the requirements listed below. Space Exhibitions may be displayed in a gallery, lounge area, or other appropriate indoor space. A hallway, temporary building, or tent is not acceptable. Empty crates must be stored in a secure indoor, pest-free storage area. Protection Supervision may be by guard, volunteer, or receptionist. Someone must be in the room with the exhibition at all times but may perform other duties while watching the exhibition. The exhibition may not be left unguarded at any time while open to the public. The exhibition area must be locked and secured during closing hours. Fire-protection systems that meet local ordinances are required. Environmental Controls Direct sunlight must be eliminated to prevent fading of graphics. The exhibition area must be climate controlled. SITES Contacts Scheduling Minnie Micu 202.633.3160 micum@si.edu Content Design W. Parker Hayes Jr. 202.633.3113 hayesp@si.edu
Above: In this 1968 photo, Lady Bird Johnson and a group of schoolchildren add a tree to the grounds, a custom dating back more than a hundred years. Photo by Robert Knudsen, Lyndon Baines Johnson Library Left: President Benjamin Harrison s grandchildren rode in a cart on the South Lawn pulled by their pet goat, His Whiskers, c. 1889 1893. Photo by Frances Benjamin Johnston, Library of Congress Opposite: In this 1977 photo, presidential daughter Amy Carter and her nephew, Jason, greet President Jimmy Carter in the tree house the president designed. Jimmy Carter Library
SITES po box 37012 mrc 941 washington, dc 20013-7012 202.633.3140 www.sites.si.edu Today the President s Park includes Lafayette Park (top center), the White House, and the Ellipse (lower center). Photo by Erik Kvalsvik, White House Historical Association Cover: By the time this idyllic south view of the White House was published in 1831, the porticoes had been built and the garden planted. Artistic license placed the parterre on the west in this etching. White House Historical Association (White House Collection) design by carol beehler 2007 smithsonian institution