Creating the Educational Experience of the Future

2024 is a pivotal year for the White House Historical Association as we prepare to unveil The People's House: A White House Experience in September.??

Located steps from the White House, this 33,000-square-foot, cutting-edge education experience signals a new chapter for the Association. This immersive space serves as a catalyst to amplify our impact and share the history of the Executive Mansion in a unique, compelling way.??

After months of incredible teamwork, I'm proud to share that we are 12 weeks from the grand opening of The People’s House! This significant milestone points to the tremendous passion, dedication, and collaboration of our team, board, partners, and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden to bring this space to life.?

I recently spent some time walking through the site and wanted to share what excites me as we plan to open our doors to thousands of visitors this fall.??

I'm energized by our progress on The People’s House: A White House Experience to date – and the milestones ahead of us. Just six months ago, the building that houses our space was a blank canvas brimming with potential. Today, the Association is working full speed ahead, building on our momentum and shaping the educational experience of the future.?

There will be nothing else like The People's House: A White House Experience in Washington, D.C. The People's House isn't a museum. Rather, it's an immersive, technology-driven experience that is deliberately designed to evolve alongside moments within each presidency.??

Every day, we will embrace creative thinking on how we can transform the space and its galleries to meet the needs of multiple generations and make the experience of White House history accessible for all.??

As construction drives forward, we are also meticulously curating the depth of history, stories, and perspectives that will teach and inspire young minds in technology-rich galleries and models throughout the experience.?

We are committed to highlighting staff behind the scenes – from ushers to chefs and florists – who help maintain the White House's legacy as a home, office, and a world stage for State events. The niches in this gallery will soon evolve into channels for these talented staff members to tell their stories firsthand.

Our focus on White House inhabitants and those who dedicate their careers to its operations purposefully continues into our retail space. Soon, our gift shop will be filled with unique items inspired by people and architectural elements at the Executive Mansion.??

We believe it's critical to empower visitors to bring what they’ve learned and experienced at The People’s House into their daily lives. That's why I'm thrilled that we will also have a dedicated education wing that can accommodate large groups, school trips, and our summer White House History Teacher Institute – which is returning to D.C. for its annual programming next month!?

As we prepare for the grand opening, I continue to be inspired by the unwavering vision and dedication of our founder, First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.??

Her mission to protect, preserve, and provide public access to the rich history of America’s Executive Mansion is the cornerstone of our work, and I can’t wait to see our impact continue to expand and evolve through The People’s House. I’m confident the best is yet to come as we reveal this new, quintessential D.C. experience.??

Want to learn more? Follow The People's House on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and stay tuned for our grand opening in September!??

As we prepare to share this experience with visitors to Washington, D.C., I want to know: What questions do you have about The People's House? What are you most excited for?

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