Since our nation was founded, presidents have sought to welcome citizens to the White House. However, with over 330 million residents in the U.S., the Executive Mansion often feels like a distant monument of authority that many only see on their screens.

The positive news is that a modern educational center has just opened mere blocks away from the White House, allowing a close look into how “The People’s House” operates.

Granting access to the White House has historically posed challenges. On January 1st, 1801, shortly after John Adams became the first president to reside there, he initiated the tradition of holding public receptions on New Year’s Day. For over 130 years, with some temporary breaks, this event allowed regular Americans to wait in lines (sometimes for hours in harsh winter conditions) to greet their president.

Presidential tradition of outreach to citizens

President Thomas Jefferson also introduced his own traditions, such as an open house following his inauguration in 1805, where attendees celebrated in what is now known as the Blue Room. He was also the first to shake hands with visitors instead of bowing, which had been the custom since George Washington.

At Andrew Jackson’s inauguration, his supporters flooded the White House, with some even breaking crystal and climbing on the furniture in their boots. The crowd was so overwhelming that Jackson reportedly had to escape through a window.

Jefferson also organized the first Fourth of July celebration at the White House, featuring the Marine Band and horse racing on the grounds.

He initiated public tours of the White House, a tradition that has allowed countless Americans to experience history in ways few other opportunities can match. A visit I made in fifth grade ignited my passion for American history and set the stage for my efforts to preserve it.

As the nation expanded, maintaining this level of personal access became increasingly difficult. In 1846, a witness recalled that President James Polk had to “shake, shake, shake” hands so much that it seemed he might wear his arm out. During Abraham Lincoln’s presidency, visitors often climbed through windows and crowded hallways just to catch a glimpse of him.

Lincoln’s assassination underscored the risks associated with such unrestricted access. By the time Grover Cleveland was in office, the inaugural open house was transformed into a military review, laying the groundwork for the modern inaugural parade.

Holidays present new opportunities for presidential accessibility

President Rutherford B. Hayes started the tradition of inviting children to the White House for an Easter egg hunt.

Also, President Calvin Coolidge was the first to participate in the public lighting ceremony for the national Christmas tree.

Several first families have welcomed children to trick-or-treat at the White House on Halloween.

President Franklin Roosevelt ended the New Year’s Day reception in 1933, but his radio “fireside chats” succeeded in bringing the president into American living rooms.

Harry Truman’s inauguration in 1949 marked the first televised event, offering a new way for individuals to engage with their president.

In the era of new mass media, the importance of connecting with the White House on a personal level might have seemed diminished. However, Jacqueline Kennedy grasped this idea well.

She famously declared, “The White House belongs to the American people.”

Jackie Kennedy Initiated the Preservation of the White House Experience for Visitors

As First Lady, Kennedy spearheaded an initiative to enhance the White House experience for visitors by renovating its interiors and collecting historical furniture from previous presidents. She hosted a televised tour of the White House that attracted over 80 million viewers around the globe on Valentine’s Day in 1962.

Furthermore, Kennedy established the White House Historical Association to continue this legacy, and I am proud to lead our efforts today.

Since 1962, the association has published the official guidebook for the White House, along with valuable research, educational resources for teachers, and a digital library filled with unique images and photographs documenting White House history.

Now, You Can Explore ‘The People’s House’ for a Unique White House Experience

This month, we are thrilled to introduce a new way for Americans to experience the White House and its history from within – The People’s House: A White House Experience. Spanning three stories and 33,000 square feet, this educational center features immersive 360-degree projections and interactive technologies, allowing visitors to genuinely feel what it’s like to be in the rooms where significant historical events unfolded.

The People’s House will offer guests – including children and families – an engaging view of pivotal moments in presidential history, revealing untold stories of first families and daily life in the White House, as well as offering insights into how thousands of staff have supported the Executive Mansion over its 220-plus years.

From White House weddings to daily life at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue during wartime, state-of-the-art projection technologies will vividly recreate iconic White House rooms – such as the Lincoln Bedroom, where President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation and where many believe Lincoln’s ghost resides. Or the East Room, which has hosted historic meetings, funerals, and even where first lady Abigail Adams would dry clothes.

Guests can engage with models of books and objects – from trumpets to telephones to televisions – to unlock multimedia stories from White House history. A desk will connect to how presidents have enacted landmark legislation, while a podium opens a window to the White House press corps. Touching a lightbulb reveals the story of electricity’s arrival at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Kids can tap an Easter basket to hear about the White House Easter Egg Roll, or a walkie-talkie to learn about the Secret Service and presidential code names.

Families can walk in the footsteps of the president through a colonnade beside the Rose Garden and onto a full-scale replica of the Oval Office (equipped with exact duplicates of its current furnishings), where they can take a selfie sitting at the president’s desk. Visitors will discover how a diverse group of free and enslaved workers constructed and maintained the early White House and can watch a video about the management of its numerous tasks, both large and small.

The People’s House will allow guests to partake in a virtual White House State Dinner – granting them a seat at the table to advise presidents and their Cabinets during critical times like the Civil War, the Great Depression, and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

I can’t imagine a better setting for families, school groups, and others to learn about American history through the lens of the White House. The People’s House also features classrooms for teachers and students to discuss their insights from a guided tour with our historians.

And it’s all available to the public free of charge, seven days a week.

This is because I understand how a visit to the White House can bolster one’s civic engagement. We aim to offer everyone visiting or residing in the nation’s capital the opportunity to experience the White House and its legacy through a fresh perspective, utilizing 21st-century methodologies to bring our history to life, so it can become a vital part of our civic identity and national dialogue.

As we near the 250th anniversary of our democracy in 2026, only about 20% of eighth graders demonstrate proficiency in civics, with just 13% in U.S. history.

The robustness of our democracy is at stake. We must take every measure to ensure that every citizen is well-informed.

A generation of Americans has a grasp of our nation’s past, the impacts of our leaders, and the importance of the White House as a residence for the public.