First Lady Jill Biden has revealed enhancements to the White House tour, which now features increased digital aspects, richer historical context, and better civics education opportunities, according to a press release issued by the White House on Monday.

The revamped tour, described as a more extensive version of the old one, accommodates 10,000 visitors each week, offering a chance to gain insight into the White House’s history, as stated by the White House press office.

It has been decades since there have been any “major enhancements” to the tour, which now opens up the Diplomatic Reception Room, famously used by President Franklin D. Roosevelt for his renowned “fireside chats,” to the public for the first time.

Having worked as a classroom teacher for 40 years, First Lady Biden emphasized the significance of creating an “interactive and engaging” educational experience in the press release.

“Learning must appeal to the senses, and it is crucial to connect with students in a way that sparks their curiosity and imagination,” Biden expressed in the news release. “We hope the updated tour encourages everyone who visits the White House to delve deeper into our collective history.”

According to the release, the updated tour will include:

• Enhanced educational and interactive features along the tour path
• Increased storytelling elements utilizing technology and digital media
• Engaging and tactile content
• More chances to learn about the history of our nation, civics, and the legacies of past and present presidents and first families

Revitalizing the long-standing White House tour

Biden has spent the last two years collaborating with the National Park Service, the White House Curator’s Office, the White House Historical Association, presidential libraries, and The History Channel to enhance the White House tour, as she noted in the press release.

Her team has created more pathways within the building to allow deeper exploration of the rooms and incorporated additional interactive learning elements that are tactile, audible, and visual for visitors.

National Park Service Director Chuck Sams expressed in the release that the National Park Service is proud to have contributed to the tour’s updates.

“The White House, akin to all national parks, serves as a living classroom offering the public inspiring and educational opportunities to engage with our nation’s shared legacy,” Sams stated in the release.

What’s new in the public tour of the White House

One instance of the enhanced historical and educational features includes a reader rail in the Diplomatic Reception Room, where President Roosevelt once held his fireside chats. This reader rail provides insights about the room’s panoramic wallpaper and includes a replica of a 1939 Philco radio that plays excerpts of FDR’s fireside addresses.

The release also mentioned the introduction of more educational signage and video messages to better assist visitors.

“Visitors entering the public tour through the East Wing will be greeted by a video message from the First Lady,” the release stated. “A greeting video from the President will also welcome guests in the East Room, providing additional historical context and insight into the tour.”

Visitors will also enjoy “A Living Timeline” of White House history instead of the previous static photo collections in the East Colonnade. This area will feature a corridor with digital displays showcasing significant moments in American history. The old photo collages were criticized for lacking essential historical context or information, according to the release.

Additionally, there is a three-dimensional architectural model of the White House on display after guests walk through the East Colonnade and enter the East Garden Room. This model depicts the White House at various points in American history, beginning in 1792.

Visitors can gain insights from three reader rails, including one that details the history of the room, another showcasing a quote from John Adams’s letter to his wife on his inaugural night at the White House, and the third focusing on the artwork and artifacts present in the room, such as the Lincoln Portrait.

Moreover, a Grand Staircase Frame has been installed at the landing of the Grand Staircase, displaying pictures of First Families during State Dinners, festive occasions, and other memorable events.

White House tours typically take place from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, barring federal holidays. Admission to all White House tours is free.