Where: Washington, DC
When: September 29, 2017
With: Mom & Aunt Lee Lee
Ah, the White House. Regardless of your political affiliations, especially in these times, it is still a place that holds so much prestige and grandeur for our country. The home to every President of the United States since John Adams, it's mind boggling to picture the number of important people that have graced its walls and slept in its beds. It's like a living museum.
My mom decided we should go when we were all in town for my sister's bridal shower. To get tickets is a bit of a process. My mom had to make a request to her local senator with the days we'd be in town. Then we had to wait. Then we had to provide lots of information for a background check. Then we had to wait. Finally, a few weeks before the trip, a time and date were given: 7am on Friday morning. Blech, but at least we got the tickets!
I got in the uber that morning to meet my family and told the driver to take me to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, joking "I have a few things on my mind I'd like to discuss". Except that when we approached, he asked me how we'd be getting into the drop-off zone. And then I realized that in this city, I could be anyone with any ability to get through any doors, and he didn't realize I was joking. So I sheepishly had to admit it was just a tour, and with an "ohhh" he drove me around to the side of the building where tourists get in.
Despite the firm start time, we had to wait in a long line to get in; however, my mom was first in line and completely stoked about it. After awhile, we were snaked through a lengthy wait area for every type of security check there is, from metal detectors to K-9 units. No bags were allowed in, which made packing our things for the day rather challenging, but we made it through all the security and just like that, we were walking into the White House.
It was funny, but since we were first in line, it felt like we'd gone astray somewhere. After all the security, we literally just walked up to an unguarded door on the side of the White House, opened it up and walked in, asking "Is this ok?" to the person on the other side. But it made it very cool as it felt like we were there all by ourselves, particularly walking down the halls. First walk was down the East Colonnade, with a view of the garden out to our left.
When: September 29, 2017
With: Mom & Aunt Lee Lee
Ah, the White House. Regardless of your political affiliations, especially in these times, it is still a place that holds so much prestige and grandeur for our country. The home to every President of the United States since John Adams, it's mind boggling to picture the number of important people that have graced its walls and slept in its beds. It's like a living museum.
My mom decided we should go when we were all in town for my sister's bridal shower. To get tickets is a bit of a process. My mom had to make a request to her local senator with the days we'd be in town. Then we had to wait. Then we had to provide lots of information for a background check. Then we had to wait. Finally, a few weeks before the trip, a time and date were given: 7am on Friday morning. Blech, but at least we got the tickets!
I got in the uber that morning to meet my family and told the driver to take me to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, joking "I have a few things on my mind I'd like to discuss". Except that when we approached, he asked me how we'd be getting into the drop-off zone. And then I realized that in this city, I could be anyone with any ability to get through any doors, and he didn't realize I was joking. So I sheepishly had to admit it was just a tour, and with an "ohhh" he drove me around to the side of the building where tourists get in.
Despite the firm start time, we had to wait in a long line to get in; however, my mom was first in line and completely stoked about it. After awhile, we were snaked through a lengthy wait area for every type of security check there is, from metal detectors to K-9 units. No bags were allowed in, which made packing our things for the day rather challenging, but we made it through all the security and just like that, we were walking into the White House.
It was funny, but since we were first in line, it felt like we'd gone astray somewhere. After all the security, we literally just walked up to an unguarded door on the side of the White House, opened it up and walked in, asking "Is this ok?" to the person on the other side. But it made it very cool as it felt like we were there all by ourselves, particularly walking down the halls. First walk was down the East Colonnade, with a view of the garden out to our left.
After that, we turned the corner to a long hallway with a few rooms off to the right and left that were roped off: the Library and the Vermeil Room. The Library is where the President and First Lady will host guests for tea.
Also down this hall is the China Room, showcasing, you guessed it, china collected during various presidencies.
From here, we could see down a hallway towards the kitchens, but it was time to go upstairs to the main floor of the building, passing a beautiful (probably historic) grandfather clock on the way up.
The first room we entered on the next floor was absolutely stunning: the East Room. It is the largest room in the White House and the place where balls, receptions and press conferences are held.
As we criss-crossed between rooms, we got some epic views down these prestigious halls. I love how they roll up all the carpets during tours to preserve the fabric.
The next three rooms are very "cleverly" named for their colors. First up, the Green Room.
Then the Blue Room.
And finally, the Red Room. These three rooms are where guests are usually served appetizers and cocktails before a large reception.
At the other end of the building, opposite the East Room with all the colorful rooms in the middle, is the State Dining Room, where people are, not surprisingly, fed food.
Loving the eagle decor in the Dining Room. So presidential.
And finally, from here, we exited through the Entrance Hall, where tons of famous portaits of the Presidents line the hallways.
And just like that, we were out the door and done with our tour! It was pretty quick from end to end, I will admit, particularly with no tour guide or audio guide to pace ourselves. I also think my mom was expecting to see the action in the Oval Office, but maybe next time!
We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves though. This was such a cool experience to walk these halls.
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