First Lady Melania Trump paid tribute to “The Spirit of America” Monday morning as the White House unveiled its annual Christmas decorations to kickoff the holiday season.
Elements of this year’s theme permeate almost every ground floor room of the building, from the floral emblems of every US state and territory hanging from the official White House Christmas Tree to the architectural and design moldings representing some of America’s greatest landmarks lining the walls of the East Colonnade.
Even the White House pastry team was quick to show its American spirit, with tasty re-creations of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Space Needle, the Alamo, Mount Rushmore, the Statue of Liberty, the Gateway Arch, and the Liberty Bell accompanying the annual Gingerbread House residing in the State Dining Room.
This year’s official tree, always a highlight of the season, is an 18-foot tall Douglas fir hailing from Mahantongo Valley Farms in Pitman, Pennsylvania. It was grown by Larry Snyder and arrived just before Thanksgiving on a horse-drawn carriage outside the North Portico.
Throughout the month of December, the White House will play host to hundreds of guests, from administration staffers and Secret Service personnel to Gold Star families and military service members. Members of the public are also free to tour this year’s decorations by reaching out to their corresponding congressional representative.
The East Colonnade highlights a timeline of American design and architecture from the country’s early days (“saltbox” houses) through the modern era (skyscrapers).The Great Seal of the United States is positioned above the doors to the Blue Room, which houses the official White House Christmas Tree.The Gold Star Family Tree, which honors US military members and their families, is the very first tree to welcome guests to the East Wing.First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy’s portrait sits on display in the Vermeil Room, which features vibrant bouquets of blush roses and soft hues of gold.This year’s Gingerbread House is constructed from 200 lbs. of dough and covered in 25 lbs. of icing.Measuring over 18-feet tall, the ’19 White House Christmas Tree hails from Mahantongo Valley Farms in Pitman, Pennsylvania.A decorative “house of cards” sits in the Red Room, constructed from official White House playing decks.The entrance to the Blue Room as viewed from the Grand Foyer of the White House.White House advent calendars hang in the windows to the Green Room.Designed to highlight the “childlike spirit” of the season, the Red Room comes decorated with various parlor games.A portrait of President Harry Truman sits midway through the Grand Staircase, which connects the White House’s State Floor with the First Family’s official home on the Second Floor.A view of the East Room from the State Dining Room.The Library celebrates the legacies of former Presidents via past and present White House Historical Association ornaments.The annual Christmas cards of recent presidents and first families hang in the East Garden Room.A portrait of First Lady Laura Bush presides over the white marble walls of the building’s ground floor corridor.Classic Christmas tales adorn the mantle and Christmas tree inside the Green Room.George Peter Alexander Healy’s portrait of Abraham Lincoln in the State Dining Room.The Grand Foyer and Cross Hall boast a “glistening winter garden” theme this year, including 22 evergreens, 14 golden magnolia topiaries, and 10 floral urns.The floral emblem of every US state and territory is represented on the official White House Christmas Tree.A small part of the some 1,600 piece White House silver vermeil collection sits on display in the Vermeil Room.A view toward the State Dining Room, through the Cross Hall, from the East Room of the White House.Portraits of George and Martha Washington flank the White House Crèche inside the East Room.Members of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band play inside the Grand Foyer.
