For Immediate Release
Office of Mrs. Bush
December 10, 2002
White House Holiday Decorations on Display at Visitor Center
Washington, D.C. -- Holiday revelers interested in seeing a
behind-the- scenes exhibit on this year's White House decorations can
catch a glimpse at the White House Visitor Center from Tuesday, Dec. 10
until Monday, Jan. 6.
The White House residence staff, the White House Historical
Association and the National Park Service make the month-long exhibit
possible.
This year Mrs. Laura Bush selected "All Creatures Great and Small"
as the White House holiday theme to celebrate the joy and comfort pets
have brought Presidents and their families over the years. As part of
the theme, papier mach replicas of 25 First Family pets are on display
throughout the White House. They were designed, crafted and decorated
by White House Residence staff members.
Two of the 25 replicas can be found at the White House Visitor
Center: Barney, President and Mrs. George W. Bush's Scottish terrier,
who currently resides in the White House, and Pauline Wayne, a pet cow
and source of milk to William Howard Taft who served as President from 1909-1913.
Along with the Presidential pets, visitors will see a tall
poinsettia Christmas tree, similar to those now on display at the White
House, and a photo montage of the decorations in each of the rooms on
the State Floor, including the East Room, Green Room, Red Room, State
Dining Room and the Blue Room, the site of the official White House
Christmas tree.
Home and Garden Television (HGTV) is producing a 10-minute video
tour of the White House which will be shown at the Visitor Center
beginning Friday, Dec. 13. HGTV will also debut their holiday special
at the White House on Sunday, December 15 at 9 p.m. (EST).
The White House Visitor Center is located at 15th and E Streets, NW
and is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. seven days a week, except
Christmas and New Year's Day. For more information visitors may call
202-208-1631.
###
|