White House Public Tour Gets Enhanced Educational Experience
WASHINGTON — Jill Biden, drawing on her experience as an educator, has overseen a revamp of the White House public tour. On Monday, she unveiled an updated version designed to provide visitors with deeper insights into the mansion’s history and the significant events that unfolded within its iconic rooms.
A newly accessible stop on the tour is the Diplomatic Reception Room, previously off-limits to the public. This ground-floor room is where President Franklin D. Roosevelt recorded his famous “fireside chats.” Now, visitors will be able to hear excerpts of these conversations.
Visitors will also gain access to several other ground-floor rooms that were previously restricted: the library; the China Room, which houses the collection of presidential place settings; and the Vermeil Room, containing a collection of tableware.
The same accessibility extends to the East Room and State Dining Room, located one floor above.
Visitors can also engage with interactive digital displays that replace printed signs outside of rooms on the tour, providing a multisensory experience.
“Education is my life’s work and I know that there are three kinds of learners: visual, auditory and tactile,” , a teacher for 40 years, said Sunday night as she and hosted a dinner to celebrate the updated tour.
After personally experiencing the tour route, the first lady decided to expand its scope and incorporate more educational and historical content, according to aides. The tour had not been updated for several decades.
“The White House tour now lets visitors touch, hear and see their history up close,” she said Sunday.
Approximately 10,000 people tour the White House each week.
Upon entering through the East Wing, visitors will be greeted by a video message from Jill Biden. In the East Room, President Biden will appear on video to share anecdotes about some of the historical events that transpired there. Subsequent presidents can record their own greetings, as the changes are intended to be carried over from one administration to the next.
Collages of printed photos lining the hallway have been digitized, enabling easier re-arrangement. A new vertical 3D model of the 18-acre White House campus illustrates the evolution of the executive mansion over the past 200-plus years.
The first lady’s office has collaborated on this project for the past two years with the National Park Service, the White House Curator’s office, the private, nonprofit White House Historical Association, presidential libraries, and the History Channel.