Osky News visits Washington DC: The White House

The White House as seen from the Washington Monument

Recently, my family and I went on vacation to Washington DC. Our vacation to DC was a vacation that I have dreamed of for quite some time. The first day we were in Washington, we went to the United States Capital Building and the Supreme Court Building.

The second day of the trip had the biggest attraction of the trip on it: The White House. Our venture to the White House began in January when we submitted our request to tour the White House. We were required to go through several months of background checks.We were cleared for the tour about two weeks before our visit to DC. On the day of the visit, we woke up bright and early to walk down to the White House. Our Hotel was only a few blocks away from the White House.

We arrived at the White House about 30 minutes before our scheduled tour. We were able to get into the tour right away. We were required to go through two more security check points before being allowed into the White House. After our second checkpoint, we began the walk up the walk way to the East Wing. We entered the building through the East Wing. As we entered, we jumped into a long line.

Tours at the White House are self guided hence the reason why there was a long line. The first spot we went through was the East Colonnade. The East Colonnade was where a picture of President Obama running down the Colonnade with family pet Bo was taken. Throughout the Colonnade, there were various pictures of Presidents and other historic occurrences during different administrations.

The first two rooms we saw were The Library and The China Room. The Library is where the President gives press interviews. These rooms were roped off and we were not allowed to go into them. We next proceeded upstairs to the East Room. The East Room was more recently used to sign the Affordable Health Care Act. It also was used to welcome other various music groups. The next room was the Green Room. The room got its’ name for the green floor that was originally in the room. Currently, the walls are covered with a green fabric.

The next room was the Blue Room. The Blue Room is used by the President to greet foreign guests and other diplomats. Originally decorated in Red, the room got its’ name

The more commonly recognized White House South Portico

after Blue drapes were placed into the room. After the Blue room came the Red Room. The Red Room originally got its’ name because of the red fabrics and upholsteries that were in the room in the 1800s. The room was used for the “secret” swearing in of President Rutherford B. Hayes. Hayes took his oath of office in private because inauguration fell on a Sunday. The Monday after he took his original oath in private, he took the oath of office in public.

The final room was the State Dining Room. This room name is kind of self explanatory however I will go ahead and say what it is commonly known for. This room is the room that the President holds his annual State Dinner in. Many different Presidents and their guests have eaten dinner in this room. After this room, we exited the White House and were allowed to look at the White House. Cameras are prohibited within the White House however if you had a camera phone, you were allowed to take pictures of the White House outside of it after you were done with your tour. The photos that I have included with this article are photos that I took from the Washington Monument and from the gate outside of the White House.

My next story will be on the various memorials throughout Washington DC.