If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to sit in the Oval Office or witness meetings behind the closed doors of the Cabinet Room, a new exhibit opening just steps from the White House offers the next best thing.
On September 23, the White House Historical Association will debut The People’s House: A White House Experience, an immersive educational exhibit that brings the rich history of America’s most iconic residence to life.

Spanning three floors, the exhibit takes visitors through the mansion’s most iconic spaces. Guests can view a 1:5 scale model of the White House’s South Portico, walk through a recreation of the Rose Garden, and even sit at the Resolute Desk in a full-size replica of the Oval Office.
Tablets, videos, and projections allow visitors to explore the history of the rooms from 1790 to the present. Attendees can see how history was shaped, with highlights including a 360-degree projection of the State Floor’s various rooms, a simulated State Dinner, and a simulated Cabinet Room meeting.

Going through the exhibit will take about an hour to an hour-and-a-half.
Free timed entry passes through October are available online now. New passes become available each month for the next one. The exhibit is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, with occasional closures for maintenance and holidays. Walk-up passes are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
1700 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Washington, DC, free, $15 suggested donation
Feature rendering courtesy The White House Historical Association
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