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  • White House History Comes to Life in a New DC Exhibit 
Rendering of The People's House
  • Things to Do

White House History Comes to Life in a New DC Exhibit 

The interactive exhibit offers an insider’s view of America’s most iconic residence.

By Emily Sohl September 13, 2024 at 9:56 am

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. 

Aerial rendering of first floor of People's House
First floor experiences include a scale model of the White House, a recreation of the Oval Office, and more. (Rendering courtesy The White House Historical Association)

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.  

Peoples House immersive theater
An interactive theater will immerse visitors as the room transforms to represent the rooms of the State Floor. (Rendering courtesy the White House Historical Association)

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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