White House Historical Association To Open A Techdriven Educational Center With Oval Office Replica In 2024

A tour of the White House is practically a must-do during a visit to Washington, D.C., but the experience may leave some guests thinking about places they haven't seen, like the Oval Office.

The White House Historical Association hopes to answer that question when the People's House opens in fall 2024. A White House Experience.

The $30 million education center, located on three floors of the building at Pennsylvania Avenue and 17th Street NW, one block from the White House, will use the latest technology to teach the public about the Executive Palace and its history.

“It will be an immersive, technology-rich experience where you will travel through space and, through the wonders of modern technology, these spaces will become the rooms of the White House around you,” said Stuart McLaren, president of the 'association. connected Pressure. Friday before the release of the project.

The center will have a large room at the White House that can be transformed into a green room, blue room or red room using technology. A life-size replica of the Oval Office will reflect the decor of the current president. The rest of the rose garden will offer a walk among its flowers.

The galleries on the upper floors will allow visitors to explore the Cabinet Room, the State Dining Room and the cinema. Another gallery will showcase the many invisible people – assistants, cooks, florists, butlers, housekeepers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters – who care for the White House and serve it in its many capacities as the residence of the president and his family . Offices of the president and his cabinet, ceremonial stage and museum.

respect

The most beautiful things and places in DC, Maryland and Virginia

People will also learn about the slave labor used to build the White House.

McLaurin said the People's House is intended to be a free extension for people visiting the White House, but will also be an option for those who cannot purchase tickets for the tour.

“When you visit the White House, as wonderful as it is because it’s a workshop and an office, they’re quite limited, and you can see the spaces and the experience of being there.” she says. He said, "But you can't stand there long enough to understand what happened in that area."

Plans for the People's House were revealed Thursday to donors attending the association's major fundraiser at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. First lady Jill Biden praised the project in front of a crowd at a private event attended by actors Michael Douglas and Martin Sheen. Both have played presidential roles on television and in film.

“This project is basically about education,” he said. “Teach our students about the origins of our country, bring to life the countless people who shaped it, and make the White House the beating heart of our democracy.”

“As an educator, I believe that our present and our future are inextricably linked to our past,” he continued. “And when we learn from the past, we come away changed, not only better informed, but more aware of the responsibility we have as citizens of this country to protect our democracy and our freedoms.”

“I think this is needed more than ever, at a time when our institutions are increasingly under attack and some of our leaders seem determined to bury our history,” Biden added.

The center will be open seven days a week, McLaurin said.

The association is privately funded so “people can learn from our experience, even if the government has to shut down due to some situation,” he said.

About 500,000 people visit the White House each year, McLaren said. He said he hoped the new center would attract more visitors.

In addition to the $30 million spent on construction costs, the association is seeking an additional $50 million in donations to fund its operations, he said.

The center will also include a long-desired feature of the association: an educational wing with classrooms for up to 200 students.

The White House Historical Society was established in 1961 by First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy to help preserve the interior of the White House and educate the public. It is a non-partisan, non-profit organization that receives no government funding. It raises funds primarily through private donations and retail product sales.

Do you want to know what awaits you for your weekend? Sign up for The Weekend Scene, our newsletter of events, experiences and adventures for you and your family in the DMV.

Why is the American education system failing? CNBC Marathon