On October 21, 2024, First Lady Jill Biden unveiled the first major update to the White House public tour in decades, introducing an “enhanced” and “educational” experience for visitors.
The updated tour includes access to the Diplomatic Reception Room, used by President Roosevelt for his famous fireside chats. Visitors can enjoy a more immersive experience, with opportunities to engage with educational content through interactive elements that allow them to “touch, hear, and see” exhibits up close.
As a classroom teacher for 40 years, the First Lady understands the importance of making learning both engaging and hands-on, noted a White House statement, highlighting that the White House welcomes around 10,000 visitors each week and offers a valuable opportunity to educate people of all ages about the living history of the White House.
“I’ve been a classroom teacher for 40 years, and I know learning has to be interactive and engaging. It has to evoke the senses, and you have to meet students where they are, giving them what they need to spark their curiosity and imagination,” said First Lady Jill Biden. “We hope the tour inspires everyone who visits the White House to learn more about our shared history.”
The enhanced White House public tour will use technology and digital storytelling to enrich the experience, offering visitors deeper historical context. The History Channel, in collaboration with ESI Design, are responsible for the new tour experience. ESI Design is known for its educational work at the Liberty Island and Ellis Island museums, both maintained by the National Park Service. The History Channel has also produced films for historic sites like the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, the Statue of Liberty, and Gettysburg National Military Park.
“Preserving our country’s history, investing in education, and engaging the next generation is at the heart of the new expanded White House tour,” said Paul Buccieri, President & Chairman, A+E Networks Group, which includes The History Channel. “We are honored to join First Lady Jill Biden on this special initiative to enhance the White House tour experience for the American public and visitors from around the globe.”
“More than 10,000 visitors come through these doors each week on the public tour, and it’s such an opportunity for students of all ages to learn about our country’s history, civics, and the lives of Presidents and their families,” said First Lady Jill Biden.
She further added that when her husband Joe Biden became President, she took a public tour and was told the tour has not seen any significant improvements in decades. That led to her decision that there had to be a way to reimagine this tour experience, add more educational content and story-telling, while also preserving and protecting its history.
“So, we did,” affirmed the First Lady.
The First Lady added, “Throughout the past two years, we’ve been working with the National Park Service, White House Curator’s Office, White House Historical Association, presidential libraries, and The History Channel to enhance and expand the public tour of the White House.”
She emphasized that the White House has introduced “flexible, versatile, and dynamic tools,” to enhance the tour experience, while also expanding access to allow visitors to explore more areas of the residence.
“The White House, like all national parks, are living classrooms that provide the public with inspirational and educational opportunities to connect with our nation’s shared heritage,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “The National Park Service is honored to support these tour and exhibit enhancements that will elevate the thrill level of walking the halls of the White House and experiencing firsthand the rooms where history has been, and continues to be, made.”
President of the White House Historical Association, Stewart D. McLaurin, said, “Dr. Biden’s passion for education inspired this deeper engagement every visitor will now have with the White House. It has been a privilege to work with her and her team to deploy innovative and creative tools to better share the lessons and stories of White House history.”
New features of the White House public tour include More Educational Story-telling and Civics Education Incorporated Throughout the Public Tour; Educational, Experiential Signage, and Video Greetings; A Living Timeline of White House History; Three-Dimensional Architectural Model of the White House; More Access to White House Rooms; Expanded Tour Route to Now Include the Diplomatic Reception Room; Multi-sensory Reader Rails; Dynamic Digital Partition Panel; East Room; Welcome Pillar and Reader Rails; Additional Educational Content in the State Dining Room; and Grand Staircase Frame.
