White House Tour

On Saturday, I had the rare opportunity of taking the Christmas tour of the East Wing of the White House, as a friend of mine had arranged for me to get a slot on the tour. While I have previously toured the West Wing, this was the first time I had seen the East Wing. The East Wing is amazing from a historical point of view. Some of the artifacts that are on display include formal state china sets, original American furniture sets from the early 1800's, and a portrait of George Washington that was rescued from the White House before it was burned in 1814. The architectural detail of the White House is amazing, and provides a sense of refined elegance. For example, if you look at this panoramic tour of the East Room, you can see the details of the moldings around the doorways. To celebrate the holiday season, the Blue Room had a Christmas tree that rose all the way to the ceiling, and was covered with ornaments that represented each of the fifty states.

If you ever get the opportunity to take a tour of the East Wing, I would highly recommend it.