White House Christmas, past and present

The White House now decorates 41 trees, with 25 classic wreaths adorning the north and south facades. It takes over 100 dedicated volunteers working a full week to decorate the inside and outside of the White House.

How did it all begin? Here are a few fun facts:

• John and Abigail Adams held the first White House Christmas party in 1800.

• Grover Cleveland lit up the first indoor Christmas tree inside the White House.

• Calvin Coolidge was first to host a National Christmas Tree lighting outdoors in 1923, becoming a yearly tradition since then.

Enjoy viewing these past and present decorations.

– Christina Johnson, On 3 Public Relations