Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum invites visitors to enjoy ‘Holidays at the White House’

 

[November 29, 2018] 

Visitors will get the chance to see Christmases past when the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum presents a new exhibit showing how four different presidents celebrated the holidays.

“Holidays at the White House: A Presidential Christmas” features decorations, photographs and gifts from the administrations of Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford and George H. W. Bush. Special decorations, graphics and video projections add to the exhibit’s festive feel.

Highlights include:
• A set of spurs given to Johnson by the president of Mexico
• A heart-shaped box given by Nixon to his wife, Pat
• A carving that Ford’s son gave to his mother, which later hung in the Oval Office
• Santa Claus ornaments from the Bush Christmas display in 1992
• A red gown with gold brocade worn to a Christmas party by Betty Ford

The special exhibit runs through Jan. 6. It is provided as part of regular admission to the Lincoln museum (212 N. 6th Street, Springfield).

“I think it’s fascinating to see how different administrations celebrated the holidays. It gives you a glimpse into the personal style of each president and first lady,” said Alan Lowe, executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. “We are so grateful to the other presidential libraries that have allowed us to borrow holiday items from their collections.”

The Lincoln Presidential Library is also marking the holiday season with an “angel tree” inviting people to donate to Sojourn Shelter & Services and by admitting people for free after 4 p.m. to take family photos with our decorations.

President Lyndon B. Johnson and family

Christmas at the White House is never a simple affair. In some cases, it comes amid turmoil and tragedy, as in 1963 after the assassination of President Kennedy or 1974 after President Nixon’s resignation. Even under normal circumstances, it was a huge undertaking. First lady Barbara Bush recalls her shock at learning the preparations began in February!

The exhibit shows the formal side of the presidency – Nixon’s choice of Lincoln for his Christmas cards, for instance – as well as the more personal side. Photos show the presidents and first ladies playing with children on Christmas eve, decorating cookies and reading Christmas stories.

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is dedicated to telling the story of America’s 16th president through old-fashioned scholarship and modern technology. It also serves as the state historical library.

The library holds an unparalleled collection of Lincoln material, as well as some 12 million items pertaining to other aspects of Illinois history. Meanwhile, the museum uses traditional exhibits, eye-catching special effects and innovative story-telling techniques to educate visitors.

Learn more at www.President [e-mail] 

[Christopher Wills]