CAPITAL'S CHILDREN INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN EGG ROLLING ON WHITE HOUSE LAWN
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On April 14, 1924, The Evening Star reports "there will be egg rolling on the rear rounds of the White House Easter Monday."
President Calvin Coolidge announced that he will be "most happy to turn over the smooth green lawns....to the children of the Capital."
The traditional egg rolling custom held on the grounds of the Executive Mansion had been suspended during the Woodrow Wilson administration due partly to the President's "long illness."*
In addition to the attendance of President Coolidge and the First Lady, the United States Marine Band will be on hand to perform at the event.
Only adults accompanied by children, or children accompanied by an adult, will be admitted for the egg rolling.
*President Warren G. Harding & the 1st Lady resumed the egg rolling event on March 11, 1921.
JFK+50 NOTE
According to the National Park Service, Easter egg rolling became a popular pastime for children on the grounds of the United States Capitol in the 1870s but Congress passed a law in 1876 forbidding the annual practice.
In 1878, President Rutherford B. Hayes ordered that children were invited to the White House to roll Easter eggs. The tradition has continued over the years with the most recent event held on April 1, 2024. Now, however, only winners of a lottery are admitted for Easter egg rolling.
SOURCES
"Easter Egg Roll: 1921," March 11, 1921, White House Historical Association, www.whitehousehistory.org/
"Egg Rolling Planned," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., April 14, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
"White House Easter Egg Rolling event information and history," National Park Service, www.nps.gov/
