JFK+50: Volume 7, No. 2258
TOURING THE CROSS & ENTRANCE HALLS OF THE WHITE HOUSE
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) JFK+50 took our anxiously-awaited self-guided tour of the White House* Thursday morning, March 23, 2017. After touring the Green, Blue and Red Rooms, we passed through the Cross and Entrance Halls.
The Cross Hall is normally covered with a bright red carpet, but for public tours it is rolled up. The Cross Hall stretches from the State Dining Room to the East Room. It is lit by two cut-glass chandeliers and is simply furnished with two benches, two settees, busts and portraits. There are also two great French Empire tables which once belonged to Joseph Bonaparte.
Just as we walked out of the State Dining Room, we gazed upon Aaron Shikler's portrait of President John F. Kennedy. In the center of the Cross Hall is the entrance to the Blue Room. On either side of the doorway stand the flag of the United States and the presidential flag. Above is the colorful Seal of the President of the United States embedded into the wall.
As we turned left into the Entrance Hall, a large, square formal foyer space 31 by 44 feet, we saw the plaque in the marble floor commemorating the major restoration project dates: 1817, 1792-1901 & 1952.
*This was our third tour of the White House. The first was in July 1962 (JFK), the second in July 1973 (RMN) and the third in March 2017 (DJT). With the passage of time, the mansion does not lose its majesty or historical significance. We believe, as President Kennedy did, that a visit the White House brings us in touch with the past and with the men and women who have lived and served here.
SOURCES
"A Guide to the Public Rooms of the White House," January 2009, Office of the Curator, The White House^
^JFK+50 offers a note of appreciation to Mr. David Bland for making available to us the copy of this booklet.
"The President's Front Door," The White House Museum, www.whitehousemuseum.org/
"The White House: An Historic Guide," White House Historical Association, Washington, D.C., 1962.
*
TOURING THE CROSS & ENTRANCE HALLS OF THE WHITE HOUSE
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) JFK+50 took our anxiously-awaited self-guided tour of the White House* Thursday morning, March 23, 2017. After touring the Green, Blue and Red Rooms, we passed through the Cross and Entrance Halls.
The Cross Hall is normally covered with a bright red carpet, but for public tours it is rolled up. The Cross Hall stretches from the State Dining Room to the East Room. It is lit by two cut-glass chandeliers and is simply furnished with two benches, two settees, busts and portraits. There are also two great French Empire tables which once belonged to Joseph Bonaparte.
Just as we walked out of the State Dining Room, we gazed upon Aaron Shikler's portrait of President John F. Kennedy. In the center of the Cross Hall is the entrance to the Blue Room. On either side of the doorway stand the flag of the United States and the presidential flag. Above is the colorful Seal of the President of the United States embedded into the wall.
As we turned left into the Entrance Hall, a large, square formal foyer space 31 by 44 feet, we saw the plaque in the marble floor commemorating the major restoration project dates: 1817, 1792-1901 & 1952.
*This was our third tour of the White House. The first was in July 1962 (JFK), the second in July 1973 (RMN) and the third in March 2017 (DJT). With the passage of time, the mansion does not lose its majesty or historical significance. We believe, as President Kennedy did, that a visit the White House brings us in touch with the past and with the men and women who have lived and served here.
SOURCES
"A Guide to the Public Rooms of the White House," January 2009, Office of the Curator, The White House^
^JFK+50 offers a note of appreciation to Mr. David Bland for making available to us the copy of this booklet.
"The President's Front Door," The White House Museum, www.whitehousemuseum.org/
"The White House: An Historic Guide," White House Historical Association, Washington, D.C., 1962.
John F. Kennedy
by Aaron Shikler
White House Cross Hall
Photo by John White
Presidential Seal
White House Cross Hall
Photo by John White
Restoration Dates
White House Entrance Hall
Photo by John White
The White House
North Portico
March 23, 2017
Photo by John White
*
