For Immediate Release
Office of the First Lady
December 10, 2002

White House Holiday Decorations on Display at Visitor Center

Washington, D.C. -- Holiday revelers interested in seeing a behind-the- scenes exhibit on this year's White House decorations can catch a glimpse at the White House Visitor Center from Tuesday, Dec. 10 until Monday, Jan. 6.

The White House residence staff, the White House Historical Association and the National Park Service make the month-long exhibit possible.

This year Mrs. Laura Bush selected "All Creatures Great and Small" as the White House holiday theme to celebrate the joy and comfort pets have brought Presidents and their families over the years. As part of the theme, papier mach replicas of 25 First Family pets are on display throughout the White House. They were designed, crafted and decorated by White House Residence staff members.

Two of the 25 replicas can be found at the White House Visitor Center: Barney, President and Mrs. George W. Bush's Scottish terrier, who currently resides in the White House, and Pauline Wayne, a pet cow and source of milk to William Howard Taft who served as President from 1909-1913.

Along with the Presidential pets, visitors will see a tall poinsettia Christmas tree, similar to those now on display at the White House, and a photo montage of the decorations in each of the rooms on the State Floor, including the East Room, Green Room, Red Room, State Dining Room and the Blue Room, the site of the official White House Christmas tree.

Home and Garden Television (HGTV) is producing a 10-minute video tour of the White House which will be shown at the Visitor Center beginning Friday, Dec. 13. HGTV will also debut their holiday special at the White House on Sunday, December 15 at 9 p.m. (EST).

The White House Visitor Center is located at 15th and E Streets, NW and is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. seven days a week, except Christmas and New Year's Day. For more information visitors may call 202-208-1631.

###