Stocking Stuffer Tidbits

Stocking Stuffers Tidbits

White House Holiday Details — 2000

TASTY FACTS:

VOLUNTEERS:
Eighty-one volunteers from across the nation donated their time and talents to decorate the White House this holiday season. For many of these volunteers, helping the White House prepare for Christmas has become an annual tradition. More than 600 volunteers will assist with tours and musical groups performing at the White House during the holiday season.

NUMBER OF CHRISTMAS TREES:

Inside the White House 34
Grounds 10
Total 44

LENGTHS OF GARLAND:
Garland on grounds and in the White House: 1120 feet

NUMBER OF WREATHS:
324 including 1 large 20’ wreath

NUMBER OF LIGHTS:
50,000 (including Blue Room Tree)

NUMBER OF BOWS: 1,071

NUMBER OF POINSETTIAS: 220 plants

ENTERTAINERS:
2,000 musicians from all over the country performing in the White House during tours and receptions.

ORNAMENTS:
Ornaments were used from the past seven years.

BLUE ROOM TREE:

Assorted Ornament 900
Light 11,250
State Balls (plus District of Columbia) 51
Glass Balls 550
TOTAL 12,751


White House Display Information — 2000

Crèche
The beautiful antique crèche showcased in the East Room was a gift to the White House by Mrs. Charles W. Engelhard of Nantucket, Massachusetts in 1967 and has been displayed every year since its presentation. This beautiful crèche was made in Naples, Italy in the late 18th century. The original 47 baroque figures are carved of wood and terra cotta. To ensure that future generations enjoy this exquisite gift, a new setting inspired by the Neapolitan displays in the Baroque period was created in 1999.

Blue Room Tree Skirt
This skirt was made by representatives from each of the 50 states, occupied territories and possessions. An individual artisan designed and made by hand a piece of the green velvet skirt, which drapes the base of the tree. Symbolizing the state in which each artist lives, there are apple blossoms from Arkansas, buckeyes from Ohio and marine life from Florida, to name a few.

Kissing Balls in the Grand Foyer
Each holiday season since 1995, master needlepoint artist, Hyla Hurley of Washington, D.C., has created a needlepoint kissing ball to hang in the Grand Foyer. This year’s large kissing ball, by Hyla Hurley and Gail Hendrix, encompasses all seven past themes. The previous "kissing balls" can be seen on board Santa’s sleigh in the East Entrance of the White House.

Oval Office
The Oval Office contains a tree decorated with ornaments made by 140 students from Project Northstar, an organization of young multi-racial community leaders who work with Washington’s homeless and formerly homeless children in one-on-one tutoring sessions, designed to promote literacy and strengthen basic academic skills to children. Volunteers from the White House serve as tutors.

West Wing Lobby
Two Menorahs from 1997 and 1999 are highlighted in the West Wing Lobby. Displayed in the West Wing Lobby are the menorah presented by metal sculptor Mayrim Baram in 1997, and the historic Breed Street Shul menorah designed and crafted by Marlene Zimmerman in 1999. The menorahs will be lit each night of the eight-day celebration of Hanukah.

Monroe Plateau
One of the most significant pieces in the White House collection, on display in the State Dining Room, is a gilded bronze plateau purchased from France in 1817 by President Monroe. Although pieces of it have been proudly displayed on holiday tables ever since, this is the first time in 100 years that the plateau has been displayed in its entirety.

Back



Holidays at the White House

Holiday Tour at the White House, 2000

Welcome Letter

White House Holiday Card 2000

Themes from the Past

Stocking Stuffer Tidbits

White House Holiday Entertainers 2000


President and First Lady | Vice President and Mrs. Gore
Record of Progress | The Briefing Room
Gateway to Government | Contacting the White House | White House for Kids
White House History | White House Tours | Help
Privacy Statement

Help

Site Map

Graphic Version

T H E   W H I T E   H O U S E