This 2020 Blue Room ornament is the third in a series of ornaments featuring White House State Rooms that graced our presidents' official Christmas cards and gifts. The Red Room and Green Room ornaments were introduced in 2018 and 2019 respectively. Collect them all.
The White House Blue Room is distinct for its oval shape originally designed by architect James Hoban. The Yellow Oval Room is located above it and the Diplomatic Reception Room below it. One of three state rooms on the first floor of the White House, the Blue Room is used mostly for receptions and receiving lines. In 1886, it served as the setting for the only White House wedding of a President, Grover Cleveland, who married Francis Folsom. Traditionally, the room is decorated in shades of blue and furnished in the French Empire style. The gilded European beechwood furniture was purchased during the administration of James Monroe. Today much of the furniture is original to the Blue Room, despite multiple renovations.
At Christmastime, the Blue Room becomes home to the White House Christmas Tree. While not all presidents displayed a Christmas tree in the White House, the first known Christmas tree was erected in the oval parlor on the second floor of the White House during the Benjamin Harrison administration in 1889. First Lady Caroline Harrison helped decorate the tree herself for their grandchildren. Lou Henry Hoover began the custom of decorating an “official” White House tree in 1929. For many years, Mamie Eisenhower held the record for the number of Christmas trees exhibited in the Mansion in one year with 26 trees.
In 1961, Jacqueline Kennedy began the tradition of selecting a theme for the White House tree with Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite.
Enjoy this beautiful ornament now and for years to come. Buy them for your tree, for your collection, and as unique gifts for friends and family.
Quick Note About the Design
This ornament is even more beautiful in your hands and on your tree than it is in the pictures. The 3-D Christmas tree is physically mounted above the rest of the ornament, casting real shadows. The blue banner at the bottom of the ornament is surfaced above the beautiful gold frame. Incredible attention was paid to details in the design.
Details
Finish: 24 karat gold
Size: 3 1/4" x 2 3/4 x 1/4"
Included: Ornament, history card
Package: Beautiful, custom blue and gold box
Origin: Made in America
Exclusivity: These ornaments are designed and made exclusively by White House Holidays, and should not be confused with other official ornaments by the White House Historical Association.
About The White House Holidays Annual Series
This ornament is a continuation of a series of White House Holidays annual ornaments that complement "Season's Greetings from the White House," now in its eighth edition. The book documents nearly a century of Christmases at the White House - from Calvin Coolidge to Donald J. Trump.
Find Out More
Read all about this collectible ornament with the history card that accompanies the ornament in its beautiful blue and gold box. A description of the Christmas cards that inspired the ornament can be found in the book, "Season's Greetings from the White House" by Mary Evans Seeley.