Assistant Vice President, Principal Gifts
The Association is seeking an Assistant Vice President, Principal Gifts to join the Development team. This position will report to...
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Plus Notorious Ghost Stories and Legends
Halloween celebrations at the White House began in 1958 during the Dwight Eisenhower administration when First Lady Mamie Eisenhower decorated the Executive Mansion for the occasion. Decorations included skeletons, jack-o-lanterns, and stalks of dried corn in the State Dining Room. She also hosted a lunch for the wives of White House staff members.
"Ever since First Lady Mamie Eisenhower first decorated the White House in 1958, first families—especially those with young children and grandchildren—have enjoyed celebrating Halloween. From ghost stories, to decorations, to elaborate costumes, and trick-or-treating, presidents have often invited families to the White House to enjoy the spooky holiday."
-Lina Mann, Historian at The White House Historical Association
More on how administrations celebrated Halloween at the White House here.
Learn about other ghost lore here.
To schedule an interview with historian Lina Mann or request high-res images of Halloween celebrations at the White House, contact press@whha.org
To learn more about Halloween traditions and stories at the White House, visit the Halloween at the White House Press Collection.
For all media inquiries, contact press@whha.org.
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy envisioned a restored White House that conveyed a sense of history through its decorative and fine arts. She sought to inspire Americans, especially children, to explore and engage with American history and its presidents. In 1961, the nonprofit, nonpartisan White House Historical Association was established to support her vision to preserve and share the Executive Mansion’s legacy for generations to come. Supported entirely by private resources, the Association’s mission is to assist in the preservation of the state and public rooms, fund acquisitions for the White House permanent collection, and educate the public on the history of the White House. Since its founding, the Association has given more than $100 million to the White House in fulfillment of its mission.
To learn more about the White House Historical Association, please visit WhiteHouseHistory.org.
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