New front page - Ike China Room

I've changed the front page to an image from the Life collection, a pleasant 1958 picture of party guests looking over the china collection. And I've also freshened the blog again.

Happy new year!

New front page - Reagan Green Room

I've changed the front page again, and again I've reused a previous image, this time the 1982 Green Room with holiday wreaths in the windows.

Also, I've added some source link details to the Resources page.

New front page - old front page

For the first time since I started back in June of 2006, I've decided to reuse a front page image for the monthly front page change. It's the Kennedy Blue Room, one of my favorites.

New front page - doorway

I've put up a new front page: a visitor's picture of doorway from the East Room to the Green Room (at least, that's what I think it is), suggested by Pete. Thanks Pete!

New front page - East Wing Lobby

I realized last night that I'd forgotten to change the front page for the month, so I've change it now to a picture of visitors in the East Wing Lobby a couple of years ago.

New front page - TR's new office

I've changed the front page for August, this time to a photo of TR in repose in his new room in the new Executive Office Building—the original West Wing (if you don't count the stables and laundry).

New front page - West Sitting Hall

I changed the front page to one of the West Sitting Hall around 1937.

Also, I noticed that in the Truman 1945 renovation plans for the West Wing (which were never realized), there was a better layout for the first floor than I had for anywhere near that era, so I combined it with the 1960 plan to create a composite that should be pretty accurate (if not entirely complete on the north side).

New front page - Reagan and Bush

I got busy and lazy simultaneously and neglected to change the front page for June. But Becky kindly reminded me, and now I've changed it to a beautiful photo of President Reagan with VP Bush on the patio outside the Oval Office, from almost exactly 20 years ago.

New front page - Johnson 1 East Room

I've changed the front page to one of Andrew Johnson's East Room.

Also, I've added two new pics of the north side from 19th century postcards in my collection.

New front page - Ike in the theater

President Eisenhower sits quietly and comfortably in his easy chair in the Family Theater, where he spent so many hours watching western after western. No foolin'.

New front page - Reagan Green Room

I've changed the front page to the 1982 Green Room, a nice bit of color in the gray weather.

New front page - Trumans

Changed the front page to one of Truman being sworn in in the Cabinet Room, with Bess and Margaret by his side.

Front page gallery.

New front page: blueprint

Changed the front page to an elevation of the south face that I made to look like a blueprint to use as wallpaper. I've included regular versions at two size, in case anyone wants to use it as computer wallpaper (altho the term "wallpaper" doesn't make sense with a computer "desktop;" maybe it should be called a "computer blotter paper.")

New front page - ornaments

Changed the front page to one of row upon row of castings of the official 2005 ornaments from Design Formations.

Ye olde Front page gallery.

New front page - column capital

Somehow I got busy and completely forgot to change the front page this month. I've changed it now to a capital from a column on the South Portico. I've forgotten where I got the picture, but it's nice.

Per usual, you can find all the front pages in the gallery.

UPDATE: Fixed the link on the gallery page.

New front page - old Family Dining Room

I've changed the front page for October to the old Family Dining Room around 1900. The gallery of past front pages is available as usual.

New front page - Nixon Briefing Room

Changed the front page to that great picture of the Press Briefing Room when it was brand new in 1970. It makes you want to kick back, have a cigarette, leaf thru Look magazine, and wait for Ron Ziegler to come and tell you what statements are inoperative today.

New front page: Ike Oval Office

I changed the front page to one of the great new color photos of Eisenhower's Oval Office.

Also: stumbled upon a great photo of Executive Pastry Chef Yosses in the Pastry Kitchen on the ABC News blog.

Lady Bird passes

Claudia Alta Taylor "Lady Bird" Johnson has passed away at the age of 94, the epitome of southern charm and grace. Condolences and best wishes to her family and friends.

UPDATE: Link to tribute site. Also, changed the front page to that wonderful photo of her swirling around the Central Hall.

New front page: Bush 2 Lincoln Bedroom

I changed the front page to one of the new Lincoln Bedroom. The WHHA seems to be holding off on a new An Historic Guide until the Bush renovations are complete, but that may be January 2009....

Interesting shot of the gold chairs in, I think, the East Room.

Also: congratulations to Mimlog on a, uh, Minilog.

New front page

I've changed the front page for the month of June. It's a fantastic tinted photo portrait of First Daughter Alice Roosevelt, looking as regal as can be. Pity poor Ted, who said he could control the country or Alice, but not both.

Gallery of front pages

New front page

I changed the front page to a nice springy one of tulips in the Rose Garden in 1988.

No foolin'

Changed the front page to one of JBK's 1962 bedroom, with the twin mattresses belted together. If only the SelectComfort Sleep Number bed had been available—a 1 for Jackie and a 99 for Jack. As it was, Jack's side was stuffed with horsehair and Soviet communiques and topped with a slab of concrete. Jackie's side was stuffed with the softest angora from 300 bunnies, kept in suspension by circulating air breathed by a chorus of Catholic choir boys singing "Ave Maria." No foolin'.

New front page

I changed the front page to a nice photo of Reagan's Oval Office in 1981 (still using the Ford rug).

New front page

I changed the front page to a pleasant wintery scene from around 2003. I'll do a splashy, colorful interior next month.

So long, Jerry

President Gerald Ford has passed away. Surviving to 93, the longest-lived president, he had been hospitalized several times in the last year or so. While his administration was brief and not without controversy, he was a decent man who closed the book on Watergate and Vietnam. Best wishes to his family.

I've changed the front page to an image of him in the West Sitting Hall. I've also created a gallery of front pages.

New front page

Just changed the front page image to one of the White House at Christmastime, complete with snow. Permission to use it was graciously given by Keith Stanley of kestan.com, where you can even get a print of the image. Thanks, Keith!

New front page

Changed the front page for the month to one of the Red Room in 1904, a hand-tinted photo by the wonderful Francis Benjamin Johnston.

This will last until early December, when I'll replace it with a nice, colorful photo showing the White House at Christmastime. I don't have one prepared yet, so anyone who has a good one, feel free to send me a link to it.

Also changed the Residence second floor back to showing the kitchen spiral staircase extending up into the family kitchen, based on information from a knowledgeable sourse.

New front page

Changed the front page image again, this time to an 1893 image of the north entrance with the Tiffany window, a rather stately welcome, I think. I guess I'll make a point of changing the front page image once a month, since I'm sure I have good images to support it. I wish I had more seasonal images, tho.

New front page

Got tired of the dull black and white photo of the swimming pool on the front page and replaced it with a cheery yellow pic of Betty Ford in the Solarium.

Also added the Kennedy Yellow Oval Room, LBJ taking a meeting in bed, JFK lying in state in the East Room, and a page for FDR's third floor Diet Kitchen.

Visitor James suggested that I add more historical anecdotes, which sounds like a good idea. I'll add some bits I've gleaned from JB West's book and elsewhere.

New front page - Ford hospitalized

This week, I changed the front page picture from the 1962 Kennedy Blue Room to the 1948 FDR swimming pool under the Press Briefing Room, given that that room is in the news lately.

Also, former President Gerald Ford went into the hospital again today, the third time in a year. He turned 93 in July. As an honorary member of the White House Museum board of directors, he and his family have our best wishes.