The historical White House Gardens will be open to tours for the public on two days -- April 13 and 14, 2019.
Twice each year, the White House opens up their grounds for guests to experience the beauty of their carefully manicured gardens. This spring, the Garden Tour dates are April 13-14, at which time visitors will be able to enter through the South Lawn and view the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, the Rose Garden, and the White House Kitchen Garden. Entry is free, but guests must get tickets by visiting the on-site ticket tent.
Located at the back of the White House, the South Lawn is the location for many public events and serves as a landing pad location for Marine One. Until the Second World War, the South Lawn was open to the public, but it now remains closed outside of special events. Two of the most popular locations in the gardens are the White House Rose Garden and the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden.
The White House
The White House Rose Garden was created in 1913 by Ellen Wilson, President Woodrow Wilson’s wife. The Rose Garden has been the site of public events and announcements by present and past presidents of the United States. The garden features many types of flowers and plants, with roses playing the starring role. Rose genres named for Queen Elizabeth and Pat Nixon are prominent through the grounds along with a variety of tea roses.
The Jacqueline Kennedy Garden was originally part of the main Rose Garden. When Jacqueline came to the White House in 1962, the gardens had been neglected and were in need of repair, so she began a project to redesign them, finishing before President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963. Lady Bird Johnson renamed a section of the East Garden the “Jacqueline Kennedy Garden” in 1965.
Courtesy of The White House
Public tours of the White House Gardens will take place on Saturday, April 13, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 14, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Visitors can pick up tickets each day beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the intersection of 15th St. and Constitution Ave. NW. Tickets are first-come, first served and guests must adhere to the prohibited items list. For more information, check out the White House's website, or the White House Gardens' Instagram for photos of past garden tours!
Have you been on a tour of the White House Gardens? What was your favorite feature? Tell us in the comments!
