If the White House is the “People’s House,” then its gardens are truly America’s gardens. From Easter egg rolls and ceremonies honoring fellow citizens, to treaty signings and receptions for heads of state, the gardens and grounds surrounding the White House bear the mark of history. This spectacular 18-acre ensemble of formal gardens, secluded natural retreats, and expansive parkland has been shaped by America’s presidents and first ladies, some of the nation’s best-known landscape designers and architects, and generations of dedicated gardeners and horticulturists.

Organized with the White House Historical Association, The White House Garden traces the development of the gardens and grounds from the plans of Pierre Charles L’Enfant to the present. Reproductions of archival materials and historic and contemporary photographs from the National Archives and Records Administration, Library of Congress, and other sources focus on the presidents and their families, White House gardeners, special gardens, the grounds’ magnificent trees, and planting plans.