WASHINGTON, D.C. – This Christmas, you could decorate your tree with a piece of the White House. Each year, the White House Historical Association creates a unique ornament to honor the White House history and our presidents.
“It features two iconic state China that we have,” said Lucille Shanahan, chief retail officer with the White House Historical Association (WHHA). The WHHA is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that preserves and shares the history of the White House. Shanahan shared their 2025 Christmas ornament honoring 150 years of State dinners at the White House. “So, this first one, is the Regan service which features the presidential coat of arms on the front. This was commissioned by Nancy Regan in 1981. It’s a really beautiful iconic service plate that has red detailing. Her favorite color was a very rich red and there’s a wonderful story about her sitting in the state dining room sitting under candlelight proving the color so it’s just right. And it will be exactly how attendees saw it. On the backside features the bicentennial China commissioned by the Clinton administration.”
Since 1981, the WHHA has created a special Christmas ornament aimed at commemorating a President, a milestone or the history of life in the White House.
“For example, our ornament in 2000 celebrated the bicentennial of the White House and this year celebrating 150 years of State dinners at the White House,” said Shanahan. “Last year was an iconic ornament and just so happened to be very timely with President [Jimmy] Carter. President Carter celebrated his 100th birthday last year and we did a beautiful anchor design not only commemorating the signal of hope but also his time in the Navy. So, we have these opportunities to find different imagery and stories that brings it back to our mission of sharing this education and sharing these unique stories.”
The ornaments are made right here in the US by a veteran-owned company. Each year, they sell hundreds of thousands of ornaments.
“It’s very common that folks come to me and say they have entire trees dedicated to these beautiful ornaments,” said Shanahan.
Shanahan said as a nonprofit nonpartisan organization, all the proceeds go to their education mission to preserve and share the history of America’s most famous home.
“It’s a way for folks to take home an item from the White House,” said Shanahan.
The WHHA said all of their ornaments throughout the years are still for sale online. Each ornament comes with a box that details the significance of the ornament and it’s place in White House history.
