White House Christmas Tour 2015

Step inside the White House as HGTV and host Genevieve Gorder take you on an insider's holiday tour at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Here are 99 photos of the Christmas decorations and holiday prep inside some of the most famous rooms at America's first home.

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December 11, 2015

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Photo By: Ken Cedeno/Getty Images

The Grand Foyer

This doorway in the White House Grand Foyer opens onto the Blue Room where the official White House Christmas Tree is located.

The Blue Room

This year’s holiday theme at the White House is A Timeless Tradition, commemorating extraordinary moments in U.S. history and long-held traditions that are cherished across the nation.

Host Genevieve Gorder

HGTV host Genevieve Gorder, seen here in the Library Room, hosts this years White House Christmas special, taking viewers on a special holiday tour of America's first home.

The Diplomatic Entrance

Evergreen, silver and earth tones decorate the mantel in the White House Diplomatic Entrance.

The East Colonnade

As part of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher initiative, a collection of hand-cut paper snowflakes hang from the ceiling of the East Colonnade.

The East Colonnade

Much of the holiday décor for this year's celebrations was was planned by Rafanelli Events and was executed by 89 volunteers from across the country.

East Visitor Entrance

Visitors in the East Landing are greeted by a tree with decorations paying tribute to U.S. Armed Forces.

The China Room

Decorations in the China Room include a table wrapped in navy plaid and topped with this pine tree and vibrant red gift boxes.

Blue Room and White House Christmas Tree

This year’s official White House Christmas Tree, located in the oval-shaped Blue Room, is an 18.5-foot Fraser fir that was grown in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.

Blue Room, Tree Decorations

Messages to U.S. troops from their families are inscribed on a white and gold ribbon encircling the tree. At the end of the holiday season, each military family will receive their portion of the ribbon as a symbol of gratitud for their service.

Grand Foyer

The iconic portrait of president John F. Kennedy as seen in the White House Grand Foyer

The East Room

The East Room is the setting for along-standing holiday tradition – the White House crèche.

The North Portico

The North Portico at the White House is used to greet guests and dignitaries before gala events.

The North Portico

The entry at the North Portico are flanked by two Christmas trees decorated with large, gold stars and festive red ornaments.

The North Portico

Greetings from the First Lady

First lady Michelle Obama introduces the 2015 White House holiday theme before a group of children visitors in the State Dining Room.

Greetings from the First Lady

The first guests to see the fully decorated White House are the children and families of active service members.

Greetings from the First Lady

Honored Guests

The children get to spend some quality time with the nation's "first pets" Sunny and Bo.

Honored Guests

Waiting in the Wings

In the Lower Cross Hall, first dogs Sunny and Bo take a short break from all the exhausting holiday festivities at the White House.

East Visitor Entrance, Exterior

Visitors at the East Entrance are greeted by much-larger-than-life penguins.

East Visitor Entrance, Exterior

Santa's Sleigh is another of the large outdoor decorations at the East Entrance.

East Visitor Entrance, Exterior

The glittering red sleigh, with two baby penguins at the helm, is filled with holiday ornaments.

East Visitor Entrance, Exterior

East Wing Hallway

Inside the Visitor Entrance, the railings, columns and doorways in this wood-paneled hall are draped in garlands of colorful ball ornaments

East Wing Hallway

East Colonnade

A myriad of handmade paper snowflakes create an ethereal effect in the East Colonnade.

East Colonnade

Trevor Smith of Arlington, MA is the White House holiday volunteer who was in charge of the East Colonnade decor.

East Colonnade

Some of the snowflakes in the collection represent the 56 states and territories of the U.S. and feature state flags and seals.

The East Colonnade

Some of the snowflakes were made by students from Amidon-Bowen Elementary School and Horton’s Kid in Washington, D.C. and include hand-written messages.

The East Colonnade

East Colonnade Garden

In the garden outside the East Colonnade, 56 "snow people" represent the number of states and territories in the United States.

East Colonnade Garden

East Landing

Inside the Visitor Entrance, in the East Landing, is a Christmas tree that pays tribute to U.S. Armed Forces. The tree is hung with gold star ornaments added by families of soldiers who gave their lives in service to the country.

East Landing

An installation of mailboxes and care packages symbolizes love sent to troops in service and overseas during the holiday season.

East Landing

The holiday volunteer for this space is Elizabeth Schmidt of Delray Beach, Florida.

East Landing

The tree in the East Landing is decorated in red, white and blue ornaments and garlands made from more than 5000 airmail envelopes.

East Landing

In recent years, as part of the First Lady and Dr. Biden’s Joining Forces initiative, guests have been given the opportunity to share a note with service members. This year, rather than hand written notes, visitors can share digital messages using iPads set up in the East Landing.

The Grand Foyer

In the Grand Foyer and Cross Hall, oversized multi-colored ornaments are strung between the columns and over doorways, and wreaths of Ilex berry decorate the windows.

The Grand Foyer

On either side of the door leading to the Blue Room are two holiday trees strung with garlands of jewel-toned ball ornaments.

The Grand Foyer

In the Grand Foyer, U.S. Marine Staff Sergeant and President's band member Christopher Schmitt plays the piano for White House guests.

The Grand Foyer

White House Christmas 2015

The holiday volunteer for the Grand Foyer space was Candace Barrett Birk of St. Paul, MN.

The Blue Room

Lower Cross Hall

The Lower Cross Hall leads to a series of roomsincluding the Diplomatic Reception Room, the Library and China Room.

Lower Cross Hall

The Lower Cross Hall features arched garlands containing nearly 4000 silver bells.

Lower Cross Hall

This space features the work of White House holiday volunteer Ron Kline of Los Angeles, CA.

The East Room

The East Room is the largest room in the White House and, this year, is decorated with four grand trees covered in iridescent pearls, frosty icicles and jewels.

The East Room

Green trees and garland in the East Room are accented in white, silver, and champagne tones.

The East Room, Tree Decorations

The East Room, Window Decor

The windows in the East Room are strung with strands of glass beads, orbs, and mirrors.

The East Room, Window Decor

The East Room

The White House crèche is the visual highlight of the East Room during the holiday season.

The East Room and White House Creche

The intricate nativity scene is made of terra cotta and carved wood. It was fashioned in Naples, Italy during the eighteenth century.

The East Room and White House Creche

Donated to the White House in the 1960s, this ornate and compelling piece has been featured in the East Room during the holidays for more than forty-five years, spanning nine presidential administrations.

The East Room and White House Creche

The East Room

Twelve handcrafted works of art are featured on the mantels in the East Room.

The East Room

The Library

The White House Library holds more than 2700 volumes. This year's decorations, with multiple Christmas trees, transform the room into a "forest of reading."

The Library

The trees are covered in ornaments inspired by some of first lady Michelle Obama's favorite literary quotes.

The Library

Decorative elements include replicas of novels, manuscripts and the texts celebrating the American story.

The Library, Tree Decorations

The White House Library was designed and decorated by Carol Lim and Humberto Leon. The White House holiday volunteer for the space was Nancy Barsotti of Carnegie, PA.

The Library, Tree Decorations

The Library

The Library decor honors the nation’s literary heritage and features quotes from American writers and scholars.

The China Room

Fresh pine flanks the doorways of the China Room, and evergreen and eucalyptus garland adorns the fireplace – all combining to give the room a fresh, holiday scent.

The China Room

This year Carolina Herrera designed and decorated the China Room, and the holiday volunteer was Ellen Carley of Grand Rapids, MI.

The China Room

The China Room, Tree Decorations

The China Room

The Presidential China

In the China Room, blue ribbons denote the Obama China Service. Chosen by First Lady Michelle Obama and debuted earlier this year, this china pattern features a bright Kailua Blue, evoking the waters off the coast of the President’s home-state of Hawaii.

The Presidential China

The China Room

The garland over the fireplace is made from aromatic cedar and eucalyptus with pinecones, cinnamon sticks to infuse the entire room with holiday spirit.

The China Room

Large packages wrapped in crimson and a tree accented with bright blue ribbon create a bold display in the center of the China Room.

The Green Room

In the stately Green Room, which is frequently the setting for informal meetings with VIP guests, trees and wreaths are accented with with gold leaves and ornaments.

The Green Room

The Green Room, Mantel Decor

This year the decorations in the Green Room draw on a peacock theme, with the vivid color palette making use of peacock blue, fuchsia, gilded crimson and deep greens.

The Diplomatic Entrance

The White House Diplomatic Entrance is decorated in a more subtle and muted palette of copper, gold, green and earth tones.

The Diplomatic Entrance, Tree Decorations

Elegant ornaments with embroidered garland and rich tones of burgundy, gold, and silver add a regal tone to the room's trees and garland.

The Diplomatic Entrance, Tree Decorations

The Diplomatic Entrance

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