Presidential Collection

Discover the hidden symbolism of the Landsdowne, a familiar full-length portrait of George Washington that hangs in the National Portrait Gallery. Examine Gilbert Stuart's unforgettable portrait, which captures the spirit of this victorious general, stalwart leader, and pioneering president of the United States of America. The story of the painting reverberates to present times.

The History of our past presidents through portraits, caricatures and photos, produced by the artists of their day. Go behind the scenes and into the minds of artists as they capture, commemorate, and, at times, condemn our presidents. From Elaine de Kooning's abstract portraits of John F. Kennedy to Pat Oliphant's skewering caricatures of the Bushes, we examine the divisive results that occur when art and politics collide.

The people who help run the world’s most famous home are anonymous to the public, but the presidents know their names. From the devoted doormen to the butlers, plumbers, chefs, housekeepers, engineers, and florists, we meet the dedicated individuals who serve president after president inside one of the most powerful houses in the world.

Take a tour of some of America's most prominent and magnificent monuments in the heart of our nation's history. Washington D.C. is a city of monuments; monuments that honor our heroes, celebrate our victories and mourn our losses. Gain new insights and learn quirky facts such as how the Washington Memorial almost ended on wheels, the secret "Kilroy was here" graffiti hidden on the WWII memorial and how the Eternal Flame started as a common blowtorch.

We all know the main story of Abraham Lincoln's death, how he was killed, where it took place, and who pulled the trigger. But what exactly happened during the last day of his life? Relive April 14, 1865, as we track the hours of the day that shocked the world, following both assassin and victim on separate paths that would ultimately converge at the Presidential Box at Ford's Theatre. We'll also look at the objects, like Lincoln's hat and John Wilkes Booth's gun, that witnessed the crime that changed the course of American history forever.