As both the official residence and the working office of the president of the United States, the White House and its furnishings have invited great interest and comment since President John Adams became the first resident in November 1800. This fall and winter, a selection of decorative arts treasures from the White House collection are on view in the exhibition Something of Splendor: Decorative Arts from the White House, hosted by the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Organized in honor of the fiftieth anniversary of the White House Historical Association, the exhibition includes many objects never before seen outside of the White House. The furniture, ceramics, glass, metals, and textiles included in the show, all used by first families and their guests, document the changing fashions of the White House while also providing a glimpse into both the public and private lives of its famous occupants.
