Jill Biden unveils revamped White House tour, first ‘major’ changes in decades

First Lady Jill Biden has announced additions to the White House tour that include more digital components, more historical context and more opportunities to learn about civics, the White House said in a news release Monday.

The White House press office called the tour an expanded version of its predecessor, saying the tour brings 10,000 visitors per week and allows guests to learn about the history of the White House.

The tour hasn’t been updated with “significant improvements” in decades, and for the first time, the diplomatic reception room where President Franklin D. Roosevelt held “famous fireside chats” will be open to the public, the release said .

First Lady Biden was a classroom teacher for 40 years, she said in the press release, stressing the importance of “interactive and engaging” learning.

“(Learning) has to evoke the senses, and you have to meet students where they are, giving them what they need to spark their curiosity and imagination,” Biden said in the news release. “We hope the tour will inspire everyone who visits the White House to learn more about our shared history.”

In the statement, Biden promised that the updated tour will feature:

• More educational and attractive elements along the route

• More narration on the tour with technology and digital components

• Compelling and tactile content

• Present more opportunities to learn about history, civics, and the lives of our nation’s presidents and first families, past and present.

White House Decades Tour Update

Biden spent the past two years working with the National Park Service, the White House Conservator’s Office, the White House Historical Association, the presidential libraries and The History Channel to improve the White House tour, he said in the press release.

His team has added more pathways to the house so people can go further into the rooms and explore, and added more educational content that visitors can touch, hear and see up close as they walk around.

National Park Service Director Chuck Sams said in the press release that the National Park Service is honored to have helped update the tour.

“The White House, like all national parks, are living classrooms that offer the public educational and inspiring opportunities to connect with our nation’s shared heritage,” Sams said in the statement.

Learn more about what’s new on the White House public tour

An example of the tour’s enhanced historical and educational content is the Reader’s Bar in the Diplomatic Reception Room where former President Roosevelt gave his fireside talks. The reader’s rail provides visitors with information about the room’s panoramic wallpaper, and there is a recreation of a 1939 Philco radio that plays excerpts of FDR’s household chats.

There are also more educational signs and video greetings to better guide visitors, according to the release.

“As guests enter the public tour through the East Wing, they will be greeted by a video message from the First Lady,” the statement said. “A video of the president will greet visitors in the East Room, giving more historical context and depth to the tour.”

And instead of the tour’s previous static photo collages in the east colonnade, guests will see “A Living Timeline” of White House history. There, they’ll see a corridor with digital displays highlighting different points in American history. Previous static photo collages “lacked historical context or key information,” the press release said.

Also new is a three-dimensional architectural model of the White House. Guests can view it after passing through the East Colonnade and entering the East Garden Room. The model shows the White House at different stages of American history, starting in 1792.

Visitors will be able to learn from three reading rails, including one that highlights the history of the room. Another reader rail features a quote inscribed on the mantelpiece. The quote is from a letter John Adams wrote to his wife on his first night in the White House. The reader’s third rail focuses on the room’s art and artifacts, such as the portrait of Lincoln.

There is also a grand staircase frame near the landing of the grand staircase. The frame shows pictures of the first families on the staircase during state dinners, holidays and other special occasions.

Guided tours of the White House are usually from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM Tuesday through Saturday, excluding federal holidays. All tours of the White House are free.

Saleen Martin is a reporter for USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – on 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or send an email to [email protected].

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: White House tour updated: Visitors can now see ‘fireside chats’ room