The George W. Bush Foundation owns and operates the George W. Bush Presidential Museum. For tickets go to https://www.bushcenter.org/
All Creatures Great and Small: Christmas at the White House 2002
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November 21, 2014 - January 13, 2015
All Creatures Great and Small: Christmas at the White House 2002 celebrated the important role animals played in the White House. The exhibit incorporated First Family pet decorations, handcrafted bird ornaments crafted by artisans from each state, White House holiday decorations, behind-the-scenes photos and video from the Archives, and more. The exhibit also featured the first installation of “Barney Cam,” the dogs-eye view holiday video that would become an annual tradition and a beloved part of President and Mrs. Bush’s years in Washington, D.C. In addition, the exhibit included a surrounding 360° mural of the Blue Room with a full size reproduction of the 2002 official White House Christmas tree.
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To celebrate the All Creatures Great and Small theme of 2002, White House staffers crafted 25 paper-mache sculptures of America’s Presidential pets. The animals – which included raccoons, sheep, and even an alligator – decorated mantles and tables throughout the White House.
Nelson, the steed that George Washington rode during the Revolutionary War, nobly wears the status as first horse. President Washington was our first president and served from 1789 to 1797.
Our animals have been a great source of comfort to us; they make the White House home for us.
--- Laura Bush
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Adorning the White House Entry Hall mantel were the pets of President George W. Bush and Laura Bush. There is the cat, India "Willie" Bush, and Spot, an English Springer Spaniel, and Barney Bush, a Scottish terrier, which was a birthday gift from the President to Mrs. Bush in 2000.
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The alligator, given to President John Quincy Adams by the Marquis de Lafayette, resided in a bathroom in the White House East Room for a time. President Adams served from 1825 to 1829.
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Rebecca and Rueben were pet racoons of President Calvin Coolidge and his wife, Grace. Rebecca, who joined the family before Rueben, was a favorite. The racoons spent their evenings in an outdoor shed and occasionally roamed the White House during the day. President Coolidge served from 1923 to 1929.
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President Lyndon Johnson's two famous beagles, Him and Her, loved to chase balls and race down the halls of the White House. President Johnson also had another dog named Yuki, who liked to perform in the Oval Office. President Johnson served from 1963 to 1969.
Learn more about Christmas at the White House 2002 and Presidential pets in the All Creatures Great and Small program.
