Former first lady invites Texans to post-9/11 White House Christmas decorations exhibit

DALLAS—For the first time ever, America has the chance to see what Christmas at the White House was like in 2001. Because of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks just a few months earlier that year, the White House was closed at Christmas and the decorations largely unseen by the public. Twelve years later, however, the decorations have been placed on display in the first ever special exhibit at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas.

Former First Lady Laura Bush welcomed news cameras to the exhibit for the first time Dec. 2, and said she was elated to share a glimpse into White House Christmas celebrations with fellow Americans.

When asked by the TEXAN about the role faith played in the 2001 Christmas celebration, Bush said she believed it played an even more poignant role than other years for her family and for millions of other Americans.

“Of course that year, especially, I think many, many people turned to their faith, including me and George, because of the tragedy that had happened on Sept. 11 and just the whole feeling that we had in the United States of grief and sadness and vulnerability and fear—all of the feelings that we had after that attack,” Bush said.

She said prayer played an integral role as well.

“I think there’s always—for any president—a lot of prayer,” Bush said. “The American people prayed for our president. It was amazing how many, many times people—strangers—would say to us, ‘We’re praying for you.’”

Bush also said that 2001 became the first year a U. S. president lit a Menorah in the White House. That very Menorah, on loan from the Jewish Museum in 2001, has again been lent and is on display in the Bush Center’s Christmas exhibit.

Also on display in the exhibit are holiday gowns worn by the former first lady, 18 scale models of presidential homes created by White House staff in 2001 and an 18-foot replica of the White House Christmas tree set in the midst of a 360-degree mural of the White House Blue Room.

All together, the exhibit—for which work began in March—boasts 500 feet of garland, 650 feet of ribbon, 125,000 lights and 1,459 Christmas balls. The exhibit will run through Jan. 5 and will have special programing throughout, such as live music and story hour for children. The center will present Merry and Bright Nights, Dec. 18-19, as well, offering musical performances by the Dallas Boys Choir and the Dallas Girls Choir, crafts and Christmas treats.

For more information about the Bush Center or the “Home for the Holidays” exhibit, visit bushcenter.org/home-holidays.