THE WHITE HOUSE
EASTER EGG ROLL

The White House Easter egg roll is as American as apple pie! But do you know the history?

HISTORY OF THE WHITE HOUSE
EASTER EGG ROLL

1800s

In the 1800s, the rolling lawns of the U.S. Capitol were an irresistible target for kids on Easter Monday. One of the few days off for kids and adults, Easter Monday also included lots of leftover hard-boiled eggs!

1870s

The Capitol soon became the site of egg rolls, in which children would compete to see whose egg could roll farther without breaking. It has also been suggested informal egg-rolling parties may have begun under Abraham Lincoln’s presidency. By the 1870s, Easter Monday egg rolling on the West grounds of the White house had become hugely popular.

1876

In 1876, 10,000 children showed up to roll eggs! According to history.com, the spectacle was so noisy that no business could be done in the House and Senate chambers. By the end of the day, the lawns were in ruin. Outraged Congressmen immediately wrote legislation protecting the Capitol turf. President Ulysses S. Grant signed a bill banning the rolling of eggs on Capitol grounds two weeks later.

1877

A showdown was avoided the next year when rain discouraged the annual invasion of egg rollers.

1878

However, on April 22, 1878, even though police had discouraged children from entering the White House grounds, President Rutherford B. Hays came to the rescue and welcomed players to the White House backyard. That was the first official White House Easter Egg roll.

1889

In 1889, President Benjamin Harrison added music from the United States Marine Band to the festivities.

During those more innocent years, families picnicked on the lawns while the kids rolled eggs, leaving behind dead grass, trash, broken egg shells, and many hidden and increasingly smelly eggs!

1937

By 1937, the annual crowd had grown to 50,000 inadequately accommodated people on the South Lawn.

WORLD WARS

Egg rolling at the White House was interrupted by World War I, from 1917 to 1920 and World War II, from 1943 to 1945.

1946-1952

From 1946 to 1952, food conservation and construction on the White house prevented White House Easter egg rolling celebrations.

POST WWII
The White House Easter egg roll resumed after post-war rationing ended and began to assume its modern, and much more controlled form with an egg roll for little children and various activities.

1953

In 1953, President Dwight D Eisenhower reinstated the tradition.

1981

An interesting note: In 1981, an idea put forth by First Lady Nancy Reagan began the tradition of giving everyone leaving the event a signed wooden Easter egg as a cherished keepsake.

TODAY

Today, the White House holds a lottery to distribute 35,000 tickets for the Egg Roll. Those who win a ticket must get ready for hours of lines and a fairly short experience on the White House lawn, but it comes with a very memorable family photo!

2018
On April 2, 2018, the 140^th white House Easter Egg Roll was hosted by First Lady Melania Trump.

WHITE HOUSE EASTER EGG ROLL FOR 2019

The Easter Egg Roll for 2019 will take place on Monday, April 22, 2019, on the South Lawn of the White House with President and Mrs. Trump officiating.

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