Presidential Park

Presidential Park in Washington is a large walking space of 332,000 square meters, located around the White House and encompassing the White House itself, the visitor center, Lafayette Square and Ellips Park.

Lafayette Square is a public park located north of the White House, which is part of Presidential Park and is one of its most important parts. This place has survived various times, visited the role of a slave market, a cemetery, a racecourse, a zoo and a soldier's camp during the War of 1812. The park received its new name in 1824 in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette, a Frenchman who distinguished himself during the American War. Lafayette Square is a favorite place for White House photos, celebrations and political protests.

Another significant park inside Presidential Park is Ellips. It is located south of the White House. The first plans of this park were drawn in 1791. In the middle of the century, the park was restored after the Civil War, during which it was used as a camp and a parking lot for livestock. Now open and used for walks and public holidays, it is home to Kilometer Zero and the National New Year Tree, first lit by President Calvin Coolidge in 1923.