Second Lady Karen Pence Unveils the Christmas Decorations at the Vice President’s Residence

WASHINGTON D.C. - Enthusiasm for the Christmas Season fills the air at the Vice President’s Residence. Today, Second Lady Karen Pence revealed the 2019 Christmas decorations and theme "Victorian Christmas" which highlights the historic Victorian-era Residence. Built in 1893 for the Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Observatory, the Queen Anne-style house was designed by Washington, D.C. architect Leon Dessez and was the grandest of all the homes built on the grounds. This year's theme reflects the rich history of the Residence and presents an appreciation for the living piece of history.

Devers Design, in Arlington, Virginia assisted in the design and installation of the decorations. With the help of more than 40 volunteers, together they filled 300 feet of indoor garland with fresh holly; crafted Victorian ornaments from paper cones filled with dried baby’s breath and gold ribbons; strung yards of fresh cranberries; created three wreath chandeliers in the entrance marquee; and hung hundreds of ornaments and white and gold beads. 

At the front gate of the Residence, 2,100 feet of garland and 160 velvet bows line the fence encircling the Residence property. In the front lawn, a 16.5 foot Frasier Fir is adorned with multi-colored lights and Christmas ornaments designed by children from Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Indiana. In addition to the Frasier Fir in front of the Residence, throughout the historic home there are 7 Christmas trees all provided by Wyckoff's Christmas Tree Farm of Belvedere, New Jersey. The Wyckoff's Christmas Tree Farm was named the Reserve Grand National grower in 2019.

During this Christmas season, the Pence family will welcome over 3,000 guests into the Vice President’s Residence over the Holiday Season. The photos below provide a look at Christmas 2019 inside the Vice President’s Residence.

The dining room features a stylized Victorian-style table of a fictitious 1906 setting. (Official White House Photo by Amy Rossetti)

The dining room features a Victorian-style table of a 1906 setting includes President and Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt, his Vice President Charles Fairbanks, former US senator from Indiana, and the Secretary of the Navy, Charles Bonaparte. The table is set with pomegranate velvet damask and a sugared fruit centerpiece that would have been very typical of the time. (Official White House Photo by Amy Rossetti)

A closer view of the Victorian-style place setting. (Official White House Photo by Amy Rossetti)

The dining room features dusty rose and burgundy ornaments with white birds and stockings for the Pence family, including their pets, which hang on the mantle of the fireplace. (Official White House Photo by Amy Rossetti)

Eight oversize Victorian-style ornaments suspend down three flights of stairs in the foyer. (Official White House Photo by Amy Rossetti)

300 feet of indoor garland  was filled with fresh holly and was placed throughout the Residence, including in the foyer pictured above. (Official White House Photo by Amy Rossetti)

The living room Christmas tree features a Santa Claus motif. (Official White House Photo by Amy Rossetti)

A closer look at one of the Santa Claus ornaments placed on the living room Christmas tree. (Official White House Photo by Amy Rossetti)

The fireplace mantle in the library is decorated with yards of fresh cranberries and gold ornaments. (Official White House Photo by Amy Rossetti)

A close look at the library Christmas trees which are decorated with fresh cranberries strung together to adorn the Christmas trees. (Official White House Photo by Amy Rossetti)

The sunroom is decorated in cream and gold tones and features a gingerbread house, which weighs about 70 pounds. It was designed as a replica of the Vice President’s Residence. (Official White House Photo by Amy Rossetti)