White%20House%20Heritage%20Museum%20Proposal

1
White House Heritage Museum Proposal

• 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, South Bend, Indiana

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Presidential Heritage

• There are 13 (soon to be 14) official
  presidential libraries and several unofficial
  presidential museums and libraries scattered
  around America.
• Every president since Hoover has an official
  library Lincoln, McKinley, and others are
  unofficial
• They celebrate only one president each
• They average 150,000 visitors a year
• Many are not self-supporting Congress is trying
  to raise endowment requirements
• No museum is dedicated to the White House.
• The Truman Library contains a great deal about
  the Truman-era reconstruction
• The White House Historical Association and the
  Smithsonian preserve its history but not with
  substantial standing exhibits.
• There is only one small museum dedicated to all
  presidents
• The American Presidential Museum in Branson, MO

3
White House Heritage Museum

• The White House Heritage Museum is a proposed
  project to create a non-profit history museum of
  the American presidency and White House in the
  form of a full-scale replica of the White House
  mansion and grounds.
• The project would create a major tourist
  attraction and public park in the northern
  Indiana/southern Michigan area.
• The objective is to create a place where visitors
  from around the nation and all over the world can
  come to
• Tour a replica of the White House and visit rooms
  not open to the public in the real White House
• Interact with displays of its history and the
  history of the presidency
• Enjoy the park and special events

4
White House Heritage Museum

• The Museum is an approximately 32-acre campus
  with White House replica and Lafayette Square
  Park.
• The mansion is flanked by two large parking lots
  where the EEOB and Treasury buildings would be.
• The north corners provide areas for shops on
  either side of Lafayette Park.
• Shuttle bus service could be available around the
  Museum campus as well as to and from the airport,
  Notre Dame campus, and downtown South Bend.
• The campus and park are perfect for concerts,
  parades, foot and bike races, and other events.
• The retail space and other buildings would be
  designed to complement the architectural style of
  the White House.
• Future expansions could include a Marine One
  helicopter, Air Force One fuselage, presidential
  carriages and limousines, and even a research
  library that is a replica of the Taft-era West
  Wing, complete with a replica of the first Oval
  Office.

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Why a Replica?

• A Hall of Presidents is not enough of an
  attraction.
• The White House has a mystique beyond its
  physical location.
• Every presidential library includes a replica of
  the Oval Office and usually other rooms.
• The Zweifel miniature White House is a popular
  traveling attraction.
• TV shows and movies often capture the popular
  imagination about what living and working in the
  White House is like.
• The White House is not available for special
  events the way museums are.
• Parts of the mansion could be rented for private
  functions of all types.
• The museum would host special community events
  open to the public.
• The White House offers little in the way of
  historical exhibits of its own heritage.
• The White House Visitors Center in Washington is
  virtually empty.
• Museum exhibits would be substituted for the more
  utilitarian offices of the real White House.

Zweifel miniature White House
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The Presidents Residence

• The real White House is a working residence and
  office building as well as a living museum.
• 18 acres (Presidential Park only does not
  include Lafayette Square)
• 132 rooms 55,000 square feet (67,000 total)
• 12 million operating budgetstaff of 90 inside
  and 23 on grounds
• 1.5 million visitors a yearfree admission
• If the White House charged 8 admission, it would
  operate in the black
• A replica would cost less to run and would be
  self-supporting with fewer visitors
• Real White House tours are difficult to arrange,
  very limited in scope, and unavailable on
  holidays.
• Security concerns make White House tours subject
  to occasional suspension or last-minute
  cancellation.

Public tours of the White House are available
for groups of 10 or more people. Requests must be
submitted through one's Member of Congress and
are accepted up to six months in advance. These
self-guided tours are available from 730 a.m. to
1230 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday (excluding
federal holidays), and are scheduled on a first
come, first served basis approximately one month
in advance of the requested date.
(WhiteHouse.gov)
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National Security Concerns

• The Museum foundation would work with Homeland
  Security to be certain that no aspects important
  to the safety of the president or security of the
  White House would be duplicated accurately or
  compromised by the museum replica.
• Most of the detailed floor plan information is
  already publicly available and does not present a
  security concern.
• No attempt would be made to replicate or describe
  escape routes, command centers, electronic
  surveillance systems, or sophisticated physical
  security measures.
• Private areas used as museum offices would not
  replicate the actual White House floor plan for
  those areas.
• Conventional museum security measures would be
  built into the design in unobtrusive ways, such
  as electronic locks, video surveillance, and
  anti-vehicle barriers.

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A Modular Plan

• A major advantage of this plan is its modular
  approach.
• The Museum might ultimately consist of several
  parts.
• Each stage of completion presents an opportunity
  for media exposure and celebration, and therefore
  becomes a tourist event.
• Groundbreaking in the Oval Office location
• VIP tours of the mansion during late-stage
  construction
• Opening Ceremonies
• Museum offices and those rooms that are open to
  the public inthe real White House are completed
• Garden Party Celebration
• The White House grounds are completed, including
  the Rose Garden, KennedyGarden, tennis courts,
  swimming pool
• Lafayette Park is completed
• Grand Opening
• Remaining museum rooms are completed
• Opening of expansion exhibits
• Presidential auto collection
• Decommissioned presidential helicopter on the
  South Lawn
• 747 fuselage painted and dressed inside as Air
  Force One

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A Museum and Event Host
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The Mansion as Museum

• The White House replica would serve both as a
  living replica of the real presidential mansion
  and a museum of American presidential heritage.
• All public and residence rooms and certain other
  rooms (such as the Oval Office) would be dressed
  to replicate the real White House décor.
• On special occasions, some rooms could be
  redressed with props and décor to replicate a
  bygone era, such as the FDR administration or
  Reagan administration
• Most staff areas in the wings would feature
  museum exhibits of White House and presidential
  history.
• Floor plan of these areas would be changed to
  accommodate museum needs
• Some staff areas would be used as museum offices.
• Fully secure/classified areas would be eliminated
  from the replicas floor plan or used for museum
  storage.

Reagan
FDR
Johnson
Clinton
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Architecture and Furnishings

• The appearance of accuracy is enough.
• Since the décor changes from administration to
  administration, an approximation of the drapes,
  carpets, and furniture at any given time will
  suffice
• Initial furnishings can be replaced with more
  authentic materials over time
• Woodwork and other permanent fixtures need to
  appear accurate from the beginning
• White House historians can help and provide
  extensive documentation.
• Trim molding styles, carpet designs, etc.
• Photos, diagrams, measurements, etc.
• Replicas of White House furniture and décor are
  already available and often used by presidential
  libraries.
• The Oval Office rug is custom made by Hokanson.
• New flooring was installing in the Oval Office in
  2005 by Carpet One.
• Some chairs and tables are made by Kittinger.
• Accurate reproductions of the presidents
  deskand other White House furniture are
  availablefrom New York First and Victorian
  Replicas

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Museum Exhibits

• The Museum would learn from and coordinate with
  presidential library museums and local
  attractions to provide interesting and
  interactive exhibits.
• Multimedia displays, mannequins, and personal
  effects of past presidents
• Photographs and pieces of White House renovations
• History and trivia exhibits
• First families
• One Observatory Circle the vice presidents
  residence
• Camp David history and tradition
• History of the Secret Service
• White House pets
• Interactive simulations and video kiosks
• Deliver a White House press announcement on
  camera
• Sign a bill into law
• Watch great presidential speeches

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The Mansion as Event Host

• Since the real White House is a working residence
  of a head of state, replicating its features
  would make a practical museum and event host.
• Wheelchair/stroller accessibility
• Full kitchens for catered events dinners for
  140, receptions for 1,000
• Ball room and meeting rooms for gala events,
  debates, lectures, and conferences
• Restrooms for the public and staff
• Offices for staff
• Carpenter, engineer, and flower shops
• For larger events, tents can be set up on the
  lawn.
• Weddings in the Rose Garden,receptions in the
  East Room,dancing in the Entrance Hall.

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Special Events

• The Museum would host many events to ensure
  continued service to the community and attraction
  to tourists.
• December January Christmas décor and events
  can last from Thanksgiving to January
• February Presidents Day celebration, with
  presidential retrospectives
• April-June Easter, Mothers Day, and Fathers Day
  events
• July week-long Independence Day celebration,
  with concerts and fireworks
• September October School field trips and a
  haunted White House party
• November Thanksgiving Day community dinner in
  the State Dining Room
• The Museum could host national community events.
• Speeches and historical talks
• Political debates
• The Museum would coordinate with local
  communityevents and celebrations.
• The Museum could be reserved for private
  functions.
• Weddings and wedding receptions
• VIP dinners and political campaign events
• Business conferences and catered dinners
• Private overnight stays (8 rooms 4 suites)
• Awards ceremonies

Christmas celebrations would be special
concerts, decorations that complement the real
White Houses holiday theme, ornaments made by
local school children, and more....
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The White House Virtual Tour

• Elevations and floor plans the Smithsonian
  Institution, the Washington Post, and elsewhere.
• Photographs the White House and presidential
  library collections

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White House Layout

• The White House mansion consists of
• The Family Residence (main structure)
• The West Wing (presidents senior staff offices)
• The East Wing (social offices and visitor
  reception)
• The White House main structure is a four-story
  building with basement and sub-basement and
  multiple mezzanines.
• Ground floor smaller public rooms and special
  staff offices
• 10-foot ceilings
• On the north side, the rooms look onto areaways
  below street grade
• First floor main entrance and grand public rooms
• 18-22-foot ceilings
• Ideal for corporate events and dinners
• Second floor family and guest rooms
• 14-foot ceilings
• Master suite and Lincoln bedroom
• Truman Balcony
• Third floor family and guest rooms,and offices
• 10-foot ceilings, set back from edges
• Sun room and promenade

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The Visitor Experience

• Visitors would arrive at the Museum on
  Pennsylvania Avenue and see the fenced-in White
  House on one side and the open Lafayette Square
  and shopping district on the other.
• They would park in the large lots flanking the
  White House and walk or take a shuttle bus to the
  Visitors Entrance near the East Wing (just as at
  the real White House).
• There they would pay the entrance fee and get
  badges with electronic tags.
• These security badges would become souvenirs
• They could be programmed to allow entry for one
  or more days
• After passing through a metal detector, visitors
  proceed to the East Wing.
• Souvenir shop
• Exhibits on the early presidency and White House
• In the theater, they could watch a short film
• Second floor would be museum offices
• Then they continue on into the Residence Ground
  Floor.

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The Visitor Experience

• Visitors would browse the public rooms on the
  Ground Floor and proceed up to the First Floor
  and Second Floor by stairs or elevator.
• Ground and First Floor rooms dressed as real with
  kiosks playing clips of curators and residents
  describing the history of the room
• Food and soft drinks in the Family Dining Room on
  the First Floor
• Partial Third Floor tours available on special
  days and for VIPs
• They would then descend to the Ground Floor again
  and proceed through the West Wing colonnade
• Press Briefing Room and press offices with
  exhibits
• Then they would enter the West Wing First Floor
• Mostly exhibits of later presidency and White
  House life
• Oval Office, Cabinet Room, and Roosevelt Room
  dressed as real
• Situation Room and restaurant on Ground Floor, as
  well as museum offices
• Second floor would be museum offices
• Visitors could exit the West Wing and tour the
  grounds by a guided electric cart tour or through
  other exits and take a unguided walking tour of
  the grounds.
• The electric cart tour would end at the East
  Wing, where visitors could buy souvenirs and
  catch a shuttle bus back to where they parked.

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East Wing Ground Floor
EXHIBIT SPACE
EXHIBIT SPACE
3
M
2
1
W
GIFT SHOP
N
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East Wing Ground Floor

• The East Wing contains the visitors entrance, the
  East Wing gallery, the White House theater, and
  offices used by some first ladies and their
  staffs as well as offices for correspondence,
  calligraphers, and the social secretary.
• Beneath it is the presidential emergency
  operations center, which would not be replicated.
• Second Floor offices would be used as museum
  staff offices
• First Floor would be turned into exhibit space
  and a large gift shop.

3
2
1
21
East Wing Ground Floor
CLASS- ROOMS
CLASS- ROOMS
N
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East Wing Ground Floor

• The East Wing contains the visitors entrance, the
  East Wing gallery, the White House theater, and
  offices used by some first ladies and their
  staffs as well as offices for correspondence,
  calligraphers, and the social secretary.
• Beneath it is the presidential emergency
  operations center, which would not be replicated.
• Second Floor offices would be used as museum
  staff offices
• First Floor would be turned into exhibit space
  and a large gift shop.

3
2
1
23
Residence Ground Floor
Museum staff use
M
Public restroom
2
EXHIBIT SPACE
1
5
W
3
4
W
M
N
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Residence Ground Floor
3
4
1
2
5
25
Residence First Floor
Museum staff use
Public restroom
Lower ceiling mezzanine level above
Fam
1
2
5
4
3
N
26
Residence First Floor
2
1
4
5
3
27
Residence Second Floor
Museum staff use
Public restroom
2
Fam
4
1
3
N
28
Residence Second Floor
1
3
4
2
29
Residence Third Floor
Museum staff use
Some of these rooms would be configured for and
used by museum staff. Others would be available
for overnight stays.
Public restroom
3
1
4
2
N
30
Residence Third Floor
1
2
3
4
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West Wing First Floor
Museum staff use
Public restroom
EXHIBIT SPACE
4
EXHIBIT SPACE
2
3
EXHIBIT SPACE
M
W
EXHIBIT SPACE
N
1
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West Wing First Floor
2
3
1
4
33
West Wing Second Floor
Museum staff use
Public restroom
The West Wings entire second floor would be
reconfigured for museum needs and converted to
staff use.
N
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West Wing Ground Floor
M
W
2
3
1
The WW Ground Floor would be converted to museum
staff space except for the Navy Mess restaurant
and the Situation Room, which would be maintained
as a replica.
N
35
West Wing Ground Floor
3
1
2
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Grounds

• The White House grounds include
• A tennis court (1), Oval Office terrace, and
  swimming pool (2), as well as fountains,
  basketball court, putting green, horseshoe pit,
  and groundskeeping buildings.
• Gardens Rose Garden (3), Kennedy Garden,
  Childrens Garden
• Mature trees would be sought out to match White
  House trees.

1
3
2
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Lafayette Square

• Lafayette Square is the park across Pennsylvania
  Avenue from the White House.
• Replicating it would provided a picturesque place
  for community leisure and events that would be
  maintained and administered by the museum
  foundation.
• The park would be open and free to the public.

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Logistics and Funding
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Central Location

• Northern Indiana (Michiana) is the perfect place
  for a large-scale patriotic-themed museum
  attraction.
• Centrally located in the US
• Strategically located on the 80/90 toll road that
  connects Chicago to Toledo and Cleveland, and on
  the 31 freeway to Indianapolis
• Big enough to support the project, small enough
  to avoid traffic issues
• Has a reputation for middle-American values and
  patriotism (Hummer, Studebaker)
• Conventions and Notre Dame give the South Bend
  area notoriety and potential.
• Attracts affluent and educated visitors
• Spurred the development excellent shopping,
  restaurants, and hotels in the area
• Spurred the development of a small but very good
  airport facility

Size comparison to Notre Dame
Museum proposed location, anagricultural
areasouthwest of the citynot far from
new commercial development
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Impact

• The project should have a substantial positive
  economic and cultural impact on the Michiana
  area.
• A major tourist attraction for an estimated
  500,000 visitors per year
• An attraction for high-profile corporate
  executives, politicians, and scholars
• A public park
• A center for community events
• 20 million in local labor and material
  expenditures during construction
• A professional staff of about 20 directors,
  historians, curators, and department heads
• An estimated 120 service jobs, post-construction
• Substantial revenues from retail stores in
  Lafayette Square shopping district
• Corresponding increase in revenues from existing
  area retailers and services
• There is no anticipated negative environmental or
  cultural impact.
• The proposed site would develop an agricultural
  location
• Little to no housing would be displaced
• Close enough to downtown to promote crossover
  revenue and visitation
• Relative remoteness would reduce any issues of
  noise and traffic
• Environmentally, the construction would compare
  to the construction of a corporate office complex
• Green construction techniques would likely be
  encouraged and supported financially by
  interested agencies and organizations

41
Models

• Its very difficult to estimate the cost of
  replicating a 200-year-old world-famous mansion
  estate.
• Some model projects are available to help
  determine the costs involved.
• Studebaker National Museum 2005 new facility
  project
• 9 million, raised privately
• 24,000 visitors
• 50,000 square feet
• Professional staff of 8
• National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
  project, 2004 (Cincinnati)
• 80 million
• 158,000 square feet (2.4 x the size of the White
  House)
• Computer History Museum project, 2005 (near San
  Jose)
• 125 million, corporate and private
• Staff of 30 permanent and 350 volunteers
• 120,000 square feet (1.8 x the size of the White
  House)
• Clinton Library project, 2004 (Little Rock)
• 165 million, raised mostly privately
• 150,000 square feet (2.3 x the size of the White
  House)
• Staff of 30 archivists alone
• GHW Bush Library project, 1997 (near Houston)

The controversial Lincoln Presidential Museum
cost 150M, of which 50M was federal money. It
had a highly successful opening, and continues to
have strong attendance of about 500,000 annually.
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Cost

• A total of 50 to 65 million would likely be
  required, with the shopping district paid for by
  the businesses who will occupy it.
• The modular design would likely allow the museum
  to open its doors with 28 million and begin
  serving the community in approximately 2 years.

Completion Open
Land acquisition, planning, and design 3 million 3 million
Residence 10 million 8 million
West Wing 3 million 2 million
East Wing 2 million 1 million
Grounds (gardens, lawn, fountains) and misc. structures 4 million 2 million
Lafayette Square 2 million 1 million
Acquisitions and interactive displays and videos 17 million 5 million
Office and maintenance equipment 3.5 million 3.5 million
Advertising 5.5 million 2.5 million
INITIAL PROJECT TOTAL 50 million 28 million
These figures closely match the National
Association for Museum Exhibition figures for
cost per square foot, although this project
trades some showmanship for green space.
Permanent endowment 8 million
Auto museum building planning and construction 4 million
Auto acquisitions (with some donated by federal government) 1 million
747 fuselage acquisition (donated by Boeing or an airline) 0
Air Force 1 exhibit outfitting 3 million
LATER PROJECTS TOTAL 16 million
43
Funding Model

• The patriotic nature and national scope of the
  project lends itself to large-scale fund-raising
  at the highest levels, especially federal and
  corporate.
• Corporate donations
• 7 million
• Raised thru personal appeals, sponsorship of
  exhibits and events, VIP reservations
• Federal government
• 40 million
• Private donations
• 3 million
• Raised thru advertising appeals, personal
  donations, entrance fees
• State government
• Road building
• Local government
• Zoning and permits
• Utility service extension
• A substantial degree of public donation and
  volunteerism can also be expected.

Its possible that competition among supporters
to provide their preferred presidents with a
higher profile would produce far greater private
donations.
44
Next Steps

• Get support from local officials.
• Sponsorship of funding at the federal level
• Recommendations for contacts
• Recommendations for participants in the project
• Form a non-profit organization.
• Create a foundation for funding to be applied to
• Get an architectural firm to draft concept
  drawings
• Create a communication campaign strategy
• Make first contact with White House historians
• Create a detailed development plan with cost
  estimates.
• Explore architects, contractors, suppliers
• Pursue broad-based support.
• The White House Historical Association
• State and federal legislators
• General public and news media
• Corporate and major private sources

Presidential libraries might be willing to help
identify possible benefactors.
45
Contact

• For more information about this project or this
  proposal document, contact
• Derek Jensen
• webmaster_at_WhiteHouseMuseum.org
• 574-315-8327
• 364 Pine Crest Dr.
• Bremen, IN 46506