Edition
IN
English
Weather

TOI

Trending

White House is central to DC July 4th celebrations

| Jul 02, 2020, 04:17:30 PM | AP
  • Share
For more than two centuries the White House has always played a central role in the Independence Day celebrations for the nation's capital. This year Washington D.C. is scaling back it's Fourth of July festivities to encourage residents and visitors to social distance as the coronavirus pandemic continues. The 'Salute to America' aircraft flyover and the fireworks show on the National Mall will continue while the annual parade and reading of the Declaration of Independence are moving online. White House historian Lina Mann said the tradition started in 1801 when then-President Thomas Jefferson invited the public into the executive mansion and even hosted a horse race on the north lawn. "It was a big event. (Jefferson) started this tradition of opening the White House up for the public to come," Mann said. "Independence Day is really about sort of a coming together as a nation to kind of reflect on their history. And I think that obviously the President's house, which is also known as the People's House, has been a venue for the public to celebrate the holiday." As the Washington Monument was built in the mid 19th century, Mann said the fourth of July celebration moved to the South lawn where presidents form the modern age continues to host picnics and receptions for invited guests. "There's a lot of viewing of the National Mall fireworks. So it's a fun occasion," said Mann who has viewed many diary entries from previous presidents about the meaning of Independence Day. "Typically the words I see surrounding presidents and the holiday are proud of their nation, proud of their country. And I think during times of war, it can look a little more self-reflective. Sometimes it's used just like a means to rally people," Mann added.

Top Viral Videos

13:35
'Himanta Biswa Sarma Is Amit Shah Of North-East, He Even Controls Congress': Yashwant Deshmukh

In TOI’s special election series Mood Of The States, political analyst and C-Voter Founder-Director Yashwant Deshmukh breaks down why Himanta Biswa Sarma appears to have a decisive edge in Assam even before voting begins. Deshmukh points to Sarma’s deep-rooted popularity, which cuts across party lines and even finds resonance among opposition supporters, including the Indian National Congress. He describes Sarma as a dominant political force in the Northeast, even likening him to Amit Shah, and calls him a unique blend of Chanakya and Donald Trump. The analysis also looks ahead, outlining what the Congress must do to rebuild and stay relevant in the upcoming Assam polls.

4 views | 56 minutes ago

Short Videos

Related Articles

Explore Every Corner
Across The Globe
Israel Iran WarGood Friday 2026LPG Shortage IndiaKirk CousinsJosh AllenGucci ManePam Bondi firing reasonsKash PatelTulsi GabbardGold Price TodayGulf tradeAirport rupee exchangeATF HikeGood Friday 2026US stock marketGemma 4Parliament sessionBengal SIRRaghav Chadha tweetMitchell SantnerAjinkya RahaneRaghav ChadhaUPMSP UP Board Class ResultsCBSE Result 2026Ashok MittalKKR vs SRH Players To Watch TodayIPL Points Table 2026IPL 2026IPL Schedule 2026IPL Schedule
Living and Entertainment
CricbuzzLifestyleNewspaper SubscriptionFood NewsTVTimes PrimeTravel DestinationsWhats HotETimesTimes LifeTimes PetsMyLifeXP
Services
CouponDuniaTechGigTimesJobsBollywood NewsTimes MobileGadgetsTimes EventsWork with UsColombiaTOI Global
Hot on the Web
Ramayana TeaserNamit MalhotraRanbir KapoorParineeti ChopraAuther Awards 2026Rajpal YadavRamayana Teaser Live UpdateHair RegrowthRishi KapoorDara SinghVegetarian Friendly CountriesDhurandhar 2 Box Office CollectionTarun Mishra StoryGood FridayChef Sanjeev KapoorNuclear And Space ScientistsRaghav Chadha HomeDivya DuttaDhurandhar 2 ReviewGame Of ThronesUstaad Bhagat Singh CollectionNithya Menen HomeStrawberries Growing TipsAmitabh BachchanDhurandhar 2 CollectionGood Friday Weekend GetawaysMovierulzAadu 3 Box Office CollectionHoroscope TodayIndian Railways New RulesToday Gold Rate in ChennaiDelhi Weather TodayDelhi AQI TodayMumbai AQI TodayMaharashtra Public Holidays 2026Realme 16Apple iPhone 18 ProArtemis II Toilet TroubleGarena Free Fire MAX Redeem CodesArtemis II Toilet TroubleBasketball Zero Codes
Latest News
Man dies as truck rams into bike in Gurgaon, family alleges police action delayedGoogle CEO Sundar Pichai to 'return' to Stanford University in June 2026 as ...Builder moves Rera against buyers for payment defaults, plea rejectedTanuja reviews Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar 2: The Revenge: ‘Outstanding, no moment was boring’; praises Aditya Dhar’s directionHC stays Haryana’s stilt-plus-four policy over gaps in urban infrastructureGTA 6 leaks reveal something huge about NPCs, and it could change everythingMeet Maurice Ward: The hairdresser who invented a ‘nuclear-proof’ material and took its secret to the graveTrump only firing women when Pete Hegseth, RFK Jr are right there: Major uproar over Pam Bondi's exit after Kristi NoemWest Bengal poll chaos: Villagers hold SIR officers 'hostage', EC asks NIA to probe caseEvil eye emoji: Raghav Chadha's cryptic tweet after being sidelined by AAP, posts video of issues raised by him in Rajya Sabha'For a very important bill': Parliament to reconvene on April 16; what’s on cards‘Requests being examined’: Maldives, Sri Lanka among several nations seeking India’s energy supplies, says MEARaghav Chadha sidelined? AAP's Rajya Sabha shuffle triggers rumours; what went wrong
Copyright © 2026 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved. For reprint rights: Times Syndication Service