| The Ellipse | |
|---|---|
| President's Park South | |
 A 2007 aerial view of the Ellipse with theWhite House visible among trees in the upper center left | |
 Interactive map of The Ellipse | |
| Location | Washington, D.C., United States |
| Coordinates | 38°53′38″N77°02′12″W / 38.8939°N 77.0366°W /38.8939; -77.0366 |
| Area | 52 acres (21 ha) |
The Ellipse, sometimes referred to asPresident's Park South, is a 52-acre (21 ha) park south of theWhite House fence and north ofConstitution Avenue and theNational Mall inWashington, D.C., United States. The Ellipse is also the name of the five-furlong (1.0 km) circumference street within the park. The entire park, which features monuments, is open to the public and is part ofPresident's Park. The Ellipse is the location for many annual events.
From a mathematical point of view, the Ellipse is truly anellipse. Its dimensions are 1,058 feet (322 m) for its major axis (east-west) and 903 feet (275 m) for its minor axis (north-south). Its eccentricity computes as e = 0.52 and its foci are 552 feet (168 m) apart, each 276 feet (84 m) from the center of the ellipse (east and west).[1]
In 1791, the first plan for the park was drawn up byPierre Charles L'Enfant. The Ellipse was known as "the White Lot" due to thewhitewashed wooden fence that enclosed the park.
During theAmerican Civil War, the grounds of the Ellipse and the incompleteWashington Monument were used as corrals for horses, mules, and cattle, and as camp sites for Union troops.
In 1860, the Ellipse was the regular playing field for theWashington Senators and was the site of the first game between the Senators and the Washington Nationals. In 1865, the Nationals hosted a baseball tournament with thePhiladelphia Athletics, for which viewing stands were built and admission was charged.[2] Black baseball teams such as the Washington Mutuals and the Washington Alerts often used the White Lot until Blacks were banned from using the Ellipse in 1874.[3]
In 1867, theArmy Corps of Engineers began work on the Ellipse. The park was landscaped in 1879, andAmerican Elms were planted around the existing portion of the roadway. In 1880, grading began and the Ellipse was created from what had been a common dump. In 1894, the Ellipse roadway was lit with electric lamps.
In the 1890s, Congress authorized the use of the Ellipse grounds by special groups, including religious meetings and military encampments. As late as 1990,baseball fields andtennis courts existed in the park. Sporting events and demonstrations are still held on the Ellipse. In 1933, President's Park South came under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service.
On Christmas Eve 1923, PresidentCalvin Coolidge started an unbroken tradition by lighting the firstNational Christmas Tree.[4] The first tree, a cutbalsam fir, was placed on the Ellipse by the District of Columbia Public Schools.[4] From 1924 to 1953, live trees in locations around and on the White House grounds were lit on Christmas Eve.[5] In 1954, the ceremony returned to the Ellipse and with an expanded focus: the "Christmas Pageant of Peace."[5]
From 1954 to 1972, cut trees were used. In 1973, aColorado blue spruce was planted on the Ellipse.[6] Both the 1973 tree and its 1977 replacement died "due to damage and failure to thrive."[7] In 1978, a replacement tree was planted and lived until it was destroyed by a wind storm on February 19, 2011.[7] The 2011 replacement was destroyed bytransplant shock in 2012.[7]
On August 10, 1933, the Ellipse was transferred to the National Park Service, the legal successor of three federal commissioners appointed by the President under theResidence Act, signed on July 16, 1790, which directed initial construction. Their authority developed through acts of May 1, 1802;[8] March 3, 1849;[9] March 2, 1867;[10] July 1, 1898;[11] February 26, 1925;[12] March 3, 1933;[13] and Executive Order of June 10, 1933.[14] Under act of September 22, 1961, "the White House shall be administered pursuant to the act of August 25, 1916 (39 Stat. 535;39 U.S.C. § 535), and Acts supplementary thereto and amendatory thereof."[15] This NPS area was originally referred to simply as "The White House."
In 1942, duringWorld War II, the National Park Service granted permission for the construction of barracks as a special emergency wartime measure. The temporary barracks were erected on the south side of theOld Executive Office Building and the entire First Division Monument grounds. In 1954, the "White House Barracks" were demolished.
Immediately prior to theJanuary 6 United States Capitol attack,[16] PresidentDonald Trump delivered a speech on the Ellipse to his supporters gathered at a"Save America rally" to challenge the resultNovember 2020 presidential election.[17] The speech was followed by mass violence, with supporters storming theUnited States Capitol in an attempt to prevent thecertification of President-electJoe Biden as the winner of the election.[18]
On October 29, 2024, in the closing days of the2024 presidential election campaign, Vice PresidentKamala Harris held a rally on the Ellipse, delivering a speech to an estimated 75,000 attendees.[19] The choice of the Ellipse as the venue for the speech was thought to be intended to draw contrast between Harris and election rival Donald Trump's rally at the Ellipse prior to the January 6 United States Capitol attack.[20][21]
Annual events on the Ellipse include theChristmas Pageant of Peace and formerly the "Twilight Tattoo" military pageant. From 1992 to 2005, it was the site for the commencement ceremony forThe George Washington University.[24] It is also the queueing location for the annual White HouseEaster Egg Roll and the White House garden tours.
Under the auspices of theNational Park Service, the Capital Alumni Network and a number of neighborhood and military sports leagues play softball and flag football games on the grounds of the Ellipse. A number ofultimate competitions are held by groups throughout the warmer months.
The Ellipse Visitor Pavilion, opened for visitors in May 1994, distributes free tickets for special events at the White House such as the Easter Egg Roll and the fall and spring Garden Tours. It includes an information window, concession area, restrooms, telephones, water fountains, and a first aid area, allaccessible.[25]
The two Haupt Fountains flank the entrance to the Ellipse at 16th Street N.W. and Constitution Avenue."President's Park & White House Self Guided Walking Tour and Printable Map".Archived from the original on January 4, 2018. RetrievedJanuary 4, 2018..
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| Executive Residence |
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| National | |
