Historical Perspectives - A Piece of My Family's Personal History - Blair House, Washington, DC

My great aunt Lilian Brock Brown worked for many years at the Blair House in Washington, D.C. Lilian was my father's mother's sister. She was one of thirteen children who were born and raised in Culpepper, Virginia. The Blair house is the official guest residence of the President of the United States of America. Lilian offered her services as an extraordinary cook to some of our nation's most distinguished visitors during her tenure at the Blair House.

ABOVE: Blair House exterior view circa 1945

Since 1942, the Blair House has served the nation as a guest house for heads of state visiting the White House. In this role it plays a crucial part in American foreign policy. An invitation to visit the United States and stay at Blair House is an extraordinary honor for a foreign head of state, and the staff at Blair House works tirelessly to ensure that the visit is gracious, comfortable, and conveys the honor to which any head of state—a president, a prime minister, or a reigning monarch—is entitled. In fact, during a foreign leader's stay at Blair House, the flag of that leader's nation flies over Blair House, and Blair House serves as a de facto diplomatic mission of that nation.



ABOVE: Blair House interior view circa 1945

This courtesy helps to make a visit—whether a ceremonial appearance or a matter of truly global significance—a comfortable experience for our nation's official guests. In the context of American foreign affairs, the comfort of a stay at Blair House can actually be a matter of national importance!

Learn more about Blair House:

The Official Blair House Site

The Blair House on Wikipedia