White House Historical Association Special Speakers Event and Exhibition

This special evening at the Arts Club of Washington, held in partnership with the White House Historical Association, highlights the President James Monroe Collection with an exhibition of curated images in the historic Monroe Parlor. Former White House Curator William G. Allman and architectural photographer Bruce M. White will deliver a talk on the collection’s significance, followed by a Q&A and a reception with an open bar and hors d'oeuvres. The event coincides with the nation’s 250th anniversary and the Arts Club’s 110th year, tying the legacy of the fifth president to the very building that served as his residence before the White House was rebuilt after the fire of 1814.

When: Tuesday, July 21, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM.

Showtimes: Doors open at 6:00 PM and the talk begins at 6:30 PM in the Monroe Parlor.

Tickets: $30 for Arts Club of Washington members and $40 for non-members, with RSVP required. Space is limited—only 7 tickets remain (44 registrants as of the listing). Guests must be registered.

Lineup: William G. Allman, former curator of the White House (retired 2017), co-author of *Something of Splendor* and author of *Official White House China*; and Bruce M. White, fine art and architectural photographer, former staff photographer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and principal photographer for *The White House: An Historic Guide* and *At Home in the President’s Neighborhood*.

Run time: Approximately 2.5 hours, including the talk, Q&A, and reception.

Ages: Not specified; the event is open to the public.

Venue: Arts Club of Washington, Monroe Parlor, 2017 I St NW, Washington, DC 20006.

Note: The exhibition features images of the President James Monroe Collection provided by the White House Historical Association, displayed in the Monroe Parlor—the same room where Monroe hosted his post-inauguration reception. The talk will cover Monroe’s refurnishing of the White House after the 1814 fire, including his acquisition of gilded beechwood furniture by Pierre-Antoine Bellangé and other decorative arts. The reception includes an open bar and hors d'oeuvres.