Free museum that's better than the White House

While you’ve got Buckley's of visiting the actual Oval Office, you can still sit behind the President’s desk when you visit Washington DC.

It’s not easy getting into the White House. Just ask Kamala Harris. To organise a tour you must apply to your local member of congress if you’re an American, or apply to your country’s embassy or consulate in Washington if you’re a foreign national. You have to do it months in advance, and even if you get tickets, you won’t get anywhere near the Oval Office.

Which is why you should consider the People’s House: A White House Experience, where you get to see what one of the most celebrated offices in the world looks like, and even sit behind an identical replica of the president’s desk.

The attraction, a block from the real White House, was created by the White House Historical Association and opened last September. Every detail of the Oval Office, from the drapes and rugs to paintings and furnishings, is mirrored. On my visit that included outgoing President Biden’s worn Bible on a side table. The diplomatic decor will be updated to reflect any changes made by Donald Trump.

Before you sit down to sign that executive order at the desk, you’ll pass a 1:5-scale replica of the White House’s south façade where you can see its history unfold through the windows, including flames engulfing the building during the Burning of Washington in 1814. The other side of the model looks like a giant doll’s house, and each room plays digital interactive stories.

New technology plays a big part in the entire experience. In the Immersive Theater the room changes every five minutes into rooms on the State Floor, including the East Room, Green Room, Blue Room, Red Room, and State Dining Room. When you touch the wall it unlocks details on the art, furniture and significant events in each room.

Before you sit down to sign that executive order at the desk, you’ll pass a 1:5-scale replica of the White House’s south façade. Picture: Supplied.

On a White House tour you get to see a cabinet meeting room, but here you can join an actual meeting with holographic cabinet members and vote on a course of action for the president. If you’re hungry for more official talk, you can join a table at a state dinner where virtual conversations take place around you, while presidents and first ladies twirl around the dance floor.

The People’s Voices Gallery is straight out of Harry Potter. Framed paintings of former presidents speak as you walk past. Digital portraits of staff, such as the head groundskeeper, lead military aide and chief usher, come alive and explain their jobs.

The final room is a collection of random presidential objects that tell a story when activated. There’s a replica of a 635kg block of cheese that Andrew Jackson served to the public in 1837 and what looks like a kennel on a pole, which was home to Calvin Coolidge’s pet raccoon Rebecca.

If you’re hungry for more official talk, you can join a table at a state dinner where virtual conversations take place around you, while presidents and first ladies twirl around the dance floor. Picture: Supplied.

Where is The People’s House located?

The People’s House is at 1700 Pennsylvania Ave. Admission is free, but booking is recommended.

What is the best place to eat in Washington DC?

For a meal fit for a DC pundit, the Monocle has served steaks and seafood to politicians since 1960.

What is the best place to stay in Washington DC?

The Hotel Washington has hosted politicians and world leaders. Elvis stayed here on his impromptu visit to meet Richard Nixon.

The writer was a guest of Destination DC.

Originally published as Free museum that's better than the White House