THE Oval Office, the 'situation room' and the first family's organic garden are among the highlights of a new virtual tour of the White House put online on Tuesday.
The new Web tour offers views that are not available to the public, even if they could get in some of the rare guided visits of the presidential residence.
With an interactive clickable page, visitors can see locations such as the Rose Garden, East Room and of course the West Wing. First Lady Michelle Obama's vegetable garden is on the tour along with the basketball court used by President Barack Obama.
The online visitors can get a glimpse of things they would not see in a real-life tour such as the 'situation room' an ultra-secure location in the White House to manage crises.
The room was created at the request of president John Kennedy after the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba in 1961.
Modernized and expanded in 2007, this complex of rooms is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week to monitor national and international intelligence information, according to the website. It also allows the president to communicate securely with American military commanders and foreign heads of state around the world.
President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are committed to opening the doors of the White House and truly making it the People’s House.
- Watch exclusive "Inside the White House" videos
- Tour the West Wing, Residence, East Wing and South Lawn
- Visit again to watch new videos and learn more
