The Real Story of the White House Easter Egg Roll

The real story of the White House Easter Egg Roll!🐣🥚🇺🇸

Back in 1878, kids had been rolling eggs on the Capitol lawn for years… until Congress banned it because they were tearing up the grass. So these determined kids marched over to the @WhiteHouse, waited by the Iron Gate,… pic.twitter.com/FQV79nc4gH

— Dept. of Agriculture (@USDA) April 7, 2026

… and asked President Rutherford B. Hayes if they could move the tradition to the White House grounds.

He said yes, and the rest is history!

147 years later, we’re still going strong: 40,000 visitors and 30,000 eggs from 140 farmers on the South Lawn.