Archive · 15 Nov 2025
White House Historical Association Buys Rockwell Sketches for $7.25 Million
Imagine your favorite artist drew some pictures for the White House long ago.
These drawings showed people waiting to see the President.
They were kept at the White House for many years.
But then, there was a disagreement about who owned them, so they had to be taken away.
A special group called the White House Historical Association, which helps take care of things at the White House, really wanted these drawings back.
So, they went to a big sale called an auction and spent a lot of money, $7.25 million, to buy them!
Now, these drawings will be safe, and the association plans to use them to teach people about the White House's history for a very long time.
The White House Historical Association purchased four Norman Rockwell sketches for $7.25 million at auction.
The sketches, titled “So You Want to See the President!”, were created in 1943 and published in the Saturday Evening Post.
These sketches were displayed in the West Wing for years before being removed in 2022 due to an ownership dispute.
The winning bid for the art was $5.8 million, with the total cost including buyer's premium reaching $7.25 million.
This acquisition is the most expensive purchase ever made by the White House Historical Association, surpassing their previous $1.5 million purchase of Jacob Lawrence's "The Builders".
- Who
- The White House Historical Association
- What
- Reclaimed a series of four Norman Rockwell sketches titled “So You Want to See the President!”
- When
- Friday
- Where
- At auction in Dallas, Texas
- Why
- To preserve a piece of White House history and educate the public for future generations.
- Auction Price
- $5.8 million
- Total Cost
- $7.25 million
- Artwork Title
- So You Want to See the President!
- Artist
- Norman Rockwell
- Year Created
- 1943
- Publication
- Saturday Evening Post
- Acquiring Organization
- White House Historical Association