Presidential Bowling
In honor of President’s Day, we thought we’d take a look at one of our favorite rooms in the White House. It’s not the Oval Office or the West Wing, but the official White House bowling alley! Bowling has been a part of the executive branch for over 70 years! We have to imagine knocking down a few pins is a great way to relieve a little stress when you’re the most powerful person in the world.
The First White House Bowling Alley
The first bowling lanes to appear in the White House came under the administration of Harry S Truman in 1947. While President Truman wasn’t a big fan of bowling himself, he wanted a place for his staff and White House employees to have a place to unwind after a hard day’s work. Staffers even started a league! Where was the first presidential bowling alley? Believe it or not, it was located on the ground floor of the West Wing. However, it was moved in 1955 and the space would later be used for a slightly more important purpose: The Situation Room.
After being ousted from the West Wing, President Nixon and his wife decided to return bowling to the Executive Mansion. Mr. and Mrs. Nixon were both avid bowlers and paid for a new, single lane alley to be built in the basement of the White House underneath the North Portico.
The Presidential Bowling Alley Today
While it’s still located in the White House basement, the bowling alley has expanded from one lane to two. Since the days of President Nixon, most commanders in chief have taken to knocking down a few pins from time to time. The two most avid bowlers in recent history were President’s George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
The bowling alley at the White House is a popular destination for visitors and guests. The lanes feature classic bowling alley decor, a computerized score keeping system and images of the White House (in case you forgot where you were). The lanes also come fully stocked with any weight ball you could need as well as any size of shoe, guest simply need to show up and bowl.
Visit Zone 28
While we may not run the government at Zone 28, we do have one leg up on the White House. Featuring over 30 bowling lanes that include private suites as well as glow bowling and adults-only themes. Add the Game Zone arcade, laser tag, escape rooms and a fully stocked restaurant and bar, and Zone 28 becomes the perfect place to spend those days off. Learn more about everything we have to offer!
