The Washington D.C. Easter Egg roll was originally held on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, rather than the White House up until the mid 1870’s.

Egg rolling activities in Washington, D.C are known to have occurred first during the administration of President Andrew Johnson (1865-1869). Although small groups of egg rollers were known to have gathered on the White House lawns, the majority of egg rolling activity and all day picnics took place on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. By 1876, however, it was apparent that the egg rolling activity and large crowds it drew had taken its toll on the grounds. Congress, led by then Speaker of the House Speaker Michael Kerr (D-IL), passed a law that was to be enforced in 1877 prohibiting the Capitol grounds for being a ‘children’s playground’ during Easter, however it rained that year and the activities were canceled. On Easter Sunday 1878, then President Rutherford B. Hayes was approached by young egg rollers who inquired about opening the White House for the Easter Egg roll on its south lawn after being turned away at the Capitol. After conferring with his staff, and wife Lucy, they agreed to officially open the White House grounds for egg rolling. Successive Presidents have continued this tradition for children and have held it on the South Lawn of the White ever since 1878.

The event has been canceled on occasion only because of poor weather conditions and during World War I and World War II. During the war years egg rollers were spotted on the grounds surround the Washington Monument, the National Zoo and even returning, upon agreement by the Speaker of the House, to the grounds surrounding the Capitol such as in this 1930’s photograph.