First Lady Michelle Obama wanted the garden to promote healthy eating for her daughters and for children throughout the country. “My hope,” she said, “is that through children, they will begin to educate their families and that will, in turn, begin to educate our communities” about the benefits of healthy eating.

The garden was not the White House’s first. Several such gardens were kept through the years. First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln brought White House-grown strawberries to Union soldiers, and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt planted a Victory Garden during World War II. Today, the kitchen garden provides fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs to the White House and local food banks.

The South Lawn is used for state arrival ceremonies, the White House Easter Egg Roll, concerts, and other events. The South Lawn is part of the White House Grounds, which include several decorative and functional gardens, a tennis court, putting green, and swimming pool. Because the White House Grounds are a national park, the National Park Service oversees their care, maintenance, and improvement.