The Cross Hall is a broad hallway on the first floor in the White House, the official residence of the president of the United States. It runs east to west connecting the State Dining Room with the East Room. The room is used for receiving lines following a State Arrival Ceremony on the South Lawn, or a procession of the President and a visiting head of state and their spouses.
The Cross Hall, looking east
The Cross Hall c. 1898, showing James Hoban's original Ionic columns and Louis Comfort Tiffany's glass screen separating the Cross Hall and Entrance Hall
President Barack Obama walks through the Cross Hall to the East Room to present a televised press conference, 2009.
President George W. Bush delivers his farewell address with the Cross Hall behind him, January 2009
State visits to the United States
State and official visits to the United States are formal visits by the head of state or chief of government from one country to the United States, during which the president of the United States acts as official host of the visitor. State visits are considered to be the highest expression of friendly bilateral relations between the United States and a foreign state and are, in general, characterized by an emphasis on official public ceremonies.
The White House arrival ceremony is a central component of state visits to the United States.
Kalākaua is received by Ulysses Grant during the visit of Hawaii in 1874.
David Cameron walks down the red carpet during a flight line arrival ceremony in 2012. On the right is Capricia Marshall, Chief of Protocol of the United States.
An arrival ceremony at the Pentagon.
