The White House is known as an office for the president and the home of the first family, but it can also be considered a museum. The Executive Mansion contains a large fine arts collection that includes some of the best American paintings and sculptures. The desire to collect fine arts for the White House developed over 200 years, and White House visitors have a chance to see pieces from the collection during tours and events. Understanding the history behind the collection helps to illuminate how the White House has become a museum for American culture.