Established by an Act of Congress in 1798, the United States Marine Band is America’s oldest continuously active professional musical organization. Its mission is unique—to provide music for the President of the United States and the Commandant of the Marine Corps. President John Adams invited the Marine Band to make its White House debut on New Year’s Day, 1801, in the then-unfinished Executive Mansion. In March of that year, the band performed for Thomas Jefferson’s inauguration and is believed to have performed for every presidential inaugural since. An accomplished musician himself, Jefferson is credited with giving the Marine Band its title, “The President’s Own.” Whether performing for State Dinners or South Lawn arrivals, events of national significance, or receptions, Marine Band musicians appear at the White House an average of 200 times each year. For more than 200 years, the Marine Band has been an integral part of countless events that have helped shape the nation’s identity and unique artistic culture. Now well into its third century of bringing music to the White House and to the American public, “The President’s Own” continues to affirm that the arts are an invaluable bridge between people.