The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., known for its rich cultural history and international gifts, is currently facing an uncertain period as it prepares for a potential two-year closure for renovations starting this month. Amid this quiet, longtime staff members have been sharing stories of a lesser-known but enduring presence within the building: the Kennedy Center’s distinctive mice.

Unlike typical house mice, these small rodents are described by stagehands and employees as half the size of common mice, with large ears and a fur coloration resembling a light golden tan, often compared to the palomino hue of horses. Their undersides are pearl white. These creatures have been observed for decades in various parts of the center, including beneath wheelchair ramps near performance stages, in audience seating areas during concerts, and in theater spaces where performers and crew regularly work. The mice have become a part of the Kennedy Center lore, occasionally causing mild disruptions during performances and even nibbling on food items left behind by cast members.

The story of their origins likely dates back to the late 1960s when the center was constructed. The Kennedy Center was built as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, with significant contributions of furnishings and artwork from more than 60 nations. One of the most substantial gifts came from Italy in the form of approximately 3,700 tons of Carrara marble, mined from the Apuan Alps—a region home to the Alpine field mouse and its related species.

Personnel involved in the center’s construction and ongoing maintenance have theorized that some of these small Italian rodents were inadvertently transported within the wooden crates used to ship the marble, which was cushioned with straw. These crates reportedly traveled across the Atlantic, and the mice purportedly established a presence in the building soon after. The Kennedy Center’s electricians, stagehands, and pest control contractors claim the mice are unique to the facility, supported by observations of the rodents’ unusual size and coloration, which do not match local mouse populations.

Attempts to scientifically verify the species have been inconclusive. Photographs submitted to experts in wildlife and mammalogy suggest the mice resemble the Italian Apodemus genus more than native North American mice, though definitive identification would require physical specimens for examination. Some experts have expressed skepticism, noting that such a phenomenon is rare and might be folklore sustained by staff affection, while others find the possibility intriguing but challenging to confirm.

In recent months, as preparation work for the upcoming closure proceeds, sightings of the mice have diminished. Traps set within the center occasionally capture signs of activity, such as chewed bait, but live encounters have become less frequent. For many at the center, the mice represent a unique, if elusive, part of the Kennedy Center’s character—a living link to its international origins and decades of performances. Whether the Italian-origin theory holds true or not, the story of the Kennedy Center mice remains a cherished and mysterious piece of the institution’s history during a time of change.