White House

The White House is the home and main workplace of the President of the United States. The house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban. It is at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C.. The building was built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical style. It has been the home of every U.S. President since John Adams. When Thomas Jefferson moved into the house in 1801, he (with architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe) expanded the building outward. They made two colonnades that were meant to hide stables and storage.

In 1814, during the War of 1812, the mansion was set on fire by the British Army in the Burning of Washington. The fire destroyed the inside of the house and much of the outside. Reconstruction began almost immediately. President James Monroe moved into the partially reconstructed house in October 1817. Construction continued with the addition of the South Portico in 1824 and the North in 1829. Because of crowding within the executive mansion itself, President Theodore Roosevelt had all work offices moved to the newly constructed West Wing in 1901. Eight years later, President William Howard Taft expanded the West Wing and created the first Oval Office. This was eventually moved as the section was expanded. The third-floor attic was changed into living quarters in 1927. A newly built East Wing was used as a reception area for social events. Jefferson's colonnades connected the new wings. East Wing changes were completed in 1946. These changes made more office space. By 1948, the house's load-bearing exterior walls and internal wood beams were found to be close to failure. Under Harry S. Truman, the interior rooms were completely taken apart and a new internal load-bearing steel frame was built inside the walls. Once this work was done, the interior rooms were rebuilt.

Today, the White House Complex includes the Executive Residence, West Wing, Cabinet Room, Roosevelt Room, East Wing, and the Old Executive Office Building, which houses the executive offices of the President and Vice President.

The White House is made up of six stories—the Ground Floor, State Floor, Second Floor, and Third Floor, as well as a two-story basement. The term White House is regularly used as a metonym for the Executive Office of the President of the United States and for the president's administration and advisers in general. The property is owned by the National Park Service and is part of the President's Park. In 2007, it was ranked second on the American Institute of Architects list of "America's Favorite Architecture."

Listed in the following categories:
Post a comment
Tips & Hints
Arrange By:
The Ritz-Carlton
5 September 2013
Don’t miss the White House beehive and the First Lady’s vegetable garden from the gate on the South Lawn. The bees pollinate White House plants and make honey for the first family and their guests.
Elaine Lorent
5 April 2014
Try to go in the morning! It gets really crowded in the afternoon (which makes it hard to find a good spot to take a picture)!
The Bozzuto Group
7 August 2012
If you want a tour, you have to coordinate with your local Congress office months in advance, but we enjoy taking it all in from the outside. Amazing landscape and a legendary building!
Paige C
21 August 2017
Our President staring directly at the sun during the Eclipse. Pretty much sums it up.
Social News Network
20 June 2012
If you ever get a chance to visit Washington D.C., the White House is a must see! My suggestion is to walk down the strip rather than have a taxi take you because there are tons of monuments to see!
The Traveler
16 March 2019
Went on a tour of the White House. Very long wait to get through security. Took an hour and half. Tour itself is self guided. Lots photos of Presidents and you get to see a few rooms.
Load more comments
foursquare.com
8.7/10
Alexey Dodonov, Georgiy Mostolovitsa and 3,835,791 more people have been here

Hotels nearby

See all hotels See all
Willard InterContinental Washington

starting $504

The Hay - Adams

starting $389

Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square Hotel

starting $467

W Washington D.C.

starting $395

JW Marriott Washington, DC

starting $349

BridgeStreet at Woodward Building Apartment

starting $319

Recommended sights nearby

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Jacqueline Kennedy Garden

The Jacqueline Kennedy Garden is located at the White House south of

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
White House Rose Garden

The White House Rose Garden is a garden bordering the Oval Office and

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Treasury Building (Washington, D.C.)

The Treasury Building in Washington, D.C. is a National Historic

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
White House Conference Center

The White House Conference Center is an annex building of the White

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Armenian Genocide Museum of America

Armenian Genocide Museum of America (AGMA) is a proposed Armenian

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Oscar Straus Memorial

The Oscar S. Straus Memorial in Washington, D.C. commemorates the

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Warner Theatre (Washington, D.C.)

The Warner Theatre is a theater located at 513 13th Street, N.W. in

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Washington Monument

The Washington Monument is a large, tall, sand-colored obelisk near

Similar tourist attractions

See all See all
Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Royal Hospital Chelsea

The Royal Hospital Chelsea is a retirement home and nursing home for

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Nasseef House

Nasseef House or Nassif House (Arabic: بيت نصيف Bayt Nasseef) is a h

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Reichstag

The Reichstag building was designed as a home to the parliament of the

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
Les Invalides

Les Invalides is a landmark in Paris, France. It was built between

Add to wishlist
I've been here
Visited
United States Capitol

The United States Capitol is the building where the United States

See all similar places