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Did you know the White House is on National Park land? Established in 1933, The White House and President's Park is part of the National Park Service, within the Department of the Interior. Located in Washington D.C., the park is over 82 acres and is made up of the White House and its grounds, the Ellipse, Lafayette Park, and the White House Visitor Center. Visitors from around the world travel to the United States capital to visit the iconic site where every president except George Washington has resided. Aside from the home of American presidents and their families, the site has historically been the location of special events, protests, and years of history.
To find out more about this park visit the White House Visitor Center.
Learn more:
WEBSITE: https://www.nps.gov/whho/index.htm
PHONE: 202 208-1631
EMAIL: presidents_park@nps.gov
At the White House and President’s Park, we strive to make our facilities, services, and programs accessible to all. For more information, call us at: 202-208-1631, or learn more on our website: https://www.nps.gov/whho/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm#
SYNOPSIS: This banner features the White House's distinctive triangular pediment at its upper portion, alongside text identifying it as "The White House and President’s Park." It also includes the National Park Service logo and accompanying text.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The background of the image is solid black. In the center foreground is the upper facade of the White House, identified by its triangular pediment with simple molding and the top rows of white columns supporting it.
As title of this brochure to the left in bold letters reads “The White House and President’s Park”. To the right in smaller letters reads “The White House and President’s Park” on the top line and “Washington, DC" on the bottom line. To the right in the same sized text reads “National Park Service” on the top line and “U.S. Department of the Interior” on the bottom line.
At the far right of this banner is a small brown arrowhead logo, pointing down. At top right, white text reads “National Park Service”. On the left is a tall tree. On the bottom is a white bison standing on a green field ending in a distant tree line. A white lake is at the right side. A snow-capped mountain towers behind.
CREDIT: NPS
DESCRIBING: A horizontal color photograph.
SYNOPSIS: The cover art of this brochure is an image of the North side of the White House. This expansive, white neoclassical building is accentuated by tall pillars and a central water fountain, under the shade of large trees. The photo is bent in half to open this brochure making this both the front and back side.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The wide-angle color photograph captures the frontal view of a large, white neoclassical building. The building is characterized by a series of tall, white columns that support a decorative portico with a balustrade. The facade is symmetrically designed with rectangular windows and intricate cornices. Centered in the foreground is a large, jetting water fountain, adding a dynamic element to the composition. The scene is bordered by substantial, leafy trees casting deep shadows. The sunlight bathes the building facade, enhancing its pristine appearance.
CREDIT: NPS
DESCRIBING: A large, color-illustrated, horizontally rectangular, disassembled floor plan.
CAPTION: Inside the White House
CREDIT: WHHA
RELATED TEXT: The White House has been the scene of many events in the history of our nation. Here the President holds meetings that decide national and international policy, signs new legislation, and carries out the many duties of the office. Here, too, the President and First Family entertain guests and live their private lives, as every President, except George Washington, has done.
Your visit begins at the East Wing. Exhibits focus on aspects of White House history and seasonal celebrations. As you enter and leave the White House, notice the carefully landscaped grounds that enhance the beauty of the famous house. Among the many historic trees on the grounds is a magnolia planted by Andrew Jackson. The Jacqueline Kennedy Garden on the east and the Rose Garden on the west are used for formal ceremonies and bill signings. The White House grounds are maintained in the classical tradition according to standards established in 1935 by landscape architecture firm Olmsted Brothers.
As you tour the historic house, look for the portraits of Presidents and First Ladies that line the corridors and hallways of the Ground and State floors. Notice also the floral arrangements that brighten each room.
SYNOPSIS: This color-illustrated, disassembled floor plan is technically an “exploded program analysis drawing,” a cognitive, referential diagram that orients the various rooms in the White House to each other and includes drawings of people throughout the rooms for scale. It shows a diagonal bird’s-eye view of the White House, facing the south and east façades, split into three layers separated vertically to reveal certain interior rooms. The bottom layer shows the Ground Floor’s exterior façade and interior rooms. The middle layer includes the First Floor and its interior rooms. The top layer includes the exterior only of the Second and Third Floors. The floor plan’s open ceilings and open southern walls give the White House the appearance of a dollhouse, with illustrations of tiny furniture, area rugs, and other decor throughout the house. Lines of people of various ages, genders, and ethnicities tour the White House’s various rooms. Black text labels the various floors and rooms. Green landscaped grounds and blue sky surround the White House.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: This disassembled floor plan is shown facing the south and east façades, therefore, the left side of the illustration is oriented west, the foreground is south, the right side is east, and the background is north. This in-depth description begins with the Ground Floor, followed by the First Floor, then the Second and Third Floors described in separate components of this audio-described brochure. All rooms are rectangular except for a central, oval room on the Ground Floor, shown as the Diplomatic Reception Room, and another central, oval room on the First Floor, shown as the Blue Room, both of which are interior to the South Portico, the prominent columned, semi-circular architectural feature on the White House’s south façade.
Ground Floor Layout: On the Ground Floor, the general layout from east to west or right to left includes the Ground Floor Corridor, then, along approximately one-third the length of the north side of the White House, the Visitor Entrance leading to the Library and a set of stairs. Across the south façade, the Vermeil Room is situated directly in front of the Library, followed from east to west by the China Room, the Diplomatic Reception Room, the Map Room, and then several smaller unnamed rooms at the western side of the White House. In the illustration, people walk in a line from the Visitor Entrance, past the Library, and up the stairs to the First Floor. No people are seen in the Vermeil Room, China Room, Diplomatic Room, or Map Room.
Ground Floor Corridor, Visitor Entrance, and Library: The Ground Floor Corridor is a narrow, rectangular, window-lined hallway that leads from the right or eastern edge of the illustration; its entrance is out of view. Beyond the Ground Floor Corridor, people gather at the Visitor Entrance that leads to the Library, aligned along the north side of the White House. The Library is a bookshelf-lined room with rose-toned drapes and a green area rug centered in front of a fireplace topped with a portrait. People walk past the Library and up a set of stairs that lead to the First Floor Entrance Hall.
Vermeil Room, Ground Floor: The Vermeil Room, situated directly in front of the Library along the south façade, is decorated in cream and golden tones with two loveseats facing each other in front of a fireplace. A large mirror hangs on the wall above the fireplace. Two built-in bookcases flank the fireplace. A circular table centers the Vermeil Room over a large golden-toned area rug.
China Room, Ground Floor: In the China Room, to the west or left of the Vermeil Room, only small portions of two walls and the Indian rug-adorned floor can be seen. The China Room is red-toned, and its two visible walls are lined with red-backed floor-to-ceiling China cabinets filled with dishware. The Indian rug displays a concentric circle pattern in the center framed by an outer square in shades of red, blue, and cream.
Diplomatic Reception Room, Ground Floor: The Diplomatic Reception Room is the only oval-shaped room on the Ground Floor and is situated inside the South Portico, between the China Room to the east or right and the Map Room to the west or left. The Diplomatic Reception Room is decorated in shades of blue and green with yellow-upholstered furnishings. The illustration shows the grand landscape murals adorning the walls and the large oval area rug centering the room.
Map Room, Ground Floor: To the left or west of the Diplomatic Reception Room, only a small portion of the Map Room is shown. A fireplace, wall mirror, table, chair, and area rug in shades of pink and blue are shown.
Other rooms, Ground Floor: Additional rectangular unlabeled rooms are shown to the left or west of the Map Room. No people are pictured in any of the rooms along the south side of the White House on the Ground Floor.
Outside, Ground Floor: On the exterior of the Ground Floor, where the rounded South Portico meets the south façade of the White House, two sweeping staircases lead to the First Floor level of the South Portico.
DESCRIBING: A small, horizontally rectangular, color photograph.
SYNOPSIS: This modern-day photograph exhibits a view of one corner, two walls, and the center of the soft-gray and rose-toned Library. Features include corner bookcases, wooden furniture, a chandelier, a fireplace, and a variety of decor including a framed portrait of George Washington.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: In the background of the center of this photo, built-in bookcases filled with books extend floor-to-ceiling, forming a corner of the Library. Along the left wall, a fire burns in a grand fireplace framed by a green marble surround and dark-brown wooden mantle. Three decorative urns and two silver-plated oil lamps top the mantel. Side tables topped with table lamps sit on either side of the fireplace. Above the mantel, a gold-framed portrait of George Washington hangs on a gray-painted wood-paneled wall. Along the right wall, thick rose drapes frame a window between two built-in bookcases. A wooden bench, several rose-upholstered chairs, and a wooden table line the right wall under a gold-framed wall mirror. In the center of the Library, a gilded, candlelit chandelier with a red band and chain of crystal garlands hangs from the ceiling above a round, pedestal based, wooden table and a large, beige patterned area rug. A pink and lavender flower arrangement adorns the table. Portions of additional chairs and tables line the foreground of the photo.
CAPTION: Library
CREDIT: The White House Historical Association
RELATED TEXT: The Library contains volumes of history, biography, fiction, and the sciences, all by American authors. The furniture is American of the Federal period, and the chandelier once belonged to the family of James Fenimore Cooper. The paneling in this room, the Vermeil Room, and the China Room is made from the 1817 timbers that had been salvaged during the 1948–52 reconstruction.
DESCRIBING: A small square photograph.
SYNOPSIS: This photograph depicts the Vermeil Room in the White House. A cut-glass chandelier with 10 arms hangs on the ceiling. To the top left is a portrait of First Lady Jackie Kennedy in a golden colored frame. Below the portrait sits a dark brown horizontal table with a blue and white vase on top. Draped golden curtains cover the window with a chair on either side. Open shelves are in the back center featuring a blurred collection of assorted gilded silver. A fireplace is shown to the right of this photograph with a dark wooden flooring and two cream-colored couches on either side facing one another. A four legged glass circular table has a small dark green plant in its center. A pale patterned carpet fills the room.
CAPTION: Vermeil Room
CREDIT: NPS
RELATED TEXT: The Vermeil Room contains an extensive collection of vermeil (gilded silver) and is used for a variety of functions. Portraits of recent First Ladies are displayed here. This room was once used as a billiard room.
DESCRIBING: A small color photograph.
SYNOPSIS: This photo depicts the China Room in the White House. The white painted room contains a crystal and gold chandelier centered in the ceiling of the photo. There is a fireplace with a painting above it on the left of the photo. There is a china cabinet built into the wall next to the fireplace in the center of the photo. The china cabinet has a red background and various pieces of white china on shelves in the cabinet. A window with long curtains sits to the right of the china cabinet, and beside the window is a large painting of a woman and dog. The painting has two white and floral high back chairs in front of it. There is also a large red rug on the floor that has shapes and flowers on it.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: This photograph depicts the China Room in the White House. The white painted room contains a crystal and gold chandelier centered in the ceiling of the photograph.
There is a fireplace with a painting above it on the left of the photo. The painting is of a landscape with grass, trees, and a body of water. On the mantle of the fireplace sit two vases on the sides and a bouquet of red flowers in the center. The fireplace is flanked by two wall sconces that are also crystal and gold to match the chandelier.
There is a china cabinet built into the wall next to the fireplace in the center of the photo. The cabinet is flush to the wall and has white painted doors with large glass panels that display the china. The inside of the cabinet is painted red and has three columns and four rows of china.The china on the shelves are in a variety of colors.
The china cabinet ends at a corner of the room and on the wall next to it is a large window covered in green, red, and yellow floor-to-ceiling curtains. The curtains have a valance that matches the colors on the curtains.
Next to the window on the right side of the photo is a life-sized painting of Grace Coolidge and her dog Rob Roy. Grace Coolidge is wearing a long red gown, and she is standing outside next to trees with the South Portico of the White House visible in the background to the left. Her dog Rob Roy is sitting next to her looking up at her while she pets him. The dog is a white Collie. The painting has a gold frame.
There are two high back chairs that flank the painting facing each other. The chairs have white floral fabric on the backs and seats, and the arms and legs are a dark wood color. There is a small plant on the ground in between the two chairs under the painting.
On the floor there is a large red Indian carpet that takes up most of the room. The carpet is mostly red with blue and yellow floral patterns and various shapes.
CAPTION: China Room
CREDIT: WHHA
RELATED TEXT: The China Room was set aside in 1917 by Edith Wilson for displaying pieces of china and glass used by the Presidents. The portrait of Grace Coolidge on the south wall was painted in 1924 by Howard Chandler Christy.
DESCRIBING: A small, horizontally square, color photograph.
SYNOPSIS: The room contains a sofa and two armchairs in bright yellow color which are arranged around a dark-wooden circular table with 4 legs and a floral arrangement of yellow and red flowers in a light-colored vase. The room’s walls feature a large mural with two light fixtures against it depicting a scene of people in a mountainous landscape on the left side and boats sailing through a harbor on the right side. The furniture is above a light-pink patterned carpet with orange details.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A medium-sized sofa and two armchairs in a vivid yellow hue dominate the room. These pieces of furniture encircle a dark wooden circular table with four legs. Atop the table is a floral arrangement, showcasing striking yellow and red flowers in a light-colored vase. The white walls of the room are adorned with a large mural. The mural, punctuated by two light fixtures, illustrates a scene of people in a mountainous landscape on the left and boats navigating through a harbor on the right. A light pink patterned carpet with orange details underlies the furniture, drawing the room together.
CAPTION: Diplomatic Reception Room
CREDIT: The White House Historical Association
RELATED TEXT: The Diplomatic Reception Room (not on tour), one of three oval rooms in the residence, is furnished as a Federal period parlor. The room is used as the entrance for new ambassadors coming to the White House to present their credentials to the President. It was from this room that President Franklin D. Roosevelt broadcasted his fireside chats.
State Floor Layout: On the State Floor, the general layout from east to west includes the East Room along the entire eastern end of the White House; then the Green Room, Blue Room, and Red Room across the south façade; followed by the State Dining Room at the western side of the White House. The Entrance and Cross Halls run parallel along the center north side behind the Green Room, Blue Room, and Red Room. In the illustration, a tour group walks in a line from the Entrance Hall, through the East Room, to the Green Room, to the Blue Room, and into the Red Room. No people are seen in the State Dining Room.
East Room, State Floor: The East Room is a large open ballroom adorned in golden-hued flooring and drapery. A grand piano sits in the northeast corner. Along the East Room’s west wall, two fireplaces are topped with huge mirrors that extend toward the tall ceilings. A central door opens into the Cross Hall. People file from a door in the East Room’s northwest corner, past two secret service officers, past the Cross Hall, then into the left adjacent Green Room along the south side of the White House.
Green Room, State Floor: The Green Room, west or left of the East Room, has green-painted walls decorated with framed portraits and other paintings. Chairs, a loveseat, and coffee and side tables are arranged over a green-shaded area rug. The tour group walks through the room toward the Blue Room to the left.
Blue Room, State Floor: The Blue Room is oval-shaped and is situated interior to the South Portico’s curved patio and metal railing, west or left of the Green Room and east or right of the Red Room. The Blue Room is decorated with blue-shaded furnishings and a blue area rug centered over herringbone parquet flooring. People walk through the Blue Room toward the Red Room to the left. A child points to a portrait hanging on the Blue Room’s wall.
Red Room, State Floor: The Red Room, west or left of the Blue Room, has red-painted walls decorated with framed portraits and other paintings. Chairs, a loveseat, and other furnishings are arranged over a cream-shaded area rug. A fireplace adorns the west wall. The tour group walks through the room toward the State Dining Room to the left.
State Dining Room, State Floor: The State Dining Room is a grand room along the west side of the White House, west or left of the Red Room. It does not appear to be as large as the East Room. The State Dining Room is adorned in golden-hued drapery and features a long wooden table with sixteen yellow-upholstered chairs centered over a large gold and pale-blue patterned rug. A wide fireplace spans the center of the west wall, topped by a large portrait of President Abraham Lincoln and flanked by floor-to-ceiling windows.
TEXT:
Located on the State Floor, the EAST ROOM is the largest in the White House. It is used for receptions, ceremonies, press conferences, and other events. It has been the scene of several weddings, including those of Nellie Grant, Alice Roosevelt, and Lynda Bird Johnson. The bodies of seven Presidents have lain in state here. From the elaborately decorated ceiling hang glass chandeliers that date from 1902. The concert grand piano, decorated with folk dancing scenes and eagle supports, was presented by the Steinway company in 1938 and is used here or in the Cross Hall.
TEXT:
The GREEN ROOM, which once served as Thomas Jefferson's dining room, is now furnished as a parlor and is used for receptions. Most of the furniture was made in New York by Duncan Phyfe about 1810. The walls are covered with watered green silk with draperies of striped silk damask. The Italian white marble mantel was purchased in 1818 for the State Dining Room and moved here in 1902. The coffee urn, owned by John Adams, is flanked by French candlesticks used by James Madison.
TEXT:
The BLUE ROOM is often used by the President to receive guests. It is furnished to represent the period of James Monroe, who purchased pieces for the room after the fire of 1814. Seven of the French chairs and one sofa of the set bought by Monroe are in the room. Portraits include those of John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and John Tyler. The Hannibal clock on the white marble mantel was acquired in 1817. The color blue was first used during the administration of Martin Van Buren. The White House Christmas tree is placed in this room.
DESCRIBING: A small square image of a chair.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: This chair sports a richly decorated, dark wooden frame with intricate carvings on the top rail, sides, and legs. The upholstery is in a deep, royal blue fabric that is embellished with gold motifs, including a large wreath encircling a two-headed eagle on the backrest and a matching medallion on the seat. Gold dots are scattered throughout the fabric, adding to its ornate appearance. The armrests are upholstered as well, providing a seamless transition between the wood and the fabric. The legs are slightly tapered and elegantly carved, adding a touch of sophistication
CAPTION: When the White House was rebuilt following the 1814 fire, James Monroe bought furniture for the Blue Room from a French cabinetmaker, Pierre-Antoine Bellangé. Several of those pieces remain in the White House today—including this bergère, an armchair whose sides are enclosed.
CREDIT: The White House Historical Association
TEXT:
The RED ROOM, used for small receptions, has long been a favorite of the First Ladies. John Adams used this as a breakfast room; Rutherford B. Hayes took the oath of office here on March 3, 1877. The room is decorated as an American Empire parlor of 1810-30. The marble mantel is identical to the one in the Green Room. An 18th-century French musical clock presented in 1952 by President Vincent Auriol of France is on the mantel.
DESCRIBING: A small rectangular portrait.
SYNOPSIS: This portrait of George Washington features him standing in a formal space in front of a stone wall with large pillars and beside a gold desk draped in red velvet with a red velvet chair behind him. He’s holding a sword and gesturing to the right towards the desk.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: This portrait features a full-length image of George Washington filling the frame. His facial features include dark eyes with flushed pink cheeks and a straight mouth. The hairline is slightly receding with a white curly wig that extends long enough to cover his ears. George Washington is standing with his right hand extended at waist level and his left hand is at his side holding a sword at a slight angle. The sword has a looped golden handle adorned with a golden tassel and extends to his mid-calf. His left index finger is resting on the top edge of the sword. He is wearing a black, knee-length overcoat with a black ruffled collar. The top third of the overcoat is unfastened, exposing a white, ruffled blouse and a high white-collar underneath. He is wearing black tights and black shoes with silver buckles.
George Washington is standing at the edge of a desk with gold legs and draped in red velvet. Underneath the desk are several books and on top of the desk is a feather quill and paper. Behind him is a red velvet chair with gold legs and arms. The back of the chair is oval shaped, covered in red velvet. At the top of the oval, there is a small medallion with white stars on a blue background on the top third and red and white stripes on the bottom two thirds. Behind the desk is a stone half wall adorned with two large pillars, more red velvet draping and a sliver of a blue skyscape behind the beige pillars and light red fabric drapes.
CAPTION: This 1797 Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington has hung in the White House since 1800. Dolley Madison saved it when the British burned the White House in 1814.
CREDIT: The White House Historical Association
DESCRIBING: A small vertical portrait.
SYNOPSIS: This is a portrait of Abraham Lincoln seated in a red velvet chair. The artwork employs brown and dark tones. There is a contrast between Lincoln’s black suit and the brown and red hues of the chair.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Abraham Lincoln’s face is elongated, with a prominent nose, angular cheekbones, and a square jaw. He has dark, slightly wavy hair. He has a dark beard that covers his chin and a slightly furrowed brow. He gazes slightly down. He wears a tailored black suit with a white shirt and a black bowtie. The fabric of the suit appears matte in contrast to the bright red tone of the chair. He sits slightly turned to his right side crossing his legs. His left leg upon the right one. His left arm is resting on the armrest of the chair. His right arm is bent at the elbow touching his left knee. His right-hand fingers are lightly touching his chin: his index finger resting on his cheek and his thumb under his chin. His other fingers are curled slightly inward. The lower part of the man's legs are cut off. The chair is made with a carved wooden frame featuring floral or scrollwork motifs. These carvings are most prominent on the armrests, the upper backrest, and the legs of the chair. The seat and backrest are upholstered in a velvet red fabric. The background is subdued, and neutral, with a gradient of earthy brown tones. Both brown and red tones contrast and allow a focus on Abraham Lincoln. The lighting in the painting is soft and illuminates Lincoln’s face and upper body.
CAPTION: This 1869 G.P.A. Healy portrait of Abraham Lincoln was bequeathed to the White House in 1939 by the widow of Robert Todd Lincoln, the President’s oldest son.
CREDIT: The White House Historical Association
TEXT:
The STATE DINING ROOM can seat 130 guests at dinners and luncheons. The painted English oak paneling dates from the renovation in 1902. Carved into the fireplace mantel is a quotation from a letter by John Adams: "I Pray Heaven to Bestow the Best of Blessings on THIS HOUSE and All that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but Honest and Wise Men ever rule under this Roof."
TEXT:
In the Tennessee marble floor of the ENTRANCE and CROSS HALLS are the construction and renovation dates of the house. Above the Blue Room entrance is the Presidential seal.
Second and Third Floors: This illustration shows the exterior only of the White House’s Second and Third Floors.
Second Floor Exterior: The Second Floor highlights the White House’s neoclassical architectural design with its symmetrical, ordered layout of windows. On the east façade, four double-hung windows are centered by an arched window. On the south façade, five double-hung windows are evenly spaced to the east of the South Portico. Only three double-hung windows are seen to the west. Ionic columns rise to meet detailed dentil molding where the Second and Third Floors meet.
Third Floor Exterior: The Third Floor displays smaller double-hung windows that are not evenly spaced: three on the east façade and fifteen on the south façade. The South Portico area of the Third Floor is covered in large windows. The Third Floor is topped with a pale-green-shaded roof. Twelve white chimneys and two white utility ducts dot the roof.
Second and Third Floors
The Second and Third Floors are used only by the Presidential family and guests. Located here are the Lincoln Bedroom, the former President’s Office (used as the Cabinet Room, 1865–1902), and the Queen’s Bedroom, named for its royal visitors.
TEXT:
For information on public White House tours and events call 202-456-7041, (24 hours). The White House is open for garden tours on selected spring and fall weekends. On Easter Mon day the traditional Easter Egg Roll takes place on the South Lawn. The White House and President’s Park Visitor Center at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW is open 7:30 am to 4 pm daily and features exhibits, films, artifacts, and ranger-led programs; call 202-208-1631. For more information visit www.nps.gov/whho, www.whitehousehistory.org, and www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house.
DESCRIBING: A black-and-white horizontal drawing.
SYNOPSIS: The white stone building has a rectangular shape. The upper background is completely black. There are faint white areas, especially near the lower edges. A central section of the facade slightly protrudes and includes pediment columns that support a triangular section at the top. The design is symmetrical, with four windows on each side of the entrance.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The main entrance is framed by four pillars/columns. Above the entrance there is a triangular pediment. A dentil pattern is along the edge of the pediment (a small block used as a repeating ornament in the cornices). In the centre of the pediment, a relief or sculptural element is present. The main entrance is marked by an arched doorway, flanked by two additional curved-molding windows at ground level. Above the entrance, there are three tall, narrow windows aligned vertically with the doorway. Flanking the central entrance on the ground floor, there are eight rectangular windows, each adorned with alternating triangular and curved molding above them. On the upper level, there are also eight windows that align with those below. The roof is pitched and extends across the width of the building, featuring six vertical chimneys.
CAPTION: Hoban’s design of one side of the White House exterior.
On July 16, 1790, the U.S. Congress passed the Residency Act that established a permanent capital for the United States on the banks of the Potomac River. It empowered George Washington to select the site for the Federal City. Once he chose the precise location, planning for the city began. French engineer Pierre L’Enfant based his plan on two strong focal points: the Capitol and the President’s House, symbolic of two of the three branches of government.
Thomas Jefferson, then Secretary of State, suggested to Washington and the Commissioners for the District of Columbia that designs for both structures be solicited through a nationwide architectural competition, which was announced on March 14, 1792. On July 17, 1792, James Hoban, an architect born and trained in Ireland, was declared the winner. His design was based on country houses of the British Isles.
On October 13 the cornerstone was laid by the Freemasons and the Commissioners of the District of Columbia. Hoban supervised the construction.
CREDIT: MARYLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
RELATED TEXT: The White House is the oldest public building in the District of Columbia, and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is the most famous address in the United States. Every President except George Washington has conducted the government of the nation here. In the past 200 years the White House has come to symbolize the American Presidency across the world. While the Capitol represents freedom and the nation’s ideals, the White House stands for the power and statesmanship of the chief executive.
The White House itself has been altered, adapted, or enlarged to suit the needs of the residents and demands of a growing nation and of a more complicated world. Throughout all the changes, the basic structure has been honored. After the British burning in 1814, the house was rebuilt between 1815 and 1817 within the same walls. The State Dining Room was enlarged, and space for presidential staff was created in a new West Wing in 1902. A greatly weakened structure was completely rebuilt within its original walls in 1948–52. However, it has remained recognizable for more than 200 years. Engravings and photographs show alterations, additions, and changes to landscape features since the White House was first built, but what remains is a structure that George Washington would recognize should he come upon it today.
DESCRIBING: A rectangular drawing with a beige background.
SYNOPSIS: Two chairs are featured.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The first chair is made of smooth wood and has a pair of legs on either side. This piece of furniture features a horizontal embroidery in three places: the head piece, center below the seat, and footstool. The footstool is held together by two pairs of wooden legs on either side. The second chair is shown from the side and is made of silver metal. The chair has a rectangular head piece and a red cushion with horizontal embroidery below the seat. Below the embroidery are two legs that curve in opposite directions and have an X in between for support.
CAPTION: Benjamin Latrobe designed these chairs for the Madisons during the Greek Revival period. They were made in Baltimore, Maryland. None survived the fire of 1814.
CREDIT: MARYLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
RELATED TEXT: Work started with making a brickyard on the present north grounds of the White House. Three kilns turned out several million bricks not only for the White House but other federal buildings. Huts built on what is now Lafayette Park housed the laborers. Enslaved persons were hired out from enslavers as skilled laborers. The task of finding additional skilled workers vexed Hoban throughout the project. In 1793 a number of stonemasons were recruited in Edinburgh, Scotland.
The stone for the foundations and the facings on exterior walls came from the Aquia Creek quarry in Stafford County, Virginia. Boats could navigate the creek up to the quarry and then carry the stone back up the Potomac to Washington, DC. Hoban advertised throughout the region for fine quality wood for flooring and doors and for framing lumber. Much of it came from North Carolina and Virginia, including Mount Vernon and the Stratford Hall plantation. Lime for the mortar was procured from the region around Frederick, Maryland.
By the time Washington left office in 1797, the walls stood and the roof was framed. In the next three years windows were installed and interior walls were plastered.
With the house not quite finished, the second President, John Adams, moved into the White House on November 1, 1800, just a few months before his term ended. Much of the building’s interior had not been completed, and Abigail Adams used the unfinished East Room to dry the family wash. During Jefferson’s administration, the east and west terraces were built. He opened the house each morning to all visitors as an extension of his democratic beliefs, a practice that continues today.
DESCRIBING: A black and white rectangular drawing sketch.
SYNOPSIS: A painting depicts the stone shell of a large, rectangular, two story white building with visible dark burn marks on the exterior along edges of the roof, window and door frames. The building is without windows, doors, or any visible interior structure as it has all been burned away. A green lawn and shrubbery is seen in the foreground, untouched by the fire.
CAPTION: The shell of the burned White House (illustrated), as seen from Lafayette Park in 1815, contrasts vividly with the growing city (illustrated) that George Cooke painted in 1833. The White House is at center left in the painting.
CREDIT: THE WHITE HOUSE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
RELATED TEXT: James Madison moved into the White House in 1809. With his wife Dolley he introduced brilliance and glitter into the new capital’s social life in a White House that dazzled as well from the work of architect Benjamin Latrobe. The Madisons hired Latrobe to decorate the Oval Room and to design furniture.
His work survives only in sketches, for on August 24, 1814, British forces captured Washington and burned the White House in retaliation for the destruction of some public buildings in Canada by American troops. The exterior sandstone walls and interior brickwork were all that remained.
Reconstruction began in 1815 under Hoban’s supervision, and the White House was ready for James Monroe in September 1817.
DESCRIBING: A small, horizontally rectangular, color painting.
SYNOPSIS: This historic painting exhibits a northerly landscape view of Washington, DC, featuring the cultural landscape in the foreground, the Anacostia River and the Navy Yard in the middle ground, and the Capitol, the White House, and the Potomac River in the background.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Under a hazy pink sky, fall foliage colors gently rolling hills. In the foreground, one black horse and one white horse draw a carriage up a winding, sloped, dirt road past a leafless tree, covered in red-leafed vines. The dirt road leads away from a white farmhouse nestled at the toe of a hillslope, facing a green valley along the banks of the Anacostia River. In the middle ground, the Anacostia River flows from the east or right side of the painting to the west or left side of the painting. A thin row of deciduous and evergreen trees and two shed-like structures line the riverbank. The river reflects the pink-hued sky, a small white dacron sailboat and a schooner ship in its waters, as well as various waterfront buildings and docks associated with the Navy Yard on the far bank. A large, arched, tunnel-like, white, shipbuilding hall known as the Ship House sits prominently on the Anacostia’s banks along the right side of the painting. Beyond the Ship House, brick buildings hug the slopes of a hill topped by the white-sided, green-roofed Capitol. In the background at the center left of the painting, the White House sits up-slope from the Potomac River, flowing along the left side of the painting. Two sailing ships dot the river upstream and downstream of a bridge crossing the river. Rolling hills meet the hazy pink sky on the horizon.
CAPTION: The shell of the burned White House (pictured), as seen from Lafayette Park in 1815, contrasts vividly with the growing city (pictured here) that George Cooke painted in 1833.
The White House is at center left in the painting.
CREDIT: White House Collection
DESCRIBING: A colorful square drawing.
SYNOPSIS: A large crowd is gathered on the South Lawn of the White House. The crowd is lively as they gather in celebration. A few of the men wear yellow straw hats and some of the women wear flowing, puffy dresses. Many people are standing while several are in carriages pulled by brown horses. The staircase in the background curves upwards to the right. Some of the crowd walk up these stairs towards the entryway. The White House has rows of columns and vertically rectangular windows with triangular finishes above each window.
CAPTION: Andrew Jackson was one of the most popular Presidents. The crush of people at public receptions that marked his years in the White House did not deter those who hoped to see him.
CREDIT: White House Collection
RELATED TEXT: By the time Andrew Jackson came to live in the White House, the nation was expanding rapidly. Jackson reflected that growth in that he came to the White House from Tennessee, the westernmost state a President had lived in up to that time. Under Jackson the East Room was finally furnished and opened for public use.
These years before the Civil War were important for the White House. Under the now aged Hoban’s direction, the South and North porticoes were built in 1824 and 1829–30, respectively. Running water was added, and an indoor bathroom was constructed in 1833. Gas lighting was installed in 1848.
When Franklin Pierce was President, the first truly central and efficient heating system was introduced in 1853. Bathrooms and water closets were improved on the second floor.
DESCRIBING: This is a colorized engraving of the Japanese Envoy visiting with President James Buchanan in the East Room of the White House in May of 1860.
SYNOPSIS: This is a colorized engraving of the Japanese Envoy visiting with President James Buchanan in the East Room of the White House in May of 1860. In the engraving you see a large crowd in the background, and the President and his staff along with the Japanese Envoy in the foreground.
The Japanese Envoy stands on the left and center foreground of the engraving, and President Buchanan and his staff on the right side. The President and his staff are dressed in business suits of the time, and the Japanese Envoy is dressed in traditional kimonos.
The top two thirds of the engraving feature the opulent East Room of the White house with two large chandeliers, three floor to ceiling windows surrounded by large red curtains, two large paintings between the windows, and white and gold engravings on the walls, and ceiling.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: This is a colorized engraving of the Japanese Envoy visiting with President James Buchanan in the East Room of the White House in May of 1860. In the engraving you see a large crowd in the background, and the President and his staff along with the Japanese Envoy in the foreground. Some of the crowd in the back of the room are raised up to see the event over the large crowd.
The Japanese Envoy stands on the left and center foreground of the engraving, and President Buchanan and his staff on the right side. There are several people standing with President Buchanan and they stand and watch as three members of the Japanese Envoy bow in the direction of the President and his staff.
The President and his staff are dressed in dark colored business suits with yellow and grey vests. These suits feature long tails on the jackets. Some of the President’s staff appear in grey military uniforms with epaulets on the shoulders. Three members of the President's staff are facing away from the viewer, while everyone else in the engraving is facing the viewer.
The three members of the Japanese Envoy are dressed in traditional kimonos. The Japanese man in the center is wearing a red colored kimono, while the other two members of his Envoy are flanking him in green Kimonos.
The top two thirds of the engraving feature the opulent East Room of the White house with two large chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. The chandeliers are grey and white, and are very large and hanging on the left side of the engraving. Behind the crowd there are three floor to ceiling windows flanked by red curtains with gold trim. In between the windows are two large portrait oriented paintings featuring nature scenes. These paintings are framed in gold. The ceiling and walls of the East Room are engraved and painted white and gold. There is crown molding surrounding the entire room.
CAPTION: The arrival of Japanese officials following Matthew Perry’s 1853–54 trip to Japan.
CREDIT: NPS / LONDON ILLUSTRATED NEWS
RELATED TEXT: The role of the White House expanded as the nation grew in importance and as the City of Washington developed. Two great social events of Buchanan’s administration in 1860 are indicative of this evolving stature: the arrival of Japanese officials following Matthew Perry’s 1853–54 trip to Japan and the visit of the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward Vll of England.
DESCRIBING: A black-and-white painting.
SYNOPSIS: Eight white men assemble around a wooden table covered in documents and books. Abraham Lincoln holds one of the documents and is sitting at the head of the table. A fountain pen is on the table near the central figures. The room has a fireplace, the bottom of a painting frame, and bottom of a chandelier. The men are dressed in suits, and most of them have bowties and are not smiling. Books and papers are layed out on the floor and table.
CAPTION: President Abraham Lincoln signed the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation in his second-floor office.
CREDIT: White House Collection
RELATED TEXT: In April 1861 the Civil War tore the nation apart, and the White House became a center for decision-making and other war activity. President Abraham Lincoln signed the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation in his second-floor office. Troops were quartered in the East Room in the war’s early stages.
In the wake of this national conflict came the first assassination of a President. Thousands of stunned mourners filed by Lincoln’s coffin in the East Room in 1865.
DESCRIBING: A small, horizontally rectangular, sepia-toned photograph.
SYNOPSIS: This historic photograph exhibits the central portion of the White House’s north façade as viewed from the North Lawn. Under a pale reddish-brown sky, the White House stands prominently beyond the North Lawn’s fountain surround, sparse shrubbery, and circular driveway. Black fabric buntings and ribbons adorn the White House’s triangular portico, while others crisscross around and drape in between the two-story Ionic columns framing the main entrance. Layered black ribbons swag from the White House’s horizontal roofline and its row of rectangular decorative dentils. Black curtains hang inside seventeen windows symmetrically spaced over the façade. Draped black ribbons connect the lower corners of each window to its adjacent window. Wide black buntings hang from the transoms of the main entrance door and its two adjacent windows.
CAPTION: The White House draped in mourning for assassinated president James A. Garfield.
CREDIT: RUTHERFORD B. HAYES PRESIDENTIAL CENTER
RELATED TEXT: Sixteen years later the White House was draped in mourning as once again a President, James A. Garfield, fell victim to an assassin.
DESCRIBING: A small, black-and-white photograph.
SYNOPSIS: This black and white photograph features Mrs. Hayes and with 3 children. Mrs. Hayes is seated with her arm around a little boy, a little girl seated near her feet and an older girl leaning on her back. They are seated on the ground near an outdoor garden for this posed portrait.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Mrs. Hayes is seated on a bench and wearing a dark colored, floor length dress. The dress has ruffles around the bottom hem, ruffled cuffs on the sleeves and a variety of textured fabric was used to create the dress. Her face has a smile and she is looking at the camera. Her hair is parted in the middle and pulled back.
The little boy with dark hair is also looking at the camera with a straight face wearing a dark suit and seated to her right side on the bench. At her feet, a young girl in a light-colored dress with her hair pulled back is sitting on the ground, straight-faced and looking down while holding a small bouquet of light-colored flowers. An older girl is standing and leaning forward with her hands on Mrs. Hayes’ shoulders. She also has her hair pulled back and is looking down and straight-faced. She is wearing a dark dress that extends to just beneath her knees and has a ruffle along the lower edge.
This portrait was taken in an outdoor garden area with black and white tiled floor and plants in the background.
CAPTION: Mrs. Hayes with her children Scott and Fanny and a family friend.
CREDIT: RUTHERFORD B. HAYES PRESIDENTIAL CENTER
RELATED TEXT: A glass conservatory, planned during the last year of the Pierce Presidency, was built on the west terrace in 1857. It proved a delight and became a private domain for the Presidential families. Because of the good light, the conservatory was a favorite place for taking photographs like the one of Mrs. Hayes with her children Scott and Fanny and a family friend. During the administration of Rutherford B. Hayes the conservatory was greatly expanded, with walks and benches as a part of the interior design, and connected to the White House via the State Dining Room.
DESCRIBING: Vertically rectangular black and white drawing.
SYNOPSIS: President, Grover Cleveland holds hands with First Lady Frances Folsom in a wedding photo.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The foreground features a man and a woman standing side-by-side, holding hands. The man on the left has a mustache and wears a dark, formal suit with a bow tie and a white shirt. His expression is calm, and he faces slightly towards the woman. The woman, on the right, is in a bridal gown that drapes elegantly to the floor. Her attire includes a long veil and a floral headpiece. The folds of her gown are detailed, reflecting the ornate fashion of the era. She leans slightly towards the man, her gaze directed downwards. The background includes lush, tropical foliage that contrasts with the couple's formal attire, creating a picturesque and serene setting.
CAPTION: On June 2, 1886, Cleveland married Frances Folsom in the Blue Room.
CREDIT: Library of Congress
RELATED TEXT: In March 1885 the second bachelor President, Grover Cleveland, took office. Little more than a year later, on June 2, 1886, Cleveland married Frances Folsom in the Blue Room. Although other weddings have been performed in the White House, this was the one time a President was married here.
Cleveland’s successor Benjamin Harrison made some notable changes, including adding electric lights in 1891.
DESCRIBING: A small rectangular photograph.
SYNOPSIS: Three buildings with glass roofs and glass walls are seen in front of a large white building. Inside the glass buildings are seen a variety of plants. Behind these buildings, a large white house is seen with a half circle portico extending from the middle of the building. A paved road circles along the left side of this building. An urban skyline and the tops of trees are seen in the background behind the complex.
CAPTION: Newly constructed West Wing
CREDIT: Library of Congress
RELATED TEXT: When Theodore Roosevelt became President, one of the first things he did was to change the name of the structure to the White House. Since the mid-1800s it had been called the Executive Mansion, and before that it had been described in government documents as the President’s House. But almost from the beginning it was known popularly as the White House. Certainly that name predated the fire of 1814. In 1901 Roosevelt made it official.
Roosevelt faced major problems, because the house needed extensive structural repairs, more space for both the family and the staff was required, and the interior was a conglomeration of styles. Congress appropriated money to repair and refurnish the house and to construct new offices for the President, with an executive office building (the West Wing) replacing the old conservatories.
DESCRIBING: Two vertical Black and White photographs.
SYNOPSIS: There are two photos, one is of two men, and the other is of a woman holding a sign saying “Mr. PRESIDENT HOW LONG MUST WOMEN WAIT FOR LIBERTY”.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: Two photographs are displayed. The first photograph is of two men smiling as they stand shoulder to shoulder next to each-other. One man has a pair of headphones connected to a wire as the other man speaks into a microphone connected to the same wire. Both men are wearing suits with the man on the right side wearing a black top hat. Behind the men is a park with a spherical-shaped light post in the background amongst blurred trees.
The image to the right is of a woman with a frown on her face holding a sign that reads “Mr. PRESIDENT HOW LONG MUST WOMEN WAIT FOR LIBERTY”. She is wearing a black dress to her ankles, with black heeled shoes, and a scarf around her neck and head. Behind her is a square column with bricks on the exterior painted in black on the bottom two rows and white in the remaining rows. In the background is a blurred building in the right corner and two men wearing black jackets are walking.
CAPTION: Woodrow Wilson’s years in the White House saw him test new radio links with aircraft and listen to the appeal of suffragists for the right to vote.
CREDIT: National Archives / Library of Congress
RELATED TEXT: Despite the work done in 1902, demand for more space grew, and in 1909 the West Wing offices were enlarged and the well-known Oval Office was built. Before the West Wing was built, Presidents had used various room arrangements in the mansion for their offices. Since 1909 the Oval Office has been the President’s Office.
Outside the Oval Office is the Rose Garden. The 1902 renovations made this space available for a formal garden. Roses were first planted here in 1913.
A third floor was added in 1927 to provide more living space in the residence.
DESCRIBING: A small, horizontally rectangular, black-and-white photograph.
SYNOPSIS: The picture shows President Franklin D. Roosevelt sitting at a desk in front of six microphones.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: This historic photograph features a close-range view of President Franklin D. Roosevelt from the waist up, sitting at a desk lined with six microphones. Labels on two microphones read “MBS,” two others read “NBC,” one reads “BS,” and another one reads “CBS.” Roosevelt wears a black tuxedo and bowtie, and he grins as he looks upward toward his right. His right hand rests on an open notebook’s pages on the desk in front of him. A tray with two cut crystal cocktail glasses sits on the desk to Roosevelt’s left. Dark damask drapery hangs behind him.
CAPTION: Franklin Roosevelt began radio broadcasts to the nation known as “fireside chats.”
CREDIT: FDR Library
RELATED TEXT:
Soon after his election Franklin Roosevelt began radio broadcasts to the nation known as “fireside chats.”
DESCRIBING: A black-and-white photograph.
SYNOPSIS: A man in a bulldozer in an excavated pit is dumping dirt into a dump truck. Many structural steel beams are assembled to create the scaffolding and structure for the building. One vertical beam reads "BETHLEHEM". Sunlight shines through openings in a wall at the back of the pit. A group of people stand by the wall in the background overlooking the activity.
CAPTION: The interior was gutted, a new basement excavated, new foundations laid, and a steel framework erected to take their load-carrying burden off the walls.
CREDIT: NPS
RELATED TEXT: The next year, 1934, he had the West Wing enlarged again.
Once the United States entered World War II, the East Wing and an air raid shelter were built, and a movie theater was installed in the east terrace.
Harry Truman added a balcony to the South Portico in 1948.
Over the years the almost unceasing pace of remodeling, alterations, and rebuilding had weakened many of the building’s old wooden beams and interior walls. In 1948 a thorough examination revealed the house’s alarming condition. The decision was made for a complete renovation.
The Trumans moved to Blair House, across Pennsylvania Avenue, for four years of White House reconstruction. Paneling, ceilings, and furniture were removed. The interior was gutted, a new basement excavated, new foundations laid, and a steel framework erected to take their load-carrying burden off the walls.
In March 1952 the Trumans moved back to the newly renovated White House.
Succeeding administrations, hoping to make the White House a showcase of American furniture and painting, have focused on acquiring historic and artistic objects for its permanent collection as well as on preserving and maintaining the house.
DESCRIBING: This is a photo of the transom window and stone engravings of flowers around it above the north entrance of the White House.
SYNOPSIS: This is a close-up photo of the transom window and stone engravings of flowers around it above the north entrance of the White House. The window itself is a semi-circle with a web-patterned grid inside. Surrounding the window are many flowers engraved into the stone. There is a ledge under the window that is above the door, however the door cannot be seen in the photo.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: This is a close-up photo of the transom window and stone engravings of flowers around it above the north entrance of the White House. The window itself is a semi-circle with a web-patterned grid inside. The web grid is made up of 6 lines that meet at the bottom of the window at a small semi-circle. These lines then go up to the top of the window and are connected to the web with smaller semi-circles connecting each line.
The stone carved flowers that surround the window are in two layers with each layer containing hundreds of carved flowers that meet at certain points in the semi-circle and are carved to look like they are attached to rings around the window. The flowers appear as carved wreaths around the window.
The window is set into the building a small distance. The outer wall of the building along with the engraved flowers create an overhang to the window. There is a ledge under the window that is decorated in a crown molding fashion with multiple layers of stone carved to look like wood molding. Below the ledge are columns on each side of the door, however the door is cut off on the picture. There are more flowers and circular carvings that can be seen at the top of the columns.
Above the window and wreaths are more stone engraved flowers that go out of frame at the top of the photo. The sun is also shining brightly on the left side of the photo, while the right side is in the shade.
CAPTION: Column capitals, carved roses, and garland details, cleaned of thick layers of paint, are once again seen in their original crispness.
CREDIT: WHITE HOUSE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION
RELATED TEXT: A 1980–96 project helped preserve the exterior walls. Dozens of layers were stripped while expert stone carvers repaired the historic sandstone. Column capitals, carved roses, and garland details, cleaned of thick layers of paint, are once again seen in their original crispness. Scorch marks from when fire consumed the White House during the 1814 British invasion were briefly visible while the walls awaited repainting.
DESCRIBING: A small, horizontally rectangular, colorful photograph.
SYNOPSIS: This photograph contains a crowd of people gathered together for an event on the South Lawn of the White House.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: A sliver of a pale blue sky rests above three white chimneys and six white columns which is part of the White House South Portico. Two dark green Magnolia trees sit on either side of the columns. A crowd of people on the lawn face towards the house inside the black, steel fence as another line of people spectates outside of the gates. The fence has a row of balloons which are from left to right: red, green, pink, yellow, orange, blue, red, green, orange, blue, yellow, red, green, and orange.
CAPTION: A crowd at President’s Park with the White House in the background.
CREDIT: White House
DESCRIBING: A round color illustration.
SYNOPSIS: The Presidential Seal consists of a circle with an eagle holding an olive branch in the right talon and arrows in the left talon. The eagle is surrounded by a circle of white stars.
IN-DEPTH DESCRIPTION: The Presidential Seal consists of a circle with an outstretched eagle holding an olive branch in the right claw and a cluster of arrows in the left claw. The eagle’s head faces the right with a curved beak and golden slanted eyes. The eagle’s body and wings are brown, and have white tail feathers that are fanned out facing upwards. The bird’s wings are textured and light brown. On the eagle’s chest, there is a shield pointed down consisting of red and white stripes on the lower two thirds of the shield and the top third of the shield is blue. The eagle holds a white ribbon in its beak that reads in Latin “e pluribus unum” which translates to “out of many, one” in small black goudy old style text. The eagle is encircled by 50 white stars and an outer ring of large blue goudy old style text that reads "Seal of the President of the United States" in a serif font. Above the eagle, there are 13 white stars, arranged in a semicircle, and 13 white clouds.
CAPTION: Presidential seal
CREDIT: NPS
The White House and President’s Park is one of over 400 parks in the National Park System. To learn more about national parks and National Park Service programs in America’s communities, visit www.nps.gov
Learn more:
WEBSITE: https://www.nps.gov/whho/index.htm
PHONE NUMBER: 202 208-1631
EMAIL: presidents_park@nps.gov