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The White HouseThe White House is the official residence and workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC, it serves as both a private home and the central hub of the executive branch.
Designed by architect James Hoban in a neoclassical style, the building took eight years to complete and cost around $230K (about $6M in 2025). Every president has lived and worked in the White House since 1800, when John Adams moved in.
Throughout its history, the building has been expanded, renovated, gutted, and even nearly burned to the ground during the War of 1812. Most recently, President Donald Trump initiated a significant renovation in October 2025, demolishing the East Wing to build a ballroom to be funded by up to $400M in private donations. Today, the White House remains both a symbol of American history and the functioning seat of executive power.Explore The White House
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Truth met President Lincoln at the White House in 1864In October 1864, Truth traveled to Washington and met President Lincoln a week before his reelection, though she could secure the appointment only through a white abolitionist friend. Lincoln signed her autograph book, and Truth later said she had never been treated with more "kindness and cordiality" by anyone. Eleanor Roosevelt sheltered student activists at the White House after they were subpoenaed by HUACIn 1939, when Congress subpoenaed leaders of the American Youth Congress on suspicion of communist ties, Eleanor Roosevelt attended the hearings herself and then invited all 10 students to stay at the White House, as they had nowhere to sleep. NPRThe Adams family brought the first pets to the White HouseWhen John Adams became the first president to live in the White House, Abigail brought along the family's dogs—making them the first presidential pets to reside there. Abigail was known for her love of dogs. An early version of the musical 'Hamilton' debuted at the White HouseYears before the musical "Hamilton" reached Broadway, Lin-Manuel Miranda performed an early draft of the opening song at the White House during a 2009 poetry event attended by President Obama. The Obama White HouseSince 1800, every president has lived and worked in the White HouseJohn Adams became the first president to live in the White House when it was completed in 1800. Since then, every American president has used it as both a residence and the official seat of executive power. 1440Take a virtual tour through the White House interiorThis immersive 360° tour from the White House Historical Association lets you explore key rooms and see historical details not visible during in-person visits. White House Historical AssociationSee how the White House is 'flipped' in a matter of hours on Inauguration DayOn Inauguration Day, the outgoing family departs after a morning farewell, and residence staff rapidly pack and move their belongings out while preparing rooms for the incoming first family—transforming the White House within hours before they arrive that afternoon. Beyond FactsExplore the extensive security in and around the White HouseThe White House is one of the most secure buildings in the world. Protected by the Secret Service, it features armed patrols, rooftop snipers, barriers, and sensors—layered defenses designed to deter intrusion. The B1MSee the White House bowling alley in useFirst installed in 1947 for President Harry Truman, the White House bowling alley was later moved to the basement of the Executive Office Building. President Nixon, an avid bowler, added a new one-lane alley beneath the White House in 1973. CaseyNeistatThere is a secretive bomb-proof bunker located under the White HouseBuilt in 1942 during World War II, the Presidential Emergency Operations Center lies beneath the East Wing. Designed to protect the president during air raids—and later nuclear threats—it remains a top-secret command site used during crises like 9/11. Elle DecorThe White House Situation Room was created in 1961In 1961, John F. Kennedy approved the establishment of the White House Situation Room—a secure crisis-management center in the West Wing basement—following the intelligence failures of the Bay of Pigs invasion and the growing tensions of the Cold War. ABC News AustraliaJacqueline Kennedy transformed the White House into a museum of American historyBetween 1961 and 1963, first lady Jacqueline Kennedy oversaw a dramatic restoration of the White House, furnishing rooms with authentic antiques, founding the White House Historical Association, and securing congressional protection for the White House's historic interiors. JFK Presidential LibraryThe White House was almost entirely rebuilt from 1948 to 1952Structural failure forced President Harry Truman to vacate the White House in 1948. Engineers gutted the building, keeping only its exterior walls, and rebuilt the interior with a new steel frame, modern utilities, and reinforced foundations by 1952. HistoryfeelsThe White House's modern East Wing—demolished in 2025—was built above a secure underground bunkerCompleted in 1942, the East Wing provided offices and a public entrance but primarily disguised the construction of the Presidential Emergency Operations Center beneath it—a secure command bunker built during World War II after the attack on Pearl Harbor. The ForwardThe White House was officially called the Executive Mansion until 1901Throughout the 19th century, the building we now call the White House was formally known as the "Executive Mansion"—and earlier as the "President's House" or "President's Palace". In October 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt formalized the name "The White House" for all government use. White House Historical AssocationThe White House reconstruction after its burning took only three yearsAfter the 1814 fire, its original architect, James Hoban, oversaw reconstruction. Hoban reused some original sandstone walls, and timber replaced brick in interior partitions—a time-saving shortcut that weakened the structure, ultimately requiring another near-complete rebuild in 1948. White House Historical AssociationDolley Madison rescued George Washington's portrait before the White House burnedAs British troops approached in August 1814, first lady Dolley Madison ordered Gilbert Stuart's full-length portrait of George Washington removed from the White House, which remains displayed in the building today. She also secured key state papers and valuables before fleeing. George Washington's Mount VernonThe White House was burned by British forces during the War of 1812On August 24, 1814, British troops invaded Washington, DC, and set fire to the President's House, destroying its interior and roof. However, the exterior sandstone walls survived. After the war, reconstruction began under the original architect. BuzzfeedJohn and Abigail Adams were the first to live in the White House, which was largely unfinishedPresident John Adams moved into the unfinished White House on Nov. 1, 1800, followed by first lady Abigail Adams, who used the East Room to dry laundry. The building lacked heat and plaster, with construction continuing for months. White House Historical AssocationSee what it's like to work at the White HouseAnita McBride discusses her experience working at the White House across three presidential administrations. She began in 1984 as a correspondence analyst, reading mail, and later served as chief of staff to first lady Laura Bush from 2005 to 2009. White House Historical AssocationGo room by room in this deep look at the interior of the White HouseExplore the White House's 132 rooms—from the Oval Office and East Room to the State Dining Room and Lincoln Bedroom—with this 3D video rendering that reveals the layout, design, and daily functions of the building before its 2025 renovations. Jared OwenThe 'chief usher' manages the White House and a staff of roughly 100 peopleTracing back to 19th-century household roles, the chief usher is now the White House's general manager—overseeing renovations, maintenance, food service, budgets, and employees who run the daily operations of the complex. White House Historical AssocationThe White House still has its original stone wallsConstruction of the White House began in 1792 and continued even after 1800, when John Adams moved in. Despite being burned by British troops in 1814 and repeatedly renovated since, the White House's original Virginia sandstone walls remain intact. The White House Historical AssociationThomas Jefferson is rumored to have anonymously submitted a design for the White HouseOf the design submissions for the White House, one is rumored to have been submitted by Thomas Jefferson, an amateur architect. Though his design did not win, he later influenced the grounds as president, adding formal gardens, wooded areas, and a carriage drive. The Beautiful HomeThe White House design was chosen through a national competitionIn 1792, President George Washington launched a public contest to design the new executive mansion. Irish-born architect James Hoban's neoclassical plan won the contest. His design was inspired by Dublin's Leinster House, which houses Ireland's parliament. Culture NowBefore the White House was constructed, the president lived and worked in PhiladelphiaFrom 1790 to 1800, the President's House at 6th and Market Street in Philadelphia served as the executive mansion. George Washington and John Adams both served there as president before the capital moved to Washington, DC. The site is a tour of a replica of the house. American Village Citizenship TrustThe history of the White House Hanukkah partyDespite celebrating Christmas for hundreds of years, the US Presidential White House didn't have its first Hanukkah celebration until 1979, when Jimmy Carter oversaw the lighting of a menorah. Since then, the tradition has expanded, including lessons on playing with dreidels and big parties. See a timeline of the events here. Business InsiderRace for the White House: an inside look at US presidenciesUS presidential elections can be full of drama. Video clips and photo galleries dive into presidential legacies, scandals, notable pastimes, and even pets—President Taft had a pet cow named Pauline who grazed on the White House lawn! Dive into CNN’s interactive series to see how a single issue can sometimes determine the outcome of America’s presidencies. The series provides a wide range of insight into US presidential elections and administrations of the past, present, and even future. CNNA history of the White House fenceSince it was occupied in 1800 by Thomas Jefferson, the White House has had a fence. From the original wooden post-and-rail fence to today's 13-foot high steel barrier, check out this brief timeline of the White House fence from the the building's... White House Historical AssociationMany historians believe Eleanor Roosevelt had a romantic relationship with Lorena Hickok, a female journalistRoosevelt and AP reporter Lorena Hickok exchanged over 3,000 deeply affectionate letters, many written twice daily. Hickok lived in a room near Eleanor's in the White House for several years. Biographers who have examined their correspondence conclude it was a true-love relationship. SlateAbigail Adams sailed to Europe to join John during his diplomatic posting in Paris in 1784This podcast chronicles Abigail's voyage across the Atlantic to join John in Paris during his diplomatic service, then follows the couple's return to America and their rise to the White House. Photos of Olympians visiting with US presidentsAmerican Olympic athletes have visited the White House for nearly a century, with presidents using these ceremonial receptions to celebrate athletic excellence and connect sports achievement to national pride. The tradition has evolved from modest gatherings into major media events across multiple administrations. White House Historical AssociationSheep once grazed on the National Mall and White House groundsIn the late 1910s, sheep grazed near the Lincoln Memorial and on the White House lawn. Under Woodrow Wilson, their wool was auctioned for charity, briefly making the grazing animals the subject of a federal cost-saving experiment. Boundary StonesNorman Rockwell had a 21st-century resurgenceFor decades, he was written off by the art world as a simplistic commercial artist, but critics began to reconsider Rockwell's work many years after his death. Arguably, the height of that resurgence came in 2011, when President Barack Obama hung "The Problem We All Live With" (on loan from the Norman Rockwell Museum) in the White House to mark the 50th anniversary of Ruby Bridges' desegregation walk. BBCPresident Trump tore down the East Wing in October 2025 to build a new ballroomIn October 2025, Donald Trump commenced demolition of the historic East Wing of the White House to clear space for a privately funded, 90,000-square-foot ballroom. The project drew criticism from preservationists and public officials. The Washington PostJacqueline Kennedy's 1962 White House tour drew 80 million viewers worldwideBroadcast simultaneously on CBS and NBC, and a few days later on ABC, the first lady's televised tour introduced the restored White House to an audience of between 50 million and 80 million. The program elevated public appreciation of American history and the significance of the White House. CBS NewsCalvin Coolidge had many animals—including a White House raccoonCalvin Coolidge and First Lady Grace Coolidge adopted a raccoon named Rebecca, initially intended for Thanksgiving dinner. Instead, she became a beloved pet, roaming the White House lawn with a handmade collar reading "White House Raccoon." CBS Sunday MorningMadison condemned slavery in theory while owning slavesJames Madison argued that slavery violated Revolutionary ideals. Yet, he inherited and managed more than 100 enslaved people to operate the family's 3,000-acre plantation, brought enslaved laborers to the White House, and later sold them for personal profit. Princeton UniversityJames Garfield's 79-day decline hooked America on news updatesAfter he was shot while departing Washington, DC, in 1881, the president was treated for his wounds and cared for at the White House. Since 1861, telegraphs had spanned the continent, and the Associated Press pooled sources to share telegraph news. The public, seeking updates on the president's condition, was able to receive them regularly for the first time due to this network, laying the foundation for the continuous news cycle. The MIT Press ReaderEleanor Roosevelt's son wrote mystery novels starring his motherElliott Roosevelt wrote 20 novels about a fictional version of his mother, an amateur detective. Titles included "Murder and the First Lady," "The White House Pantry Murder," and "New Deal for Death." Literary HubWatch Bill Nye be awarded the Presidential Medal of FreedomPresident Joe Biden bestowed the honor for Nye's work in science education, science advocacy and environmental stewardship, with the White House adding, "By sharing the magic of fun and science, he inspires generations of Americans to follow facts and reason and leave the world better than we found it." Forbes Breaking NewsTracking Georgia O’Keeffe paintings across AmericaExplore different significant locations where the painter’s works have lived, including the White House, from 1997 to 2004. Pick a nearby museum to witness the masterpieces up close. Google Arts & CultureThe US dollar's value weakened significantly in 2025 amid tariffsExperts at US Bank predicted in August 2025, that the downward trend was likely to continue, although they acknowledged that uncertainty remains high. As tariffs moved to the center of the White House’s agenda, all G10 currencies grew stronger against the dollar—the Swiss franc even posted double-digit gains. UBSMajor White House Renovations Through History: PhotosThe White House has long been a work in progress. HISTORYKendrick Lamar won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, a milestone for hip-hopThe acclaimed rapper won for his 2017 album “DAMN.,” which includes sonic nods to the culture’s long history and lyrics that grapple with its complications. Critics noted that the award suggested hip-hop had been welcomed into the upper echelons of the art establishment. Literary HubWatch the breaking news report of the revelation that brought down the Nixon Presidency In August 1974, following a unanimous Supreme Court ruling, the White House released the "smoking gun" tape—revealing Nixon's role in the cover-up. Watch the CBS News report from August 5, 1974, detailing the fallout from the release of the tapes.
CBS News Nixon secretly recorded nearly 3,700 hours of conversations The White House taping system was secretly installed on February 16, 1971, beginning with the Oval Office and Cabinet Room, and later expanded to Nixon's offices, Camp David, and telephones. Richard Nixon Presidential LibrarySteve Jobs was awarded the Presidential Medal of FreedomIn 2022, the White House posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Steve Jobs, recognizing Jobs’s work as the cofounder and longtime CEO of Apple, as well as a longtime leader at Pixar. The VergeA dive into some of the country's stranger ThanksgivingsHow did a raccoon intended for the Thanksgiving dinner table end up a beloved presidential pet? History teacher Sharon McMahon’s podcast "Here’s Where It Gets Interesting" takes an episode to delve into some of the more unusual Thanksgivings at the White House, including the Great Cranberry Scare of 1959 and the story of Calvin Coolidge and his "first raccoon," Rebecca. Sharon McMahonExperience Watergate through photographsThe Watergate scandal produced some of the most iconic images in American political history—especially the candid shot of Nixon boarding a helicopter while leaving the White House for the final time on Aug. 9, 1974. CNN
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