White House USA

The White House in Washington DC is the official residence of the President of the United States, an international symbol of the American presidency, and one of the most famous buildings in the world. Begun in 1792, the stately Neoclassical mansion contains 132 rooms including the famous Oval Office.

Quick Facts

Go Historic ID: 250185
Names: Executive Mansion
White House
Location: Washington, D.C.
United States
North America
Coordinates: 38.8977000° N, 77.0365000° W
view on Go Historic map
view on Google Maps

Location Map

Map showing the location of the White House, Washington. (Note: The address shown in the upper-left panel is sometimes inaccurate.) Click here to view larger.

Aerial View

Aerial view of the White House, Washington. (Note: The address shown in the upper-left panel is sometimes inaccurate.) Click here to view larger.

view all →

Timeline

Oct 1792: Construction begins on the White House, overseen by George Washington (who won't get a chance to live there) and designed by Irish-born architect James Hoban.
24 Aug 1814: British troops invade and set fire to the hastily-abandoned White House
1817: Reconstruction of White House completed
1824: The south portico, designed by Benjamin Latrobe, is added to the White House.
1829: The north portico (actually more of a porch), designed by Benjamin Latrobe, is added to the White House. The building is now complete and its exterior will remain unchanged from this point forward.
1829: President Andrew Jackson furnishes the East Room of the White House for the first time.
2 Jun 1886: President Grover Cleveland marries Frances Folsom in the White House