The
White House
Washington, D.C.
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The
White House Designed by Irish-born architect James Hoban in 1792,
the White House is the oldest public building in the District
of Columbia. It has been the official residence of every American
President except George Washington.
On
November 1, 1800, just a few months before the end of his term,
President John Adams and his family moved into the new, but not-yet
completed White House. The east and west terraces were built during
Thomas Jefferson's administration.
After
being burned by British forces on August 24, 1814, the structure
was rebuilt and the north and south porticoes were added. The
reconstructed White House was ready for occupancy by James Monroe
in September 1817.
Over
the years, the White House has undergone an almost unceasing pace
of facelifts and modernization projects, including the installation
of indoor plumbing in 1833, gas lighting in 1848, central heating
in 1853 and electric lights in 1891. The White House was completely
rebuilt within its original walls in 1948-52.
At
first the structure was called the President's House and later
it was known as the Executive Mansion. In 1901, President Theodore
Roosevelt changed the official name of the structure to "the
White House" to reflect the popular use of the name.
Text
© 1996 Dianne Harrah, Drawing © 1996 Bill Harrah