The White House in Washington, DC

The White House Hotels Near the White House History & Facts Tours of White the House

Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the White House is the official home and principal workplace of the President of the United States and the President’s administration. Owned by the National Park Service and part of President's Park, the White House is the most cherished icon of American democracy.

The White House – Home of the US President. The White House is a complex of three buildings, with the original residence in the center housing the president's home and rooms for ceremonies and official entertaining. The White House includes 6 stories and 55,000 sq. ft. of floor space with 132 rooms and 35 bathrooms, 412 doors, 147 windows, 8 fireplaces, 8 staircases, 3 elevators, 5 chefs, a tennis court, bowling alley, movie theater, jogging track, swimming pool, and a putting green. The east and west colonnades designed by Jefferson connect the residence to the West Wing and East Wing. The State Floor of the residence building includes the East Room, Green Room, Blue Room, Red Room and State Dining Room. The third floor family residence includes the Yellow Oval Room, East and West Sitting Halls, the President's Dining Room, the Treaty Room, Queens Bedroom, and the famous Lincoln Bedroom.  [Top]

History & Facts of the Building of the White House. The White House received its name because its is built of white–painted Aquia sandstone in late Georgian style. Construction began with the laying of the cornerstone on October 13, 1792. The initial construction took place over eight years, and although not yet completed, the White House was first occupied on November 1, 1800. While the White House remains a symbol of American democracy, the house also reflects the nation's early institution of slavery. A diary kept by the District of Columbia building commissioner records that the footings for the main residence were dug by slaves and the foundations built by slave labor. Much of the other work on the house was performed by non–citizen immigrants. The sandstone walls were erected by Scottish immigrants, as were the high relief rose and garland decorations above the north entrance and the "fish scale" pattern beneath the pediments of the window hoods. Much of the brick and plaster work was produced by Irish and Italian immigrants.  [Top]

Tours of the White House. The White House in Washington, DC is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the United States. While the White House contains 132 rooms, only five of these – The Blue Room, East Room, Green Room, Red Room and State Dining Room – are open to the public. White House Tours are available by reservation from 7:30am to 12:30pm Tuesdays through Saturdays. For advanced reservations, call (202) 456–7041.  [Top]