The White House is as rich in tradition as it is in history. Not only is it the home of America's Presidents, but it
is the office where the President performs his constitutional duties as the Chief Executive of the United States and Commander-in-Chief
of the armed services. It is also the only private residence of a head of state open to the public, free of charge. Approximately 6,000 people
visit the President's House each day.
When George Washington was elected the first President of the United States in 1789, there was no permanent capital city nor a permanent official residence for the Chief Executive. The seat of government first rested in Philadelphia and later, New York City. Congress then enacted the Residence Act of 1790, granting President Washington the authority to locate the permanent "federal capital" wherever he pleased. President Washington delegated to Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson the responsibility for carrying out the project. Both men were Virginians who had long favored establishing the nations capital in the south. They set their sights on a 10-square-mile district overlooking the Potomac River for the federal enclave. The central feature of the federal city would be the executive residence of the President.
In 1792, Commissioners of the newly established Federal City held a competition to design an official home for the President. Architect
James Hoban submitted the winning entry, competing against such entrants as Thomas Jefferson, who entered a design under the pseudonym "AZ."
As a prize, Hoban received a $500 gold medal and a plot of land for his own use.
President George Washington, together with planner Pierre L'Enfant, selected the site for the White House. Three hundred years and one day
after Columbus set foot in the New World, the corner stone was laid on October 13 1792.
President Washington supervised construction of the White House, yet he was the only President not to live in it as he passed away, in 1799,
one year before the house was completed.
President John Adams and his wife, Abigail, were the first occupants of the White House, moving in November 1800.
When British troops set fire to the White House in 1814, the building was spared complete destruction by a two hour rainstorm. Both the interior
and exterior suffered extensive damage, and, once again, James Hoban was called upon to assist in the reconstruction which took three years to complete.
It wasn't until 1833 when hot water was pumped in. During President James Polk's tenure, 1845-49, gas was piped in. It wasn't until Benjamin Harrison's
Presidency, 1889-1893, that electric lighting was installed.
In 1948, it was discovered that the White House had serious structural deficiencies which required replacing the entire interior structure with a steel frame.
Today, the White House features 132 rooms, 32 bathrooms, 28 working fireplaces, 13 bedrooms, and 67,000 square feet of living space.
Self guided tours of the White House are free, and are conducted Tuesday thru Saturday from 10 a.m. until noon, and is closed Sunday and Monday.
From mid-March through Labor Day, free tickets are required for the tours. The tickets are distributed at the White House Visitor Center, located at 15th and E street, one block east of the White House. The tickets are issued for same-day tours only, on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 7:30 a.m. until the day's supply of tickets is exhausted.
Another way of visiting the White House is by contacting the office of your congressional representative or one of your senators and request reserved tickets for a guided tour of the White House. (Reservations should be made at least two months before your visit. These tours begin at 8 a.m., Tuesday thru Saturday, and last about 30 minutes.
Changes in tour schedules and closings of individual rooms sometimes occur because of official events, involving the First Family, and notice may not be given until that morning. Call the White House Visitors Office 24-hour tour line recording at (202)-456-7041 for up-to-date information.
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