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last "><a href="https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/women">Women</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> </div></li> <li class="menu-565526 menuparent siblings-count-4 menu-path-node-294086 odd second-to-last "><a href="/administration">The Administration</a><div class="mega child-count-4"><ul class="level-1"><li class="menu-565566 menuparent siblings-count-4 mega-section menu-path-menu-item-container-6 first odd "><span class="menu-item-container" tabindex="0">People</span><ul class="level-2"><li class="menu-565811 menu-path-node-107 first odd "><a href="/administration/president-obama">President Barack Obama</a></li> <li class="menu-565816 menu-path-node-360106 even "><a href="/vp">Vice President Joe Biden</a></li> <li class="menu-565821 menu-path-node-111 odd "><a href="/administration/first-lady-michelle-obama">First Lady Michelle Obama</a></li> <li class="menu-565826 menu-path-node-112 even "><a href="/administration/jill-biden">Dr. Jill Biden</a></li> <li class="menu-592851 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href="/ostp">Office of Science and Technology Policy</a></li> <li class="menu-565856 menu-path-node-700 odd "><a href="/administration/eop/cea">Council of Economic Advisers</a></li> <li class="menu-565861 menu-path-node-292 even "><a href="/administration/eop/ceq">Council on Environmental Quality</a></li> <li class="menu-598126 menu-path-obamawhitehousearchivesgov-administration-eop-nsc- odd "><a href="https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/eop/nsc/">National Security Council</a></li> <li class="menu-565866 menu-path-node-116 even last "><a href="/administration/eop">See All</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-565576 menuparent siblings-count-4 mega-section menu-path-menu-item-container-8 odd second-to-last "><span class="menu-item-container" tabindex="0">Initiatives</span><ul class="level-2"><li class="menu-565871 menu-path-letsmoveobamawhitehousearchivesgov- first odd "><a href="http://letsmove.obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/">Let's Move</a></li> <li class="menu-565876 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class="menu-566016 menu-path-node-135907 even "><a href="/about/inside-white-house/art">Décor and Art</a></li> <li class="menu-566021 menu-path-obamawhitehousearchivesgov-holidays odd "><a href="http://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/holidays">Holidays</a></li> <li class="menu-566026 menu-path-node-135787 active-trail even last "><a href="/about/inside-white-house" class="active">See All</a></li> </ul> </li> <li class="menu-565601 menuparent siblings-count-3 mega-section menu-path-menu-item-container-13 even second-to-last "><span class="menu-item-container" tabindex="0">History and Grounds</span><ul class="level-2"><li class="menu-566031 menu-path-obamawhitehousearchivesgov-1600-presidents first odd "><a href="http://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/1600/presidents">Presidents</a></li> <li class="menu-566036 menu-path-obamawhitehousearchivesgov-1600-first-ladies even "><a href="http://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/1600/first-ladies">First Ladies</a></li> <li class="menu-595376 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<input class="searchbox" id="searchbox" name="query" type="text" value="Search" /> <input class="searchbutton" type="submit" value=""/> </form></div> </div> </div> </div>  </header>  <div id="page" class="clearfix"> <div id="page-inner" class="center-on-page clearfix"> <div id="subhead-wrapper"> <div id="breadcrumb"><div class="breadcrumb"><a href="/">Home</a> • Inside the White House</div></div> </div> <span style="position:absolute;"><a name="main-content"></a></span> <div class="grid-container page-container"> <div id="control"> <div id="wh-admin-bar-region" class="clearfix"> <div class="tabs clearfix"></div> </div> </div>  <div class="extend-page body-text clearfix clear page node-content"> <div id="content"> <h1 property="dc:title">Inside the White House</h1> <div class="embed"> <div class="sub-menu inside-page-sub-menu"> <p> <a class="history" href="/about/inside-white-house">History</a><span class="del">|</span><a class="west-wing" 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It’s the “People’s House.” It’s a place that is steeped in history, but it’s also a place where everyone should feel welcome. And that's why my husband and I have made it our mission to open up the house to as many people as we can." – Michelle Obama</div> <p></p> <hr /> <h3 class="mobile-hide"> History</h3> <p></p> <p>Our first president, <a href="/about/presidents/georgewashington">George Washington</a>, selected the site for the White House in 1791. The cornerstone was laid in 1792 and a competition design submitted by Irish-born architect James Hoban was chosen. After eight years of construction, <a href="/about/presidents/johnadams">President John Adams</a> and his wife, Abigail, moved into the unfinished house in 1800. During the War of 1812, the British set fire to the President’s House in 1814. James Hoban was appointed to rebuild the house, and <a href="/about/presidents/jamesmonroe">President James Monroe</a> moved into the building in 1817. During Monroe’s administration, the South Portico was constructed in 1824, and <a href="/about/presidents/andrewjackson">Andrew Jackson</a> oversaw the addition of the North Portico in 1829. During the late 19th century, various proposals were made to significantly expand the President’s House or to build an entirely new house for the president, but these plans were never realized.</p> <p> <img alt="The White House" src="/sites/default/files/image/whitehouse_historypg.jpg" /></p> <p>In 1902, <a href="/about/presidents/theodoreroosevelt">President Theodore Roosevelt</a> began a major renovation of the White House, including the relocation of the president’s offices from the Second Floor of the Residence to the newly constructed temporary Executive Office Building (now known as the West Wing). The Roosevelt renovation was planned and carried out by the famous New York architectural firm McKim, Mead and White. Roosevelt’s successor, <a href="/about/presidents/williamhowardtaft">President William Howard Taft</a>, had the Oval Office constructed within an enlarged office wing.</p> <p>Less than fifty years after the Roosevelt renovation, the White House was showing signs of serious structural weakness. <a href="/about/presidents/harrystruman">President Harry S. Truman</a> began a renovation of the building in which everything but the outer walls were dismantled. The reconstruction was overseen by architect Lorenzo Winslow, and the Truman family moved back into the White House in 1952.</p> <p>Every president since John Adams has occupied the White House, and the history of this building extends far beyond the construction of its walls. From the Ground Floor Corridor rooms, transformed from their early use as service areas, to the State Floor rooms, where countless leaders and dignitaries have been entertained, the White House is both the home of the President of the United States his family and a museum of American history. The White House is a place where history continues to unfold.</p> <h2> White House Trivia</h2> <ul> <li> There are 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, and 6 levels in the Residence. There are also 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases, and 3 elevators.</li> <li> At various times in history, the White House has been known as the "President's Palace," the "President's House," and the "Executive Mansion." President Theodore Roosevelt officially gave the White House its current name in 1901.</li> <li> Presidential Firsts while in office... President James Polk (1845-49) was the first President to have his photograph taken... President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09) was not only the first President to ride in an automobile, but also the first President to travel outside the country when he visited Panama... President Franklin Roosevelt (1933-45) was the first President to ride in an airplane.</li> <li> The White House kitchen is able to serve dinner to as many as 140 guests and hors d'oeuvres to more than 1,000.</li> <li> The White House requires 570 gallons of paint to cover its outside surface.</li> </ul> <div class="byline"> Office of the Curator, The White House</div> <p> </p> <div id="wh_addthis_output">  </div> </div> <style type="text/css"> .page-container h1 { background: url("/sites/default/files/image/Inside-White-House_History.jpg") no-repeat scroll center center transparent; } .content-body img { float:left; padding-right:20px !important; } .content-inner{ padding-left: 25px; }</style><style type="text/css"> /* styles for the accordion */ .economy-faq-intro{ background: url(/sites/default/files/icon_questions.jpg) center left no-repeat; padding-left: 85px; } .economy-faq-intro .intro-text{ max-width: 340px; display: inline-block; float: left; } .submit-questions{ float: left; 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