The White House: A Venerable History

by Marjorie Dorfman | More from this Blogger

23 Feb 2006 02:53 AM

There is probably no other building that represents American culture more than the official residence and workplace of the President, the White House. Built after Congress established the District of Columbia as the permanent capitol of The United States, George Washington along with city planner, Pierre L'Enfant, helped in the selection of the site. James Hoban, the chosen architect, began construction with the laying of the cornerstone on October 13, 1792. The design of the building was modeled after a ducal palace in Ireland that is now the seat of the Irish parliament. The term "White House" did not emerge until around 1811 when its exterior was painted white. It was also known as the "Executive Mansion" until 1901 when President Theodore Roosevelt established the formal name by having "The White House" engraved on his stationery.

The first president to take residence in The White House was John Adams who moved in on November 1, 1800. During the War of 1812, much of Washington D.C. was set on fire by invading British troops and the White House was completely gutted with only the exterior walls left standing. Then first lady, Dolly Madison, saved the famous Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington from succumbing to the flames and in an odd twist of fate, a jewelry box was returned to Franklin Delano Roosevelt by a Canadian in 1939 who said that his grandfather had stolen it during the raid on Washington.

The interior of the White House throughout the 1940s and 1950s had been allowed to deteriorate. Jacqueline Kennedy remodeled the interior of many of the rooms with nineteenth-century décor, using furniture and artifacts that had been stored away and forgotten about. Many of the antiques, fine paintings and other improvements were actually gifts over the years from rich supporters all over the world.

Since then, every presidential family has left its mark on the décor of the White House, some subtle and some more profound and controversial. The White House remains a source of national pride and tradition.

Pay a visit the next time you are in Washington DC.

Learn more about Marjorie Dorfman

Marjorie Dorfman is a freelance writer and former teacher originally from Brooklyn, New York.

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