White House: Historical home to 43 U.S. presidents
The home to every American president since John Adams, the White House occupies a special place in the hearts of Americans as home to the most powerful elected individual in the world, and historical site to some of the most important political events in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries.
Constructed between 1791 and 1800, the White House was a structure originally envisioned by D.C. city planner Pierre L’Enfant and designed by Irish immigrant architect James Hoban. Most of the structure was destroyed by raiding British forces in the War of 1812 (1814) but was quickly restored within a few short years.
The White House was expanded over the decades to include additional floors and rooms. Today the structure housing the presidency is known as the White House Complex and includes the central Executive Residence flanked by the East Wing and West Wing. The White House now includes six stories and 55,000 square feet of floor space, 132 rooms and 35 bathrooms, as well as a tennis court, a single-lane bowling alley, a movie theater, a jogging track, a swimming pool and a putting green.
The White House is closed to the general public, but groups of 10 or more are allowed for self-guided tours, which are arranged up to six months in advance. Arrangements must be made through your Congressional office. Be prepared to submit to a complete background check. Check the White House web site page covering tours for items prohibited inside the White House. The National Park Service web site for the White House is also useful.
Take time to stop by the White House Visitor Center located at the southeast corner of 15th and E Streets, whether or not you take a tour. The center is open daily from 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. and features exhibits on many aspects of the White House, including a 30-minute video. Allow between 20 minutes to one hour to explore the exhibits. The White House Historical Association also sponsors a sales area. Restrooms are available in the center.
Note: Be prepared to take public transportation to the White House. Nearby public parking is extremely limited.
Posted by Jim Brown
