-
Period: to
The construction of the White House
Helmed by George Washington himself, the constructions for building a home for the young nation’s leader began in 1792and were made by James Hoban, an Irish migrant. Unfortunately Washington never had the chance to live in it, as the constructions finished in 1800, just in time for the country’s second president, John Adams, to call it home. -
Rebuilding from its ashes
During the war of 1812, British soldiers set fire to 14-year-old house (and a number of other government buildings) in what is now described as the Burning of Washington, forcing then president James Madison into a temporary residence elsewhere in the city. -
Theodore Roosevelt’s contribution
Theodore Roosevelt enlisted the help of architectural firm McKim, Mead and White to oversee a much needed expansion, which would include the addition of the West Wing. -
Franklin Roosevelt's addition
Under Franklin Delano Roosevelt an East Wing would be added with the primary mission of concealing an underground bunker now known as the Presidential Emergency Operations Center. Since then, the East Wing has generally served as office space for the First Lady and her staff. -
Redecoration courtesy ofJacqueline Kennedy
In 1961,First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, famously redecorated the White House with historic art and artifacts sourced from museum collections and prominent American families. The public was treated to a tour of the revamped house in a now iconic televised special. -
Obama’s take on the Oval Office
In 2013, The New York Times chronicled the Obama redesign of the Oval Office, which was overseen by AD100 designer Michael S. Smith and included a mix of historic and contemporary design elements.