colored Vermont marble; floors are of gray and rug bearing the President's seal in its center. wainscoting and wood work, wall covering and from 1902. On the notth wall is an "over THE GROUND FLOOR pink Tennessee marble. The entrance to the The crystal chandelier was presented by an draperies of red silk damask, and a red chenille mantel," a painting of flowers framed in gilt A corridor with vaulted ceiling and vari­ main stairway, which was formerly from the anonymous donor during Herbert Hoover's rug on the oak floor. The white marble mantel over a mirror, presented for the late King colored Vermont marble walls gives access to corridor, is now from the east side of the lobby. administration. is a duplicate of that in the Green Room. On it George VI of England by the present Queen Seals of the Thirteen Original States are carved the rooms on this floor. The library, china The are two eighteenth century candelabra and a Elizabeth II when she was a Princess. on the marble-faced opening of the stairway. musical clock presented in April 1952 by the room, and cloak rooms are paneled in pine THE BLUE ROOM On the opposite wall, a large mirror reaches President of France. A new crystal chandelier from the old beams of the White House, and, from floor to ceiling. A red rug extends the Famous for its elliptical shape, this room has hangs from the ceiling. The portraits are of THE PRIVATE DINING ROOM in places, show old nail holes. Across the hall length of the corridor. usually been considered the most beautiful room William McKinley, Grover Cleveland, Calvin is the original kitchen of the White House in White House This room has a vaulted ceiling, white en­ in the White House. The walls above the white Coolidge, and Woodrow Wilson. This room is which the old sandstone fireplaces have been ameled wainscoting, and walls paneled in THE EAST ROOM enameled wainscoting are covered with bright used by the First Lady to receive guests, and restored, some stones on display bearing the plaster. The mantel is of marble with a mirror blue silk damask with a gold motif. Draperies also as a reception room for small dinners. Presi­ Masonic symbols cut by the original workmen. Used for state receptions and balls, the East above. A new crystal chandelier, lighted with This room is now used for conferences and for and upholstery are of the same material. The dent Rutherford B. Hayes took his oath of office Room is the largest room in the White House. candles, hangs in this room. To the west is the television and radio broadcasting, and has furniture is white, matching the woodwork. The here on March 3, 1877. It has been the scene of several famous wed­ butler's pantry, which opens also into the State soundproof walls and ceiling. Adjoining it is uncovered oak floor is laid in herringbone dings, including those of Nellie Grant and Alice Dining Room and is connected with the kitchen the present modern electric kitchen, in which design. On the white marble mantel, which Roosevelt. Funeral services were held here for THE STATE DINING ROOM on the ground floor by a servants' elevator, almost all the equipment is of stainless steel. dates from 1902, are a French Minerva clock and William Henry Harrison, Zachary Taylor, dumb-waiters, and a staircase. gilt candlesticks purchased by President James Except for the East room, this is the largest Abraham Lincoln, Warren G. Harding, and Monroe. The crystal chandelier was anony­ room in the White House and can comfortably BASEMENT AND MEZZANINE Franklin D. Roosevelt. mously presented several years ago. In this seat 100 guests at large dinners or luncheons. THE SECOND FLOOR FLOORS The East Room is decorated in white and room the President receives guests at state Paneling of English oak extends from floor to The Red Room gold. Window draperies are of lemon-gold and dinners and receptions. Grover Cleveland and ceiling. Originally installed in 1902, it was The second and third floors are reserved for Excavating done in the course of renovation white silk damask. White enameled wood Frances Folsom were married in the Blue Room painted pale green during the course of the the family and guests of the President. Several provided these additional floors. Here are the paneling covers the walls, in which are set six on June 2,1886, the only wedding of a President renovation, providing an effective background changes were made to make the rooms on the machinery and electrical equipment for heating, low-relief panels done in 1902 by Piccirilli The State Dining Room to take place in the White House. for the gold silk damask window draperies. The second floor more livable, but perhaps the lighting, and air conditioning the building, and Brothers. The large crystal chandeliers hanging fireplace is of verd antique Vermont marble. A greatest single improvement was to provide space for storage and service facilities. from an elaborately decorated plaster ceiling much-needed closet space. The Lincoln bed­ THE RED ROOM green chenille rug covers the oak floor. In the also date from 1902. The floor is oak parquetry. room, in which stands the enormous bed used center of the room is an antique mahogany GROUNDS On the east wall is seen the most notable por­ In size and shape the Red Room is identical table. Hanging from the elaborately decorated by the Civil War President, was restored in the trait in the White House, that of George Wash­ to the Green Room. It has white enameled stucco ceiling is a silver chandelier which dates Victorian period. The impression of simple dignity conveyed ington painted by Gilbert Stuart. It is the one by the White House is enhanced by the natural Dolly Madison ordered removed when the South Front THE THIRD FLOOR beauty of its informal but carefully landscaped British burned the White House in 1814. A grounds. Many of the trees are of historical portrait of Martha Washington also hangs on During the renovation the roof was recovered interest, such as the magnolias planted by the east wall. with green slate and raised at the corners to pro­ Andrew Jackson. In front of the north portico, vide additional rooms on the third floor. There English boxwood, as old as the White House THE GREEN ROOM are several guest rooms on this floor, most of itself, has been planted. New trees have been them furnished with reproductions of eight­ selected for their beauty and variety. Flower This room is used for informal receptions. eenth-century pieces. A ramp leads to the new gardens and well-kept lawns add to the beauty The walls are covered with green silk damask, sun parlor, or solarium, over the south portico. of the grounds about the White House. and the draperies are of the same material. The white marble mantel, imported from Italy when the White House was rebuilt after the War of UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 1812, was originally in the State Dining Room. Douglas McKay, Secretary The Hannibal clock and gilt vases on the mantel NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • Conrad L. Wirth, Director were purchased in France during Monroe's ad­ ministration. On the oak floor is a Savonnerie NATIONAL CAPITAL PARKS

REVISED 1955 U. S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE; 1955 O-F —327265 wired for electricity a decade later, during the corridor to the east of the entrance lobby and a small gymnasium set up adjoining the swim­ 1949, to decide whether to erect an entirely new the floor of the south portico and Missouri administration of Benjamin Harrison. using the space thus made available for en­ ming pool. In 1946, a balcony was built off the building or preserve as much as possible of the limestone for the steps. larging the State Dining Room; providing a second floor, behind the columns of the south old structure. After careful considerarion, the During 1951, the exterior was painted white, few rooms for servants in the attic; erecting an RESTORATION OF 1902 portico, to provide a porch for the President's Commission decided that the old sandstone walls and ceilings were plastered, and the in­ office building at the end of the west terrace; family and also to improve the appearance of walls would be retained, thus preserving the terior woodwork was installed. The WHITE HOUSE and reconstructing the east terrace. No other important structural changes were the portico, the columns of which appeared historical appearance of the famous old structure. In addition to making the White House as made in the house until 1902, in the Theodore too tall and slender for such an important In order to make preliminary surveys, Presi­ fireproof and durable as possible, every effort Roosevelt administration. By this date the in­ architectural fearure. dent Truman and his family moved across the was made during the renovation to retain or OR MORE THAN a century and a half, the EARLY HISTORY ALTERATIONS, 1903-48 White House has been the home of the terior of the house had become something of a street into the historic Blair House, and all of restore the original atmosphere and at the same F conglomeration of styles and periods because Few important changes were made in the time to provide a more livable and efficient Presidents of the United States. Here have lived The White House was first occupied by WHITE HOUSE RENOVATION, the furnishings were removed and placed in of the many changes made at various times in White House during this period. The Executive home for the President and his family. Where the men chosen by the people to guide the af­ President and Mrs. John Adams in November 1948-52 storage in December 1948. The actual work of Office building was enlarged in 1910; several there were formerly 48 rooms and 14 baths in fairs of the Nation. It has been the scene of 1800. Some of its interior had not then been decorations and arrangements. The house was reconstruction was begun a year later, and by guest rooms were made in the attic during the part of the house used as living quarters, many brilliant social affairs—weddings, fetes, completed and Mrs. Adams used the unfinished also badly in need of extensive structural repairs. Over the years, piecemeal alterations had the fall of 1950 the most critical phase of the President Wilson's administration; and the roof work had been accomplished. The old walls there are now 54 rooms and 16 baths. In all, the receptions—and also of sorrowful events. Like East Room to dry the family wash. During To correct these conditions, Congress appro­ weakened many of the old wooden beams and and third story were remodeled in 1927. Early in were now supported by concrete foundations, White House now has 132 rooms and 20 baths the Nation itself, it bears the imprint of succes­ Jefferson's administration, the east and west priated more than half a million dollars to interior walls, but not until a thorough examina­ the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the wooden beams and brick supporting and showers, compared with 62 rooms and 14 sive chief executives. Designed originally to terraces were constructed. Jefferson practiced repair and refurnish the house and to construct tion of the structure was made in 1948 was the funds were raised by public subscription for the walls of the interior were replaced by a modern baths prior to the renovation. Formerly, there avoid formal display, it has an air of dignity and democratic simplicity in his social life, and it new offices for the President. Work was begun really alarming condition of the house revealed. construction of a swimming pool. A few years Beams were found to be inadequately sup­ steel framework. Concrete floors were then laid was but one elevator, now there are five—a charm. Now rebuilt to last for centuries, the was his custom to open the house each morning in June 1902 by McKim, Meade and White, later a modern electric kitchen was installed, ported; heavy ceilings had dropped several and partition walls erected. main elevator, a service elevator, and three White House retains the simplicity of its orig­ to all arrivals. When James Madison became architects of New York, and was virtually fin­ and a basement was dug under the north portico inches; and even the foundations were found freight elevators. Altogether, Congress appro­ inal appearance and its rich historical associa­ President in 1809, his wife, the famous Dolly ished by the end of the year. The improvements Space for electrical and refrigeration equip­ to provide space for maintenance shops and too weak to support the walls erected on them. priated $5,761,000 for the renovation, which tions. Madison, introduced some of the brilliance and included rebuilding and strengthening much of ment was provided by excavating an area north­ storage. World War II saw an air raid shelter Consequently, a Commission on Renovation of was scheduled to be completed in 1951, but The cornerstone of the White House, the glitter of old-world courts into the social life of the interior of the house; redecorating and east of the White House. A new floor and steps Entrance Lobby and Main Stairway constructed off the new East Wing, a motion the Executive Mansion was established, accord­ various difficulties delayed its completion. The first public building to be erected in Washing­ the White House. Then, on August 24, 1814, refurnishing the entire main floor; removing for the north portico were constructed of ing to an act of Congress approved April 14, Presidential family resumed residence in the British forces captured Washington and burned the main stairway from the west end of the picture theater put in under the east terrace, and Tennessee marble. Georgia marble was used for ton, was laid on October 13, 1792. President White House on March 27, 1952. Washington selected the site which was in­ the building in retaliation for the destruction by The Green Room cluded on the plan of the Federal City prepared American troops of some public buildings in by the French engineer, Maj. Pierre L'Enfant. Canada. Although only the partially damaged The East Room The Blue Room THE FIRST FLOOR The plans for the house, approved by Washing­ sandstone walls and the interior brickwork ton, were drawn by James Hoban, an Irish-born remained when the work of reconstruction was In general, furnishings and decorations are architect. Hoban superintended the construc­ begun in the spring of 1815, the building was predominantly eighteenth-century Georgian in tion of the house, its rebuilding after burning ready for occupancy by President Monroe in style, but furnishings of historic interest have by British forces in 1814, and the erection of the December 1817. The south portico, the domi­ been retained, and much of the old furniture has north and south porticos some years later. nant architectural feature of that side of the been refinished and re-covered to harmonize In the classical style of architecture, the main house, was built in 1824; the large north portico with the color scheme of various rooms. Some facade of the White House resembles the Duke over the entrance and driveway, in 1829. of the new furnishings were given by anony­ of Leinster's house in Dublin, on which the mous donors. Portraits of several Presidents hang from the walls of the lobby, main corridor, design was supposedly based. Details of other IMPROVEMENTS, 1830-1902 faces and the interior arrangement were prob­ and rooms of the first floor, except in the Blue ably derived from contemporary houses in Eng­ Throughout its history the White House has Room. land and Europe. Built of sandstone quarried on kept pace with modern improvements. Spring Aquia Creek, Va., the exterior walls were water was piped into the building in 1834, and ENTRANCE LOBBY AND MAIN painted during the course of construction, caus­ gas lighting was introduced in 1848. A hot CORRIDOR ing the building to be termed the "White water heating system was installed 5 years House" from an early date. For many years, later. During Johnson's administration the east Six classic columns separate the entrance however, it was generally referred to as the terrace was entirely removed. In 1882, the lobby from the main corridor. The columns and "President's House" or the "President's Palace." first elevator was put in, and the house was the pilasters spaced along the walls are of vari-