North Portico
The White House Jefferson's administration. On August 24, building at the west end of the west ter 1814, the building was burned by the Brit race; removal of greenhouses from the west ish forces which had captured Washington, terrace, and reconstruction of the east ter the fire destroying the interior and part of race, with a porte-cochere for the reception the walls. The work of reconstruction was of guests; rebuilding practically all the UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, HAROLD L. lcKEs, Secretary commenced in the spring of 181 5, and floor of the first story, and strengthening President Monroe moved in during De the second-story floors; removal of the cember 181 7. The south portico was com main stairway from the west end of the pleted in 1824 and the north portico in building to a place just east of the main 1829. In 1869, the east terrace was entirely lobby, and use of the space thus made HE \VHITE HOUSE was the first Dublin, is of the classic style of architec removed, but no other important structural available for enlarging the State Dining T public building to be erected in ture. The exterior walls of the building changes were made until 1902, except the Room; constructing a small private stair vVashington, the cornerstone having been are constructed of light grey sandstone erection of greenhouses on the west terrace. , way from the basement to the attic in the laid on October I 3, I 792. The site was from quarries on Aquia Creek, Va., and space immediately adjacent to the eleva selected by Major L'Enfant, the French were painted white in the course of the tor; redecorating and refurnishing the en Restoration of 1902 engineer who prepared the plan for the reconstruction after the fire. tire main story; and providing a few rooms city, and was approved by George Wash In I 902, during Theodore Roosevelt's for servants in the attic. Architecturally, ington. The architect, James Hoban, su First Occupied administration, Congress appropriated the changes and new decorations were de perintended the original construction, the $65,000 for construction of new offices for signed to restore the interior, as far as pos The White House was first occupied by reconstruction after the burning by the the President and $4 75,000 for making sible, to a plan for the use of the building President and Mrs. John Adams in No British, and later construction of the south necessary changes in and additions to the as originally conceived by George Wash vember 1800, although some of the interior and north porticos. White House and for refurnishing. ington. construction, notably the East Room, had The design, said to have been suggested not been completed at that time. The east The in1provements accomplished m The project was executed by McKim, by that of the Duke of Leinster's palace in and west terraces were constructed during cluded: Construction of the new office Meade, and White, architects, of New
East Room Blue Room York. Work was started in June I 902; Description of the Rooms the President reoccupied the house in November; and all operations were com First Floor pleted by January l, 1903. Entrance Lobby and Main Co,rridor. These rooms have floors of Joliet stone, 1902-1941 and the walls are painted buff and white. No further changes were made in the Six classic columns separate the lobby and period between 1902 and 1927, except the corridor. The window hangings are red, enlargement of the office building in 1910 and a red rug, 70 feet in length, covers and the fitting up of several attic rooms the corridor floor. On the east and west for possible use as guest rooms during Pres walls of the lobby are mirrors reaching ident Wilson's administration. In 1927, from the floor to the ceiling, and in the the roof and third story were repaired and center of the floor appears the President's remodeled. The roof was kept at the orig seal, in yellow bronze, inlaid in the stone. inal elevation in order that the exterior The East Room.-The walls of this appearance of the building should remain room are covered with wood paneling, en unchanged. ameled; the ornamental ceiling is done in plaster of paris, and set in the walls are The Executive Offices were remodeled six low-relief panels by Piccirrilli Brothers, and air-conditioning equipment installed sculptors, the subjects being taken from in 1934· Aesop's fables. On both the east and west The Executive Mansion and grounds sides of the room are two mantels of are maintained by the National Park colored marble above which are mirrors. Service. The room is lighted by three crystal
State Dining Room chandeliers and by four bronze standards Ground Floor Beneath the west terrace is the swim bearing electric lights, which are placed ming pool, built by public subscription, at the four corners of the room. The A corridor leading from the east en for the President's use. This section of window draperies arc of heavy red silk trance on the ground floor affords access the ground floor is not accessible to the damask. The floor is oak parquetry. The to four rooms, open to the public: The public. concert grand piano is of mahogany library, containing books presented to the decorated in gold. White House by American book publish ers; the china room in which is housed a Second and Third Floors The Green Room.-The wall covering collection of china used by the various These floors are reserved for the family and curtains in this room are of green silk Presidents; the Diplomatic Reception and guests of the President. The second damask. The white marble mantel, to Room, elliptical in form, from which the floor has seven bedrooms and baths, in i;ether with that in the Red Room, was President speaks to all America over the addition to the library, the President's originally in the State Dining Room, hav radio; and a room which opens off the study, and a wide hall extending the length ing been purchased in England when the Diplomatic Room which contains furni of the building. The third floor has four White House was reconstructed after the ture used by Presidents Johnson and teen rooms and seven bathrooms, as well fire in I 8 r 4. The Aubusson rug on the oak Arthur. as a number of storage rooms. floor bears the coat of arms of the United States. This room is used for informal U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE : 1941-0-31«1!594 receptions.
The Blue Room.-This room is elliptical Main Corridor Looking Toward in shape and is considered to be rarely State Dining Room beautiful in its proportions. The wall cov ering above the white enameled wainscot are of green velvet. The ceiling is elabo ing is of heavy corded blue silk, and the rately decorated. The chimney piece is curtains are of the same material. The of stone, and the chandelier and wall South Portico mantel is of white marble, and the floor sconces are silver. is of oak. In this room the President re ceives foreign diplomats coming to present The Private Dining Room.-This room their credentials, and also the guests ~t has a vaulted ceiling, white enameled state dinners and receptions. wainscoting, and walls paneled in plaster. The mantel is of marble, with a mirror The Red Room.-This room has a white over it. The butler's pantry, just west of enameled wainscoting, wall covering and the Private Dining Room, opens also to hangings of dark red silk damask, and an the State Dining Room, and is connected oak floor. The white marble mantel is a duplicate of that in the Green Room, and with the kitchen on the ground floor by a the floor is covered with a . dark red rug. dumb waiter and by a small staircase. This room is used by the First Lady for The East Room and the rooms on the receiving guests by appointment. ground floor are usually open to the pub ·The State Dining Room.-This room is lic, while the lobby and corridor, Green used for all large dinners and luncheons Room, Blue Room, Red Room, and State and can seat comfortably 100 guests. The Dining Room are reserved for the recep walls from floor to ceiling are of paneled tion and entertaining of official visitors and carved oak, and the window curtains and guests.