History of White House in Timeline

The White House, located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States. It has been the residence of every U.S. president since 1800, starting with John Adams, following the capital's relocation from Philadelphia. The White House also serves as a symbol, representing the Executive Office of the President.

1901: "The White House" Established as Formal Name

In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt established "The White House" as its formal name via Executive Order.

1901: Work Offices Relocated to West Wing

In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt relocated all work offices to the newly constructed West Wing due to crowding in the executive mansion.

1902: Expansions and Renovations Carried Out

In 1902, Theodore Roosevelt hired McKim, Mead & White to carry out expansions and renovations in a neoclassical style suited to the building's architecture, removing the Tiffany screen and all Victorian additions.

1902: Limestone Used in White House Renovations

Researchers believe limestone from the island of Brač was used in the 1902 renovations and not the original construction of the White House.

1902: East Wing Built as Guest Entrance

The East Wing was first built in 1902 as a guest entrance.

1906: Alice Roosevelt Longworth Marriage

In 1906, Alice Roosevelt Longworth, daughter of a sitting president, married in the White House.

1909: West Wing Expanded; First Oval Office Created

In 1909, President William Howard Taft expanded the West Wing and created the first Oval Office.

1913: Jessie Wilson Sayre Marriage

In 1913, Jessie Wilson Sayre, daughter of a sitting president, married in the White House.

1914: Eleanor Wilson McAdoo Marriage

In 1914, Eleanor Wilson McAdoo, daughter of a sitting president, married in the White House.

1925: Congress Allows White House to Accept Gifts

In 1925, Congress enacted legislation allowing the White House to accept gifts of furniture and art for the first time.

1927: Third Floor Attic Converted to Living Quarters

In 1927, the third floor attic of the Executive Residence was converted to living quarters by augmenting the existing hip roof with long shed dormers.

1929: West Wing Damaged by Fire

The West Wing was damaged by fire on Christmas Eve 1929.

April 14, 1930: Hoover and Aides Moved Back into West Wing

On April 14, 1930, Herbert Hoover and his aides moved back into the West Wing after repairs from the fire.

1935: Olmsted Design

In 1935, the general layout of the White House grounds today is based on the design by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. of the Olmsted Brothers firm, commissioned by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

1939: Jewelry Box Returned to President Roosevelt

In 1939, a Canadian man returned a jewelry box to President Franklin Roosevelt, claiming that his grandfather had taken it from Washington; in the same year, a medicine chest that had belonged to President Madison was returned by the descendants of a Royal Navy officer.

1942: East Wing Heavily Renovated

In 1942, The East Wing was heavily renovated in 1942 to add a second floor, which concealed the construction of an underground bunker, the Presidential Emergency Operations Center.

1946: East Wing Alterations Completed

In 1946, alterations to the East Wing were completed, creating additional office space.

1946: Truman Balcony Built

In 1946, the Truman Balcony was built at the center of the southern facade.

1948: White House Declared in Imminent Danger of Collapse

By 1948, the White House was declared to be in imminent danger of collapse.

1948: Residence's Walls Found Close to Failure

By 1948, the residence's load-bearing walls and wood beams were found to be close to failure.

1949: Truman Moved to Blair House

In 1949, President Truman was forced to move across the street to Blair House.

1951: Truman lived across the street at Blair House

President Truman lived across the street at Blair House from 1949 to 1951.

March 27, 1952: Trumans Moved Back into White House

On March 27, 1952, the Trumans moved back into the White House after renovations.

September 1961: White House Declared a Museum

In September 1961, Congress enacted legislation declaring the White House a museum, protecting its furniture, fixtures, and decorative arts from being sold.

1961: Jacqueline Kennedy Directed White House Redecoration

In 1961, Jacqueline Kennedy, wife of President John F. Kennedy, directed a very extensive and historic redecoration of the White House.

1961: Mrs. Kennedy Installed Antique Wallpaper

In 1961, Mrs. Kennedy installed an antique "Vue de l'Amérique Nord" wallpaper which Zuber & Cie had designed in 1834 in the Diplomatic Reception Room.

1962: Link Suggested Between South Portico and Chu00e2teau de Rastignac

In 1962, the first official White House guide suggested a link between Hoban's design for the South Portico and Chu00e2teau de Rastignac, a neoclassical country house in La Bachellerie in the Dordogne region of France.

1962: Kennedy Showed Restoration of the White House

On Valentine's Day in 1962, Kennedy showed her restoration of the White House to the public in a televised tour of the house.

1967: Luci Johnson Reception

In 1967, Luci Johnson held her wedding reception at the White House.

1969: Pat Nixon Refurbished Rooms

In 1969, First Lady Pat Nixon refurbished the Green Room, Blue Room, and Red Room, working with Clement Conger.

1971: Tricia Nixon Cox Marriage

In 1971, Tricia Nixon Cox, daughter of a sitting president, married in the White House.

February 1974: Stolen Helicopter Landing

In February 1974, a stolen U.S. Army helicopter landed without authorization on the White House grounds.

1974: Nixon Administration Artifact Acquisitions

By 1974, Mrs. Nixon's efforts brought more than 600 artifacts to the house, the largest acquisition by any administration. Her husband created the modern press briefing room over Franklin Roosevelt's old swimming pool and added a single-lane bowling alley to the White House basement.

1977: Rosalynn Carter's Office

In 1977, Rosalynn Carter became the first First Lady to place her personal office in the East Wing and formally name it the "Office of the First Lady".

1988: White House Accredited as a Museum

In 1988, the White House was accredited as a museum.

1994: Plane Crash on White House Grounds

In 1994, a stolen light plane flown by Frank Eugene Corder crashed on White House grounds, instantly killing him.

April 19, 1995: Oklahoma City Bombing

On April 19, 1995, the Oklahoma City bombing served as a catalyst for increased security measures around the White House.

May 20, 1995: Pennsylvania Avenue Closure

On May 20, 1995, following the Oklahoma City bombing, the United States Secret Service closed Pennsylvania Avenue to vehicular traffic in front of the White House.

1999: Name Changed to Eisenhower Executive Office Building

Until 1999, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building was called the Old Executive Office Building and was historically the State, War, and Navy building.

September 11, 2001: Permanent Closure of Pennsylvania Avenue

Following the September 11, 2001 attacks, the closure of Pennsylvania Avenue and E Street near the White House was made permanent.

September 2003: Limited White House Tours Resume

In September 2003, White House tours resumed on a limited basis with prior arrangements and background checks, after being suspended due to the September 11 attacks.

2003: Solar Thermal Heaters Reinstalled

In 2003, the Bush administration reinstalled solar thermal heaters. These units are used to heat water for landscape maintenance personnel and for the presidential pool and spa. One hundred sixty-seven solar photovoltaic grid-tied panels were installed at the same time on the roof of the maintenance facility.

May 12, 2005: Unauthorized Aircraft Evacuation

On May 12, 2005, the White House was evacuated after an unauthorized aircraft approached the grounds. The pilot, a student, was forced to land nearby.

2005: NASAMS Deployment

During the 2005 presidential inauguration, NASAMS units patrolled the airspace over Washington, D.C. and have since been used to protect the President and the airspace around the White House.

June 23, 2006: American Elm Tree Falls

On June 23, 2006, a century-old American elm tree on the north side of the White House fell during a storm and intense flooding.

2007: Ranked Second on AIA's List of America's Favorite Architecture

In 2007, the White House was ranked second on the American Institute of Architects list of America's Favorite Architecture.

2007: Renovations of the Press Briefing Room

In 2007, work was completed on renovations of the press briefing room, adding fiber optic cables and LCD screens for the display of charts and graphs.

2008: Jenna Bush Hager Reception

In 2008, Jenna Bush Hager held her wedding reception at the White House.

September 2010: Project on the West Wing Began

In September 2010, a two-year project began on the West Wing, creating a multistory underground structure.

November 2013: White House Reopens to the Public

The White House reopened to the public in November 2013 after being suspended for most of the year due to budget constraints.

2013: Obama Installs Solar Panels

In 2013, President Barack Obama had a set of solar panels installed on the roof of the White House, marking the first time solar power was used for the president's living quarters.

January 27, 2015: Drone Crash on White House Grounds

On January 27, 2015, an intoxicated man lost control of a quadcopter drone, causing it to crash on the southeast side of White House grounds, prompting a temporary lockdown.

2017: Jackson Magnolia Removal

In 2017, the Jackson magnolia was deemed too weak to stand on its own and it was decided it should be removed and replaced with one of its offspring.

2020: Rose Garden Redesign

In 2020, First Lady Melania Trump redesigned the Rose Garden.

June 2023: Aircraft Interception Near White House

In June 2023, fighter jets intercepted a light aircraft violating Washington DC airspace near the White House, before it crashed in Virginia, killing all occupants.

July 2025: Trump Administration Announces Ballroom Plans

In July 2025, the Trump administration announced plans to construct a ballroom on the White House grounds.

October 2025: Demolition of the East Wing

In October 2025, the existing East Wing was demolished to facilitate the construction of the new ballroom and a rebuilt East Wing, including offices for the First Lady and a rebuilt bunker.

2025: Trump East Wing Demolition

In 2025, President Donald Trump had the East Wing demolished and its surrounding grounds cleared for the construction of a new East Wing containing a state ballroom.

2025: Flagpole Installation

In 2025, President Donald Trump oversaw the installation of an 88-foot flagpole on each lawn and a patio to replace the grass lawn of the Rose Garden.