History of White House in Timeline

The White House, located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., serves as the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States. It has been the presidential residence since 1800, starting with John Adams. The term "White House" is also used as a metonym for the Executive Office of the President.

1901: Formal name established

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

1901: Offices relocated to the 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, removing the Tiffany screen and all Victorian additions.

1902: Limestone used in renovations

Researchers believe that limestone from the island of Brač was used in the 1902 renovations of the White House.

1909: West Wing expansion and creation of the Oval Office

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

1925: Congress enacted legislation

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 in 1929.

April 14, 1930: Hoover and aides moved back into the West Wing

On April 14, 1930, Herbert Hoover and his aides moved back into the West Wing after it was damaged by fire in 1929.

1935: White House Grounds Design

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

1939: Items returned

In 1939, a Canadian man returned a jewelry box to President Franklin Roosevelt, and descendants of a Royal Navy officer returned a medicine chest that had belonged to President Madison.

1942: East Wing added

In 1942, the East Wing was added to the White House. It was built during World War II to hide the construction of an underground bunker.

1946: East Wing alterations completed

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

1946: Truman Balcony built

The Truman Balcony was built in 1946 at the center of the southern façade.

1948: House declared to be in imminent danger of collapse

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

1948: Residence found to be close to failure

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

1949: Truman commissioned a reconstruction

In 1949, President Truman commissioned a reconstruction of the White House.

1951: Truman lived at Blair House

From 1949 to 1951, President Truman lived across the street at Blair House due to the reconstruction of the White House.

March 27, 1952: Trumans moved back into the White House

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

September 1961: Legislation declared the White House a museum

In September 1961, Congress enacted legislation declaring the White House a museum, preventing the sale of historic furniture and decorative arts.

1961: Kennedy directed redecoration

In 1961, Jacqueline Kennedy directed an extensive and historic redecoration of the White House.

1961: Wallpaper installed in the Diplomatic Reception Room

In 1961, Mrs. Kennedy installed an antique "Vue de l'Amérique Nord" wallpaper, designed by Zuber & Cie in 1834, in the Diplomatic Reception Room. The wallpaper was salvaged from a house that was demolished for a grocery store.

1962: First White House guide published

In 1962, the first official White House guide suggested a link between Hoban's design for the South Portico and Château de Rastignac.

1962: Televised tour of the house

On Valentine's Day in 1962, Jacqueline Kennedy gave a televised tour of the White House to show her restoration efforts to the public.

1969: Pat Nixon refurbished rooms

In 1969, First Lady Pat Nixon refurbished the Green Room, Blue Room, and Red Room.

February 1974: Stolen Helicopter Lands on White House Grounds

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

1974: End of Nixon Administration

The Nixon Administration ended in 1974, during which the First Lady Pat Nixon brought more than 600 artifacts to the White House and President Nixon created the modern press briefing room and added a bowling alley.

1977: Office of the First Lady established

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

1988: 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

The Oklahoma City bombing occurred on April 19, 1995. This event led to increased security measures around the White House, including closing off Pennsylvania Avenue to vehicular traffic in front of the White House on May 20, 1995.

May 20, 1995: Pennsylvania Avenue Closed to Vehicular Traffic

On May 20, 1995, Pennsylvania Avenue was closed off to vehicular traffic in front of the White House, from the eastern edge of Lafayette Park to 17th Street, in response to the Oklahoma City bombing.

1999: Building name changed

In 1999, the Old Executive Office Building was renamed the Eisenhower Executive Office Building.

September 11, 2001: Permanent Closure of Pennsylvania Avenue

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the closure of Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House was made permanent, along with the closure of E Street between the South Portico and the Ellipse.

September 2003: Limited White House Tours Resume

In September 2003, White House tours resumed on a limited basis for groups making prior arrangements through Congressional representatives or embassies, with background checks.

2003: Solar thermal heaters reinstalled

In 2003, the Bush administration reinstalled solar thermal heaters to heat water for landscape maintenance and the presidential pool and spa. 167 solar photovoltaic grid-tied panels were installed on the maintenance facility roof.

May 12, 2005: White House Evacuation Due to Unauthorized Aircraft

On May 12, 2005, the White House was evacuated after an unauthorized aircraft approached the grounds. The pilot, a student, was forced to land by fighter jets and a helicopter and claimed to have accidentally breached the grounds.

2005: NASAMS Units Used for Airspace Patrol

During the 2005 presidential inauguration, NASAMS (Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) units were used to patrol the airspace over Washington, D.C.

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 grounds fell during a storm amid intense flooding.

2007: Renovations of the press briefing room

In 2007, renovations of the press briefing room in the West Wing were completed, adding fiber optic cables and LCD screens for the display of charts and graphs.

2007: Ranked on AIA's list

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

September 2010: West Wing project 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

In November 2013, the White House reopened to the public after being closed for most of the year due to budget constraints from sequestration.

2013: Solar panels installed on the roof

In 2013, President Barack Obama had a set of solar panels installed on the roof of the White House, making it 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 which then crashed on the southeast side of the White House grounds. The White House was temporarily locked down.

2017: Removal of the Jackson Magnolia

In 2017, the Jackson Magnolia, planted by Andrew Jackson, became too weak to stand on its own and was removed, with plans to replace it with one of its offspring.

2020: Rose Garden Redesign

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

June 2023: Fighter Jets Intercept Aircraft

In June 2023, fighter jets intercepted a light aircraft that violated Washington DC airspace near the White House, before it crashed in Virginia. All occupants in the intrusion aircraft were killed.