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 presidential residence since John Adams in 1800. The term 'White House' is also used as a metonym for the Executive Office of the President.

1901: The White House Name Established

In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt established "The White House" as its 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 within the Executive Residence.

1902: Expansions and Renovations by McKim, Mead & White

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

1909: West Wing Expansion and Oval Office Creation

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

1925: Legislation Allows Gift Acceptance

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

1927: Third Floor 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 Fire

In 1929, the West Wing was damaged by fire on Christmas Eve.

April 14, 1930: Hoover and Aides Move Back into 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: Frederick Law Olmsted Jr.'s 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: Objects 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 Added to White House

In 1942, the East Wing was added to the White House and it was built during World War II to hide the construction of an underground bunker to be used in emergencies.

1946: East Wing Alterations Completed

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

1946: Truman Balcony Built

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

1948: White House Declared in Danger of Collapse

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

1948: Residence Structure Found Near Failure

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

1949: Truman Moves to Blair House

In 1949, President Truman commissioned a reconstruction of the White House and moved to Blair House.

1951: Truman Resides at Blair House

From 1949 to 1951, President Truman resided at Blair House during the White House reconstruction.

March 27, 1952: Trumans Move 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, preventing the sale of historic or artistic items.

1961: Kennedy Redecoration

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

1961: Wallpaper Installation in Diplomatic Reception Room

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

1962: Link Suggested to Chateau de Rastignac

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

1962: Kennedy's Televised Tour 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.

1969: Pat Nixon Refurbishes Rooms

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

February 1974: Stolen helicopter landing

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

1974: Nixon Administration Period Ends

The Nixon Administration ended in 1974, during which time First Lady Pat Nixon refurbished rooms and President Nixon added a bowling alley and a press briefing room.

1977: Office of the First Lady Established

In 1977, Rosalynn Carter was the first to place her personal office in the East Wing and to formally call 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 occurred. It became a major cause for the US Secret Service to close 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, as a response to the Oklahoma City bombing, the United States Secret Service closed off Pennsylvania Avenue to vehicular traffic in front of the White House.

1999: Name Change for the Old Executive Office Building

Until 1999, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building was called the Old Executive Office Building.

September 11, 2001: Increased Security Measures After September 11 Attacks

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, security measures around the White House were increased, including making the closure of Pennsylvania Avenue to vehicular traffic permanent and closing E Street between the South Portico and the Ellipse.

September 2003: White House tours resume on a limited basis

In September 2003, White House tours resumed on a limited basis for groups making prior arrangements and submitting to background checks.

2003: Solar Thermal Heaters Reinstalled

In 2003, the Bush administration reinstalled solar thermal heaters to heat water for landscape maintenance personnel and the presidential pool and spa, along with solar photovoltaic panels on the maintenance facility roof.

May 12, 2005: White House evacuated due to unauthorized aircraft

On May 12, 2005, the White House was evacuated after an unauthorized aircraft approached the grounds. The aircraft was forced to land by two F-16 fighter jets and a Black Hawk helicopter, and the pilot was identified as a student who accidentally breached White House grounds.

2005: NASAMS units used to patrol airspace

During the 2005 presidential inauguration, NASAMS (Norwegian Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) units were used to patrol the airspace over Washington, D.C. These units have since been used to protect the president and all airspace around the White House.

June 23, 2006: American Elm tree falls during storm

On June 23, 2006, a century-old American Elm tree on the north side of the White House grounds fell during a storm.

2007: Press Briefing Room Renovations Completed

In 2007, renovations of the press briefing room were completed, adding fiber optic cables and LCD screens.

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 Underground Structure Project Begins

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

November 2013: White House Reopens to Public

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

2013: Solar Panels Installed on the White House Roof

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

January 27, 2015: Drone crashes 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 the White House grounds. The White House was temporarily locked down.

2017: Jackson Magnolia Removed

In 2017, it was decided that the Jackson Magnolia, which had become too weak to stand on its own, would be removed and replaced with one of its offspring.

2020: Rose Garden redesigned

In 2020, First Lady Melania Trump redesigned the Rose Garden. Minister Berat Albayrak also visited US President Donald Trump at the White House, and President Trump showed him around the rose garden.

June 2023: Fighter jets intercept aircraft near White House

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