White House Guide

The White House is where the President of the United States of America lives and carries out official duties as Head of State. It is the most famous building in Washington, DC and was built between 1792 and 1800 by the Irish-born architect James Hoban. Although commissioned during President George Washington’s lifetime, the first residents of the White House were President John Adams and his wife who moved into the house in 1800. The building has had a colourful past. It burned down during the War of 1812 (which is often called America’s second War of Independence) between America and Great Britain which lasted until the end of 1814, and was rebuilt in 1815, only to endure (and survive) another fire in the West Wing in 1929, under the presidency of Harry S Truman. Self-guided tours of certain areas of the White House are possible but must be arranged in advance.
Air: Washington Dulles International Airport, Washington Ronald Reagan National Airport. Rail: Train: Union Station. Metrorail: Federal Triangle (blue or orange lines), Metro Center (blue, orange or red lines) or McPherson Square (blue or orange lines). Road: Bus: Public services.

President’s Park, White House Liaison, 1100 Ohio Drive, SW, Washington, DC 20242, USA or
White House Visitor Center, National Park Service, 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230, USA
Tel: (202) 208 1631 or 456 7041 (24-hour information line)
Website: www.nps.gov/whho or www.whitehouse.gov

United States of America