The White House is the oldest public building in Washington, DC and has been the home of every president except George Washington. George Washington and city planner Pierre L’Enfant held a contest to find a builder and chose James Hoban of Ireland who modeled the White House after an Irish country house. The White House took 8 years to build. The interior has been restored and remodeled over the years.
The Blue Room is the center of the State Floor of the White House where the President formally receives guests. Large parties and receptions are held in the East Room. The Red Room is one of the four state reception rooms. The State Dining Room seats as many as 140 guests and is used for formal dinners with visiting heads of state. The President and his staff work in the West Wing, which was built in 1902 to separate the offices from the first family’s living quarters. The Oval Office is the President’s office where he meets with advisors.
See photos of the White House
Address
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC.
See a map
Transportation and Parking
The closest Metro stations to the White House are Federal Triangle, Metro Center and McPherson Square. Parking is very limited in this area, so public transportation is recommended.
Tours of the White House
Public tours of the White House are limited to groups of 10 or more and must be requested through
one's member of Congress. These self-guided tours are available from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and are scheduled on a first come, first served basis approximately one month in advance. Tours are often canceled due to special events.
The White House Visitor Center is located at the southeast corner of 15th and E Streets and is open seven days a week from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Watch a 30-minute video and learn about many aspects of the White House, including its architecture, furnishings, first families, social events, and relations with the press and world leaders.
Read more about the White House Visitor Center
