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White House: Difference between revisions
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The residence was designed by [[Ireland|Irish]]-born architect [[James Hoban]] in the [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] style.{{r|TSGjH}} Hoban modeled the building on [[Leinster House]] in [[Dublin]], a building which today houses the [[Oireachtas]], the Irish legislature. Constructed between 1792 and 1800, its exterior walls are [[Aquia Creek sandstone]] painted white. When [[Thomas Jefferson]] moved into the house in 1801, he and architect [[Benjamin Henry Latrobe]] added low [[colonnade]]s on each wing to conceal what then were stables and storage.{{r|bwDpG}} In 1814, during the [[War of 1812]], the mansion was set ablaze by [[British Empire|British]] forces in the [[burning of Washington]], destroying the interior and charring much of the exterior. Reconstruction began almost immediately, and President [[James Monroe]] moved into the partially reconstructed [[Executive Residence]] in October 1817. Exterior construction continued with the addition of the semicircular South Portico in 1824 and the North Portico in 1829. | The residence was designed by [[Ireland|Irish]]-born architect [[James Hoban]] in the [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] style.{{r|TSGjH}} Hoban modeled the building on [[Leinster House]] in [[Dublin]], a building which today houses the [[Oireachtas]], the Irish legislature. Constructed between 1792 and 1800, its exterior walls are [[Aquia Creek sandstone]] painted white. When [[Thomas Jefferson]] moved into the house in 1801, he and architect [[Benjamin Henry Latrobe]] added low [[colonnade]]s on each wing to conceal what then were stables and storage.{{r|bwDpG}} In 1814, during the [[War of 1812]], the mansion was set ablaze by [[British Empire|British]] forces in the [[burning of Washington]], destroying the interior and charring much of the exterior. Reconstruction began almost immediately, and President [[James Monroe]] moved into the partially reconstructed [[Executive Residence]] in October 1817. Exterior construction continued with the addition of the semicircular South Portico in 1824 and the North Portico in 1829. | ||
Because of crowding within the executive mansion itself, President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] had all work offices relocated to the newly constructed [[West Wing]] in 1901. Eight years later, in 1909, President [[William Howard Taft]] expanded the West Wing and created the first [[Oval Office]], which was eventually moved and expanded. In the Executive Residence, the third floor attic was converted to living quarters in 1927 by augmenting the existing [[hip roof]] with long shed dormers. A newly constructed [[East Wing]] was used as a reception area for social events; Jefferson's colonnades connected the new wings. The East Wing alterations were completed in 1946, creating additional office space. By 1948, the residence's load-bearing walls and wood beams were found to be close to failure. Under | Because of crowding within the executive mansion itself, President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] had all work offices relocated to the newly constructed [[West Wing]] in 1901. Eight years later, in 1909, President [[William Howard Taft]] expanded the West Wing and created the first [[Oval Office]], which was eventually moved and expanded. In the Executive Residence, the third floor attic was converted to living quarters in 1927 by augmenting the existing [[hip roof]] with long shed dormers. A newly constructed [[East Wing]] was used as a reception area for social events; Jefferson's colonnades connected the new wings. The East Wing alterations were completed in 1946, creating additional office space. By 1948, the residence's load-bearing walls and wood beams were found to be close to failure. Under Harry S. Truman, the interior rooms were completely dismantled and a new internal load-bearing [[steel frame]] was constructed inside the walls. On the exterior, the [[Truman Balcony]] was added. Once the structural work was completed, the interior rooms were rebuilt. | ||
The present-day White House complex includes the Executive Residence, the West Wing, the East Wing, the [[Eisenhower Executive Office Building]], which previously served the [[United States State Department|State Department]] and other departments (it now houses additional offices for the [[Executive Office of the President of the United States|president's staff]] and the [[Vice President of the United States|vice president]]), and [[Blair House]], a guest residence. The Executive Residence is made up of six stories: the Ground Floor, State Floor, Second Floor, and Third Floor, and a two-story [[White House basement|basement]]. The property is a [[National Heritage Site (United States)|National Heritage Site]] owned by the [[National Park Service]] and is part of the [[President's Park]]. In 2007, it was ranked second on the [[American Institute of Architects]] list of [[America's Favorite Architecture]].{{r|1AvjX}} | The present-day White House complex includes the Executive Residence, the West Wing, the East Wing, the [[Eisenhower Executive Office Building]], which previously served the [[United States State Department|State Department]] and other departments (it now houses additional offices for the [[Executive Office of the President of the United States|president's staff]] and the [[Vice President of the United States|vice president]]), and [[Blair House]], a guest residence. The Executive Residence is made up of six stories: the Ground Floor, State Floor, Second Floor, and Third Floor, and a two-story [[White House basement|basement]]. The property is a [[National Heritage Site (United States)|National Heritage Site]] owned by the [[National Park Service]] and is part of the [[President's Park]]. In 2007, it was ranked second on the [[American Institute of Architects]] list of [[America's Favorite Architecture]].{{r|1AvjX}} | ||
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{{Main|White House Reconstruction}} | {{Main|White House Reconstruction}} | ||
[[File:The Shell of the White House during the Renovation-05-17-1950.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|The [[Harry S. Truman|Truman]] reconstruction between 1949 and 1952 included a steel structure built within the White House's exterior shell.]] | [[File:The Shell of the White House during the Renovation-05-17-1950.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|The [[Harry S. Truman|Truman]] reconstruction between 1949 and 1952 included a steel structure built within the White House's exterior shell.]] | ||
Decades of poor maintenance, the construction of a fourth-story attic during the [[Presidency of Calvin Coolidge|Coolidge administration]], and the addition of a second-floor balcony over the south portico for | Decades of poor maintenance, the construction of a fourth-story attic during the [[Presidency of Calvin Coolidge|Coolidge administration]], and the addition of a second-floor balcony over the south portico for Harry S. Truman{{r|wh museum 1948–1952}} took a great toll on the brick and sandstone structure built around a timber frame.{{r|whha overview}} By 1948, the house was declared to be in imminent danger of collapse, forcing President Truman to commission a reconstruction and to live across the street at [[Blair House]] from 1949 to 1951.{{r|OA7bu}} | ||
The work, completed by the firm of [[Philadelphia]] contractor [[John McShain]], required the complete dismantling of the interior spaces, construction of a new load-bearing internal steel frame, and the reconstruction of the original rooms within the new structure.{{r|wh museum 1948–1952}} The total cost of the renovations was about $5.7{{nbs}}million (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|5.7|1951|r=0}}}} million in {{Inflation/year|US}}).{{r|vm2mG}} Some modifications to the floor plan were made, the largest being the repositioning of the grand staircase to open into the Entrance Hall, rather than the Cross Hall.{{r|wh museum 1948–1952}} Central air conditioning was added, as well as two additional sub-basements providing space for workrooms, storage, and a bomb shelter.{{r|whha overview}} The Trumans moved back into the White House on March 27, 1952.{{r|whha overview}} | The work, completed by the firm of [[Philadelphia]] contractor [[John McShain]], required the complete dismantling of the interior spaces, construction of a new load-bearing internal steel frame, and the reconstruction of the original rooms within the new structure.{{r|wh museum 1948–1952}} The total cost of the renovations was about $5.7{{nbs}}million (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|5.7|1951|r=0}}}} million in {{Inflation/year|US}}).{{r|vm2mG}} Some modifications to the floor plan were made, the largest being the repositioning of the grand staircase to open into the Entrance Hall, rather than the Cross Hall.{{r|wh museum 1948–1952}} Central air conditioning was added, as well as two additional sub-basements providing space for workrooms, storage, and a bomb shelter.{{r|whha overview}} The Trumans moved back into the White House on March 27, 1952.{{r|whha overview}} | ||