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Article
The Solarium
The Solarium on the Third Floor has been called the “The Camp David of the White House.”1 With its floor-to-ceiling windows and its panoramic view of the Washington Monument and the Mall, the Solarium has been from its inception the retreat of first families. Here they find a cozy place where they can escape from their public roles and enjoy the
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Article
White House "Contractor's Salvage" Revived
Through its long years, the White House has seen many renovations, including the most recent one that was almost total. During President Harry Truman’s renovation (1948–52), the entire interior of the White House was removed, with the exterior walls left standing. A replacement interior was fashioned entirely new. Wood removed during this renovation was generally reused or put in storage, but
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Article
White House Brides and Envisioned Flowers
The first really grand White House wedding was Nellie Grant’s. For this President and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant had the East Room redecorated entirely, adding to James Hoban’s original architectural detailing matching columns and extending the cornice into beams, all gleaming white, with accents in gold leaf. Andrew Jackson’s three chandeliers were replaced by much grander “French” models, bo
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Article
"Proud Housewife": Mamie Eisenhower Collects for the White House
Every presidential family that resides in the White House leaves a mark on the building and its traditions. The extent of a family’s influence on the physical White House depends usually on its length of residence and its inclinations to take the trouble to make changes. History plays a part as well. While major additions to the White House an
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Press Release
The White House Historical Association and Preservation Society of Charleston Unveil Historical Marker
The White House Historical Association and Preservation Society of Charleston placed a historical marker at Saint Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church on Thursday, May 5 at 1PM that outlines the story of White House Architect James Hoban and his legacy in Charleston. Hoban was a leading figure in the establishment of the Catholic Parish at St. Mary’s. He was a
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Press Release
The White House Historical Association’s Designing Camelot and James Hoban Books Honored with Spring Awards
The White House Historical Association has announced that two of its 2021 titles, Designing Camelot: The Kennedy White House Restoration and Its Legacy, and James Hoban: Designer and Builder of the White House, have recently been honored with a host of respected industry awards, including the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards and the Independent Publisher Book Awards, known as the IPPYs. "Our
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The 1600 Sessions - James Hoban, Designer and Builder of the White House
James Hoban came from humble beginnings as a young carpenter and architect in Ireland, and went on to collaborate with George Washington on the design and construction of one of the most iconic buildings in the world. In this episode of the 1600 Sessions, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin interviews three contributors to the Association’s new book, "James Ho
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Video
The 1600 Sessions - Freemasons and the White House
Since the laying of the cornerstone in 1792, Freemasons have played an important role in the construction and the history of the White House, with members including Irish architect James Hoban and many presidents from George Washington to Gerald Ford. In this episode of the 1600 Sessions, White House Historical Association President Stewart McLaurin interviews Jason Van Dyke, Director of Communications of
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Press Release
NEW Episode: The White House 1600 Sessions Podcast “America’s Irish Roots”
The White House Historical Association released a new episode of The White House 1600 Sessions podcast today featuring a conversation on the history between Ireland and the United States, and the relationship between the two countries beyond the month of March and St. Patrick’s Day. In this episode, Stewart McLaurin, president of the Association, sits down with Geraldine Byrne Nason, Am
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Press Release
White House Historical Association Honors Designer and Builder of the White House
The White House Historical Association placed a wreath at the gravesite of James Hoban, Irish immigrant and the designer and builder of the White House, on Thursday, March 21 at 11:00AM at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Washington, D.C. In 2021, the Association restored the gravesite of Hoban and has held an annual wreath placement ceremony every year since. See images from
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Event
The Design, Building, and Rebuilding of the White House
Stewart D. McLaurin, President of the White House Historical Association, will speak on James Hoban, the Irish born designer and builder of the White House, and the skilled Europeans, enslaved workers, and free laborers who built the White House. He will also speak to the current/modern preservation of the White House and its comparison in design and function to
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Event
The Irishman Who Designed the White House
More than 200 years after the first cornerstone of the White House was laid, the Executive Mansion has become an internationally recognized symbol of the American presidency, the United States government, and the American people. Yet for many, the life and contributions of James Hoban, the Irish-born architect who designed the White House, remain a mystery waiting to be discovered. Join