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Early White House Illustration

Early White House Illustration

This is the earliest known published view of the White House. It illustrates a travel book, published in 1807, and shows the house about the time of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. After the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the nation's size, Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on an expedition to explore the American west from 1803-1806. When the explorers sent plant and animal specimens back to Washington, Jefferson displayed the items in the White House for the public to enjoy.

Date of Work
1807
Credit
The White House

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