Architecture
Featured Collection
James Hoban: Architect of the White House
James Hoban's life is a memorable Irish-American success story. In his boyhood he learned the craft of carpenter and wheelwright, and became an architect by profession and a builder by trade. Hoban came to America with high ambitions, and designed and erected many buildings; but what keeps his name alive today arises from one special commission—he was the architect of
Building the White House
Teacher's Text:The White House is an enduring symbol of our nation’s leadership. It is also the most recognized structure in America. From the beginning, the White House was meant to be a flexible structure. With America not yet a quarter of a century old when John Adams inhabited the President’s House in 1800, it was impossible to foresee how
The Hidden White House: The Truman Renovation, 1948-1952
When Earvin Ruddick's family took him on the White House tour on his 90th birthday two years ago, he became one of the millions who troop through the mansion to marvel at the sumptuous Federal interiors with their marble mantels and hand-tooled paneling. But unlike the wide-eyed masses, Ruddick's glance at the fine woodwork was both knowing and familiar. After
