Student Article
Who Really Built the White House? The Hidden Story Behind America’s Presidential Home
Neoclassical (adjective): Relating to a style based on classical antiquity, especially ancient Greek and Roman design.
Symmetry (noun): The quality of having balanced proportions or design on both sides.
Quarry (verb): To extract stone or other materials from the ground.
Whitewash (noun): A white liquid mixture used to paint and protect buildings.
Legacy (noun): Something handed down from the past, especially from previous generations.
The White House is one of the most recognized buildings in the world, a symbol of American leadership and democracy. Yet its origins reveal a more complex and often forgotten history.
The plan for a new capital
In 1790, the U.S. Congress passed the Residence Act, selecting a site on the Potomac River for a new national capital. George Washington, the nation’s first president, chose the location with French-born engineer Pierre Charles L’Enfant, who laid out the city’s design with grand avenues and open spaces.
The design contest that led to the White House
To design the president’s residence, a public competition was launched. Among the secret entrants was Thomas Jefferson, but the winning proposal came from James Hoban, an Irish-born architect known for his neoclassical style influenced by Andrea Palladio and Ireland’s Leinster House. Hoban’s design featured symmetry, order, and classical elegance — a fitting look for a young nation’s seat of power.
A tough job with enslaved workers
Construction began on October 13, 1792, and took nearly eight years. It was slow and grueling, relying heavily on the labor of enslaved African Americans who were rented from local slave owners. They dug foundations, quarried and transported stone, made bricks, and erected the structure. Their owners were compensated, not the workers themselves. Some free Black laborers and skilled artisans from Ireland and Scotland were also involved but were paid very little.
The White House takes shape
John Adams, the second president, moved into the unfinished house in 1800. A quote from a letter he wrote to his wife Abigail, expressing hope that only wise and honest leaders would live there, was later carved into the fireplace of the State Dining Room in 1945. The name “White House” came from the whitewash — a lime-based coating used to protect the exterior sandstone walls. After British troops burned the building during the War of 1812, Hoban was once again called upon to lead its reconstruction.
Adding new features over the years
The mansion continued to evolve: the South Portico was added in 1824, and the North Portico in 1830. Today, the White House contains 132 rooms and remains both a residence and a powerful national symbol. But understanding who truly built it adds a deeper layer to its legacy.
© Jonny Wilkes / www.historyextra.com
Neoclassical (adjective): Relating to a style based on classical antiquity, especially ancient Greek and Roman design.
Symmetry (noun): The quality of having balanced proportions or design on both sides.
Quarry (verb): To extract stone or other materials from the ground.
Whitewash (noun): A white liquid mixture used to paint and protect buildings.
Legacy (noun): Something handed down from the past, especially from previous generations.