One of the most recognizable structures in the world, one can't say they've been to Washington, D.C. until they have seen the White House. Originally known as the Executive Mansion, construction of the White House began in 1792 under the direction of George Washington. The structure was not completed until 1800, so, ironically, Washington is the only president not to have lived there.
The executive mansion was torched by British troops in 1814, during the War of 1812. The structural damage caused by the fire was repaired but the exterior sandstone walls were still black with fire damage. The walls were then painted white, giving birth to the nickname "The White House." An act of Congress made this the official name in 1902.
Every president has left his mark upon the White House. Thomas Jefferson added terraces to the east and west wings, Andrew Jackson installed running water, and Harry Truman added a porch. Bill Clinton's addition to the White House was an indoor running track.
Free tours of the White House are available to the public Tuesday-Saturday. The White House tour undoubtedly ranks highly on a visitor's list of things to do while in Washington, D.C., but the process of getting tickets will definitely test your determination. Tickets for that day's tours can only be picked up at the White House Visitors Center, and they run out very quickly. Although the center opens at 7:30 a.m., the line to get tickets starts to form sometime around 5am. Therefore, most people settle with seeing only the exterior of the White House. The Visitors Center has nice displays on the history of the White House to mollify the disappointed visitors who couldn't get tickets. Don't expect to get tickets for the tour if you arrive after 9:00 a.m. For more information on White House tours, call the 24-hour hotline at (202) 456-7041.
If you are lucky enough to get tickets, they will be stamped with the departure time of your tour. Bleachers have been set up on the Ellipse so visitors can sit until the tour staff collects them. The 20-minute tour consists of five rooms: The East Room, Green Room, Blue Room, Red Room and the State Dining Room.
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