The White House

Watercolors by Chuck Fischer;
Text by Elizabeth Ferber

EXCERPT: The White House Over Time

Originally designed by Irish-born architect James Hoban in 1792, the White House has undergone several adaptations, alterations, and enlargements since it was first conceived as the “President’s House.” Hoban based his original idea for the structure on the country houses of the British Isles. Work on the White House officially began when the Freemasons and the Commissioners of the District of Columbia laid the first cornerstone on October 13, 1792. Hoban, who oversaw the project, had difficulty finding skilled and manual labor; the Scottish stonemasons were skilled artisans and the African American slaves were the manual laborers he needed. When construction was finished in 1800 after eight years, the White House had cost a total of $232,373 to build ($200,000 over budget).