White House Renovations

The White House as it is known today began in 1791 when President George Washington selected the site, and the design of John Housen, an Irish-born architect. In 1792 the first cornerstone was laid, and the construction finally ended 8 years later when President John Adams and his wife were the first to occupy the building.^[1] From then on, the White House would continue to receive renovations. James Monroe added the East Portico, and Andrew Jackson added the West Portico in 1829.^[2] However, it would be under the presidency of Theodore Roosevelt that the White House its first major renovation.

Before 1901, the White House took on many names, the President’s Palace, the Executive House, The President’s House. Theodore Roosevelt officially named the building the White House in 1901, and aside from the exterior it would remain unrecognizable to what it looked like in previous years following the renovation. Until then, the second floor of the White House served as both an office and the family residence. Now this would be changed to only accommodating the family. The new presidential cabinet office would be built in a new building, which would soon become known as the West Wing. Here the President’s secretary’s office would be built, along with a meeting room for cabinet staff and numerous offices for White House staff. Though Roosevelt had numerous cabinet members refuse to meet him in his temporary office, he resulted in meeting them in one of the studies on the second floor. The basement had previously been the location for the kitchen, along with rooms for the white house servants. This would be changed into one giant kitchen, along with a large banquet hall and a diplomat reception room which would be built underneath the Blue Room. The servants’ quarters were moved to the attic. Finally, in 1909 under the presidency of Taft the Oval Office was constructed.^[3]

What began as a two-story house, with a basement and attic turned into the new seat for the executive branch of the new modern American president.

[1] “The White House Building.” The White House, The United States Government, 27 Mar. 2025, www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/the-white-house/.

[2]“The White House Building.” The White House, The United States Government, 27 Mar. 2025, www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/the-white-house/.

[3] Seale, William. “Theodore Roosevelt’s White House.” WHHA (en-US). Accessed September 10, 2025. https://www.whitehousehistory.org/theodore-roosevelts-white-house.

Entry contributed by Isaac Baker – Theodore Roosevelt Center Student Employee