Alfred Waud drew this flag raising in front of the White House in 1861. Inscribed in the upper left of the image are his layout comments: "12th regiment at there (sic) sides. A sketch of the White House is in our paper. Below the image is inscribed "regulars," and to the right "people." The image likely appeared in Harper's Weekly, where Waud was the key artist/correspondent.

The cornerstone of the White House was laid in October of 1792 by President Washington. He oversaw the construction of the House but never resided there. In 1800, President John Adams and his wife Abigail moved into the White House and were the first to occupy it.

President George Washington declared that the federal government would reside in a district "not exceeding ten miles square...on the river Potomac." President Washington, together with city planner Pierre L'Efant, chose the site for the new residence, which is now 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. After an open competition for the design, Irish architect James Hoban won a gold medal for his practical and handsome design.

The White House has a unique and fascinating history. It survived a fire at the hands of the British in 1814 (during the War of 1812) and another fire in the West Wing in 1929, while Herbert Hoover was President. Throughout much of Harry S. Truman's presidency the interior of the house, with the exception of the third floor, was completely gutted and renovated while the Truman's lived at Blair House, right across Pennsylvania Avenue. Nonetheless, the exterior stone walls are those first put in place when the White House was constructed two centuries ago.

At various times in history, the White House has been know as the "President's Palace," "President's House," and the "Executive Mansion." President Theodore Roosevelt officially gave the White House its current name in 1901.

Alfred Waud, (pronounced Wode) and his brother William, also an artist, were born in London England and emigrated to the United States in 1850. With the outbreak of the war in 1861, Harper's Weekly dispatched Waud to cover the war fronts. Waud was a leading member of a distinctive band of artist/reporters/adventurers who covered the war and he became recognized as the most skilled illustrator of Civil War battles, including Gettysburg and the Wilderness Campaign.

Medium : 1 drawing on olive paper : pencil and Chinese white

Created/Published : June 29, 1861

Creator : Alfred Rudolph Waud, artist, 1828-1891

Part of the Civil War Drawing Collection housed in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress

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Product #: cph3g05101