• View of the White House's north side from Layfatte Park

    President's Park (White House)

    District of Columbia

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  • White House Visitor Center Rehabilitation and Closure Information

    The White House Visitor Center is closed for rehabilitation. A temporary visitor center is located near the Ellipse Visitor Pavilion, just west of the intersection of 15th and E streets, NW.

The President of the United States lives in a National Park

Every president except George Washington has called the White House and its surrounding grounds his place of work, rest, and solitude. Recognizable the world around, the White House stands as a symbol of democracy. The White House and its park grounds serve not only as the seat of the executive branch of government of the United States of America, but also as an iconic place for civil discourse.

Did You Know?

British Soldiers Burning the White House

British soldiers set fire to the White House during the War of 1812.  Almost everything inside was destroyed.  James Madison hired James Hoban to rebuild the house using the original walls, which were still standing. It reopened in 1817 when James Monroe moved in.