The
Executive Residence is the central building of the
White House ComplexThe White House Complex is the designation of the four principal structures, and the adjoining outdoor ceremonial areas, which serve as the seat of the executive branch of United States government...
located between the
East WingThe East Wing is a part of the White House Complex. It is a two-story structure on the east side of the White House Executive Residence, the home of the President of the United States. The East Wing also includes the White House theater, the visitor's entrance, and the East Colonnade, a corridor...
and West Wing. This central building, first constructed 1792–1800, is home to the
President of the United StatesThe President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in the United States by influence and recognition...
and the
First FamilyThe First Family of the United States consists of the President of the United States, the First Lady of the United States, and any of their children. The First Family is accorded Secret Service protection while the president occupies the Office...
. The Executive Residence primarily occupies three floors: the Ground Floor, State Floor, and Second Floor. A third floor contains a solarium, guest rooms, and some recreation rooms for the first family. Two sub-basements, created during the 1948–1952 Truman reconstruction, contain storage and service areas, and a war time shelter for the president and first family.
This level was added during the 1948 Truman Renovation and has several openings in the floor for large machinery, ductwork and pipes that extend up from the Sub Basement Lower Level.
The
Executive Residence is the central building of the
White House ComplexThe White House Complex is the designation of the four principal structures, and the adjoining outdoor ceremonial areas, which serve as the seat of the executive branch of United States government...
located between the
East WingThe East Wing is a part of the White House Complex. It is a two-story structure on the east side of the White House Executive Residence, the home of the President of the United States. The East Wing also includes the White House theater, the visitor's entrance, and the East Colonnade, a corridor...
and West Wing. This central building, first constructed 1792–1800, is home to the
President of the United StatesThe President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in the United States by influence and recognition...
and the
First FamilyThe First Family of the United States consists of the President of the United States, the First Lady of the United States, and any of their children. The First Family is accorded Secret Service protection while the president occupies the Office...
. The Executive Residence primarily occupies three floors: the Ground Floor, State Floor, and Second Floor. A third floor contains a solarium, guest rooms, and some recreation rooms for the first family. Two sub-basements, created during the 1948–1952 Truman reconstruction, contain storage and service areas, and a war time shelter for the president and first family.
Sub Basement Mezzanine
This level was added during the 1948 Truman Renovation and has several openings in the floor for large machinery, ductwork and pipes that extend up from the Sub Basement Lower Level. These openings are for Air Conditioning, Program Control, and Electrical Switching. Additionally, the Water Softener, which is immediately south of the Air Conditioner Room and is under the South Portico.
Besides these areas, the Mezzanine contains Storage areas, Dishwasher (and associated Dishware and Flatware rooms, and a Fan room in the North-West corner, and Men's and Women's rooms (South East and North East corners respectively) with stairs from each leading up to the Ground Floor.
Sub Basement Lower Level
This level was added during the 1948 Truman Renovation and contains the two story Air Conditioning and Water softening equipment. Additionally, the Program Control and Electrical Switching areas extend upwards into the Mezzanine.
Besides these areas, this level contains large Storage areas, a Heating and Air Control room adjacent to the Air Conditioning room, Men's and Women's rooms in the South-West corner. There are three elevator machinery rooms, an Ushers' room, Incinerator, Laundry, and the Dentist.
Ground Floor
Originally intended as a service area for cooking, laundry and heating. The Ground Floor was rebuilt during the administration of
Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States. He is well remembered for his energetic persona, his range of interests and achievements, his model of masculinity, and his "cowboy" image. He was a leader of the Republican Party and founder of the short-lived Bull Moose Party...
in 1902, and again 1948–1952 during the Truman reconstruction. Today this floor houses several official rooms including the Diplomatic Reception Room,
LibraryThe White House Library is located on the Ground Floor of the White House, the official home of the President of the United States. The room is approximately 27 by 23 feet and is located in the northwest of the ground floor...
, China Room,
Map RoomThe Map Room is a room on the ground floor of the White House, the official home of the President of the United States.The Map Room takes its name from its use during World War II, when Franklin Roosevelt used it as a situation room where maps were consulted to track the war's progress...
, and Vermeil Room. This floor continues to house some White House domestic operations. The kitchen and pantry are located on this floor, along with the office of the curator, and the office of the White House physician.
This floor is at the same level as, and connects directly to, the basement level which extends under the North Portico and even further. The bulk of it goes West to East - The Western most portion is in line with the western most wall of the Palm Room, The Eastern most portion is in line with the eastern most wall of the Visitor's Foyer. It contains the flower shop, the carpenters shop as well as the bowling alley, among other rooms. The bowling alley is in the very center of the basement, going north-south. In 1948, as part of the Truman Renovation, the North-East corner of the basement was extended further north so it could contain transformers and air blowers.
State Floor
The State Floor is used for official entertaining and ceremonial functions. The following rooms are found on the State Floor:
Entrance Hall| |-| |-| |-| |-| |-| |}The Entrance Hall is the primary and formal entrance to the White House, the official residence of the President of the United States. The room is rectilinear in shape and measures approximately 31 by 44 feet...
, Cross Hall,
East Room| |-| |-| |-| |-|-| |}The East Room is the largest room in the White House, the home of the President of the United States. It is used for entertaining, press conferences, ceremonies, and occasionally for a large dinner...
,
Green RoomThe Green Room is one of three state parlors on the first floor in the White House, the home of the President of the United States. It is used for small receptions and teas. During a state dinner guests are served cocktails in the three state parlors before the president, first lady, and visiting...
,
Blue RoomThe Blue Room is one of three state parlors on the first floor in the White House, the residence of the President of the United States. It is distinct for its oval shape. The room is used for receptions, receiving lines, and is occasionally set for small dinners. It is traditionally decorated in...
,
Red RoomThe Red Room is one of three state parlors on the first floor in the White House, the home of the President of the United States. The room has served as a parlor and music room, and recent presidents have held small dinner parties in it. It has been traditionally decorated in shades of red.The...
, State Dining Room,
Family Dining RoomThe Family Dining Room is located on the State Floor of the White House, the official residence of the president of the United States. The room is used for smaller, more private meals than those served in the State Dining Room. Today the president uses the Family Dining Room less for family and...
, and the
Chief Usher'sWhite House Chief Usher is the title of the head of household staff and operations at the White House, the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States....
office.
Second Floor
The Second Floor contains the private living apartments of the president and first family. Some of these rooms are used for official entertaining, but most are reserved for private use. The following rooms are found on the Second Floor: Yellow Oval Room,
Treaty RoomThe Treaty Room is located on the second floor of the White House, home of the President of the United States. The room is a part of the first family's private apartments and is used as a study by the president....
,
President's Dining RoomThe President's Dining Room is located on the second floor of the White House near the northwest corner. It was created in 1961 during the administration of John F. Kennedy to provide a dining room in the First Family's residence. The room had previously been used as a bedroom and sitting room...
, Lincoln Bedroom,
Lincoln Sitting RoomThe Lincoln Sitting Room is a small sitting room located on the second floor of the White House. It was used as the White House telegraph room from 1865 to 1902 . It is furnished in Victorian-style to match the bedroom. The overstuffed sofa and matching chair were formerly furnishings in the Green...
,
Queens' BedroomThe Queens' Bedroom is located on the second floor of the White House, part of a guest suite of rooms that includes the Queens' Sitting Room. Named for the many royal guests it has hosted.- Furnishings :...
,
Queens' Sitting RoomThe Queens' Sitting Room is a small sitting room located on the second floor of the White House. It was used as part of the president's offices until 1902 when the West Wing was built. The room became a sitting room for guests in the Queens' Bedroom in 1902...
, Central Hall,
East Sitting HallThe East Sitting Hall is located on the second floor of the White House, home of the President of the United States. First used as a reception room for guests of the president , it is now a family parlor with access to the east rooms on the second floor.The room is entered from the second floor...
, and
West Sitting HallThe West Sitting Hall is located on the second floor of the White House, home of the President of the United States. The room is entered from the second floor Center Hall on the east side of the room. The room features a large lunette window on the west wall looks out upon the West Colonnade, the...
. The
Truman BalconyThe Truman Balcony is the second-floor balcony of the Executive Residence of the White House, which overlooks the south lawn. It was completed in March 1948, during the presidency of Harry S. Truman.-Controversy over construction plans:...
is also located on this floor. Four private bedrooms and a dressing room are reserved for the president. Different presidents have used various rooms as their bedroom.
Third floor
During a 1927 renovation the White House attic was rebuilt into a third floor. Though once used for staff bedrooms, no staff currently live in the White House. The third floor contains a music room and recreation rooms for the first family, as well as guest rooms (though foreign heads of state customarily stay at the
Blair HouseBlair House is the official state guest house for the President of the United States. It is located at 1651-1653 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., opposite the Old Executive Office Building of the White House, off the corner of Lafayette Park....
). The third floor has a sun room atop the south portico with views of the south lawn. The third floor is ringed by a rooftop promenade.
Further reading
- Garrett, Wendell. Our Changing White House. Northeastern University Press: 1995. ISBN 1-55553-222-5.
- McKellar, Kenneth, Douglas W. Orr, Edward Martin, et al. Report of the Commission on the Renovation of the Executive Mansion. Commission on the Renovation of the Executive Mansion, Government Printing Office: 1952.
- Seale, William. The President's House. White House Historical Association and the National Geographic Society: 1986. ISBN 0-912308-28-1.
- West, J.B. with Mary Lynn Kotz. Upstairs at the White House: My Life with the First Ladies. Coward, McCann & Geoghegan: 1973. SBN 698-10546-X.
- The White House: An Historic Guide. White House Historical Association and the National Geographic Society: 2001. ISBN 0-912308-79-6.