Who Built The White House
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The White House is the official residence of the President of the United States, located in Washington, DC. It has been home to every president since 1800 and is one of the most famous landmarks in the world. But who actually built the White House?
The construction of the White House began in 1792, commissioned by the first president, George Washington. To build the building, President Washington tapped Irish-born architect James Hoban to lead the project.
Hoban was highly recommended for the job and was listed as the "Architect of the Capitol" in the original U.S. Congress official government records. He had already completed a few notable buildings as well; his design for the President’s Palace in Charleston, South Carolina, was the basis for the White House.
Under Hoban’s direction, the original construction of the White House was completed in 1800 and featured traditional Georgian-style occupied by President John Adams and his family. However, the British army burned the building down in the War of 1812, and the interior was completely destroyed.
The White House was rebuilt between 1815 and 1817, with help from Benjamin Latrobe and Robert Mills. The latter was responsible for the North Portico and south terrace, as well as the White House’s famous iron fence. Mills also redesigned the interior layout and rooms, which have remained largely unchanged to this day and have served several presidents ever since.
In addition to the architects, over 1,000 laborers built the White House. The workers were paid an average of $2.50/day and were largely composed of Africans and Europeans, along with a few Native Americans and Asians. The laborers worked long hours in what was known as the “President’s House” and contributed significantly to the building’s completion.
After over a decade of hard work, the White House was finally finished in 1817. Though it has seen numerous renovations and alterations over the years, much of the original structure still remains and it serves as a lasting testament to John Hoban, Benjamin Latrobe, Robert Mills, and all the other talented people who built it.