Construction on the White House was originally started in 1792 during the Presidency of George Washington. It was completed in 1800, after Washington was already out of office. The first President to live in the white house was John Adams and his family. James Hoban was the contracted designer for the White House which has built the original building exterior as well as some of the remaining architecture inside. There have been numerous additions and restructurings to the White House with every president which has graced it as their home. This is especially true after two fires have been extinguished during the course of its history and massive remodeling processes were done to fix it.

The Rooms of the White House

The White House is an amazing structure. Since it is a home for the current president and their family, the location could certainly accommodate more than a few people. In fact it does serve as some temporary living quarters for several staff, but they all have home which they must return to throughout the week. Only some secret service workers can stay to protect the president, his family and other employees of the white house full time, but their living quarters and schedule is not made public. The white house is six stories tall and has 132 rooms with 35 bathrooms. There are also 412 doors along with 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases and 3 elevators. There are 5 full-time employed chefs that get to work in the White House.

Accommodations that the white house has for the President and employees include a tennis court, a bowling alley, a movie theater, a jogging track, a swimming pool, and a putting green. The White house will usually receive about 5,000 visitors every day that it is open to the public. The White House has several tours available which allows visitors to get a firsthand look at the history of the White House as well as rooms of interest. Tours are usually available informally through the many tour guides that work in the White House for a small fee.

Self Guided White House Tours

Although public tours of the White House are available, it is still suggested that requests for tours are submitted through a member of congress as far in advance as possible. This is due to the attacks on September 11th, 2001 as a security measure. Those wanting public tours are now subject to background checks and other forms of security measures to ensure the safety of the President, personnel and other visitors. Self guided tours in this manner are also available and are offered from 7AM to 11AM from Tuesday through Thursday. Fridays the self guided tours are available from 7:30AM to 12PM extending through to 1PM on Saturdays. Federal holidays will usually witness a closure of the White House. All of the White House tours are free of charge and requests for tours come at a first come, first serve basis from the member of congress.

Virtual White House Tour

For those who do not wish to actually visit the White House in person, or get an idea of what it looks like before going to the structure itself, a virtual White House tour is available online. These special virtual tours are very much like the real one but offer the ability to enjoy the tour at your own pace. The virtual tour is also free and offers a great deal of information that is useful for anyone that wishes to visit the real White House but is unable to yet.

White House Visitor Center

The White House Visitor Center is a great place to go when visiting the historically important structure. Even if you do not have the proper clearance to really visit the White House, the White House visitor center is open to the public every day of the week between the hours of 7:30AM and 4PM. You can learn nearly everything about the White House including the historical significance, the architectural features, current furnishings and much more.

You could learn about all of the first families which have had a chance to live in the White House as well. A 30 minute video centered on the White House with many facts and enjoyable information is also available for you to experience. The Visitor Center has a gift shop as well as restrooms but there are no food services available. Food is also not allowed in the Visitor center because of all of the exhibits.

Exploring the exhibits usually takes within 20 minutes to an hour depending on the speed people use to read and examine the exhibits. This can usually enhance any visit to the White House before or after a tour because it offers a wide range of extra information about the White House.

Access for the Mobility-Impaired and those with Wheelchairs

Visitors who are scheduled for a tour which are mobility-impaired or require a wheel chair must notify officers at the entrance. Wheel chairs are only available on a first come first serve basis and require entry through the same visitor entrance. Wheel chair ramps are available and are accessible with mobility scooters. The scooters may have a requirement to be clean and free of dirt or other damaging debris from the wheels before entering the White House. Those who are mobility-impaired or require a wheelchair will be limited to taking the elevators to their destinations on tours. Staircases cannot be navigated through with wheel chairs or mobility scooters.

Accommodations for the Hearing-Impaired

The Hearing impaired may also take part in tour groups of ten or more. Getting access through the member of congress is also a requirement and specialized tours can be arranged with guides who can present the tour in sign language. These tours are not always available and should be planned according to availability.

Tours for the Visually-Impaired

As with the hearing-impaired, access to the White House in groups of ten or more can be arranged through a member of Congress. These tours allow the visitors with vision impairments to be able to hear the tour and get around the White House. Guide animals are also allowed within the White House as long as they are adequately licensed and trained correctly.

General Tour Information and Updates

Before any visitor heads to the White House for their scheduled tour, it is important to call the 24-hour Visitors Office information line at 202-456-7041. This is where they can learn whether or not any last minute changes have been made to their tour or whether or not it has been cancelled. In some instances it is not abnormal to be rescheduled for later in the day or on another day to have a guided tour.

List of Prohibited Items in the White House

There is a wide range of prohibited items which are not allowed in the White House. It is important to follow the rules and leave any prohibited items at a hotel or at home when visiting the White House. The following list of items is not allowed at any time within the White House by visitors:

Handbags – book bags, backpacks, purses or any type of carrier are not allowed because people try to smuggle in items or steal items out of the White House.

Food and Beverages of any Kind – Food and beverages can cause a mess and pose a risk to others when not prepared correctly. It is not allowed simply because it keeps everything safe.

Strollers – Baby strollers are very difficult to navigate within the White House and pose too much risk in the event of a fire. Babies and small children should either be carried or left in the care of relatives when visiting the White House.

Cameras – Photographic equipment as well as video recorders or any type of recording device are not allowed into the White House. This rule is in place for the safety of everyone. Violators will be escorted out of the premises as well as have their devices confiscated without compensation.

Tobacco Products – Tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, pipes and even chewing tobacco are prohibited within the White House. Drugs are not only a prohibited in the White House, but are a serious crime to have on your person anywhere.

Personal Grooming Items – Any make-up, hair brushes or combs, lip or hand lotions and other personal grooming items are prohibited.

Pointed Objects of Any Kind – Pens, knitting needles and any other type of pointed object is prohibited.

Aerosol Containers – Spray paints, glues and colognes or hair spray are not allowed because they are not only a fire hazard but can have their contents altered.

Guns or Weapons – Any guns, ammunition including knives are prohibited for safety of everyone.

Fireworks – Fireworks/firecrackers pose a serious fire hazard and are prohibited even if they seem harmless.

Personal Safety Devices – electric stun guns, mace, martial arts weapons/devices are not permitted because they pose threats to everyone.

The U.S. Secret Service reserves the right to prohibit any personal items no matter what they are. Any item can be confiscated at any time and will not be returned. If you do not want personal items taken away, leave them where you are staying at or in your vehicle. Umbrellas, wallets, cell phones (turned off and put away) and car keys are permitted but can also be confiscated if the need arises.

The White House does not offer any type of storage for personal items. Anyone who arrives with any prohibited items will not be allowed access to the White House even after the removal of such items. Items are not given back when confiscated for security reasons and will be destroyed at some point.

Parking and Transportation Accommodations at the White House

There is no on-street parking available at the White House. Parking garages are available throughout the city and public transportation is always recommended for those traveling to make a visit to the White House. The closest Metrorail stations to the White House are the Federal Triangle (blue and orange lines), the Metro Center (blue, orange, and red lines) and the McPherson Square (blue and orange lines). There are many places to park away from the White House but it should be noted that several of these have parking meters and are accessible only if using the services of the nearby businesses.

Restroom and Public Telephone Access

There are no restrooms available for the public to use within the White House. This is to prevent security breaches and keep the White House clean. The closest restrooms and public telephones are available for use at the White House Visitor Center and the Eclipse Visitor Pavilion. The Ellipse Visitor Pavilion is located at the park south of the White House.

Park Access and Police

The President’s Park (a collection of parks that include the Ellipse, Lafayette and Sherman Parks) is also a national Park and is open to the public. Visitors are able to enjoy a long and leisurely stroll the wonderful parks and visit the 1st Division Monument. The 1st Division Monument was created to commemorate the valiant efforts of soldiers who fought and died in battle in World War I. Later on, World War II, Vietnam and Desert Storm soldiers were also honored with additions to the monument. Park police as well as the White House Police are available patrolling and keeping the area secure at all times. Any kind of disturbances should be promptly reported to these enforcement officials to resolve conflicts and remove disturbances from the premises.

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