Title: The Front View of the President's House

Description: This is the earliest known published view of the White House. It illustrates a travel book, published in 1807, and shows the house about the time of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. After the Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the nation’s size, Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on an expedition to explore the American west from 1803-1806. When the explorers sent plant and animal specimens back to Washington, Jefferson displayed the items in the White House for the public to enjoy.

Date: 1807

Creator: Unknown

Credit: The White House