Podcast White House Builder James Hoban’s Irish Roots
Over 200 years ago, James Hoban left Ireland for America to pursue his dream of becoming an architect. Selected by President...
Main Content
Two grand houses were under construction in the young Federal City in 1816: one the President’s House, reconstructed after it was burned by the British in 1814, and the other Tudor Place, an elegant mansion rising on the heights above Georgetown. The connection between these two houses is more than temporal, as they were connected through lineage and politics for generations. The builders of Tudor Place were Thomas Peter and Martha Parke Custis Peter, Martha Washington’s granddaughter. The reconstruction of the White House was finished around the time the Peters were completing their own grand home. The White House and Tudor Place each represent the spirit and aspirations of the early republic. Little more than two miles apart, each survives as an architectural landmark for our nation.
Over 200 years ago, James Hoban left Ireland for America to pursue his dream of becoming an architect. Selected by President...
Since the laying of the cornerstone in 1792, Freemasons have played an important role in the construction and the history of...
James Hoban came from humble beginnings as a young carpenter and architect in Ireland, and went on to collaborate with...
George Washington might not have become the Founding Father we know today if not for the influence of his mother....
James Hoban's life is a memorable Irish-American success story. In his boyhood he learned the craft of carpenter and wheelwright,...
Biographies & Portraits
Biographies & Portraits
Whether by hoof, air, waterway, road, or rail, the President’s access to reliable transportation is essential during their time in...
George Washington never lived in the White House, but played a major role in its design, as well as the...
During the administration of President Harry S. Truman, the White House underwent a renovation and expansion so extensive, it changed...
In April 1789, George Washington took the oath of office in New York City. Constitutional guidelines for inaugurations are sparse, offering...
From the beginning of its construction in 1792, until the 1902 renovation that shaped the modern identity and functions of the interior...