Gallery By Land, By Sea, By Air
Whether by hoof, air, waterway, road, or rail, the President’s access to reliable transportation is essential during their time in...
Have you ever wondered...
Does the White House have a pool?
The White House has had two different pools since the 1930s. The indoor swimming pool opened on June 2, 1933, after a campaign led by the New York Daily News to raise money for building a pool for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who suffered from poliomyelitis and often swam at therapy pools at his Hyde Park home in New York or at a rehabilitation center in Warm Springs, Georgia.
The rectangular pool, encircled by arched ceilings and high rows of half-mooned windows, was built inside the west terrace between the White House and the West Wing.
President Richard M. Nixon arranged for the construction of a press briefing room above the old pool to accommodate the growing demand for television news. Since April 1970 the White House press corps has assembled in a small theater to listen to the White House press secretary's briefings and reports. The doors opening to the Rose Garden allow the members of the media quick access to outdoor events.
President Gerald R. Ford, an avid swimmer, installed an outdoor pool on the White House grounds in 1975.
FDR's swimming pool was completed in 1933. The pool has been covered but remains beneath the floor of the press center.
National ArchivesFeatured Questions
You Might Also Like
-
-
The Complexities of Slavery in the Nation's Capital
For the first seventy-two years of its existence, the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., harbored one of America’s most...
-
Director of Marketing
The White House Historical Association, a non-profit educational organization with a mission of protecting, preserving and providing public access to...
-
Slavery in the Andrew Jackson White House
In January 1829, less than two months before he became president, Andrew Jackson ordered an inventory of his slaves. The inventory...
-
Press NEW Podcast Episode of The 1600 Sessions: “Life at Camp David”
The White House Historical Association’s new episode of its monthly podcast The 1600 Sessions, called “Life at Camp David,” released today,...
-
Life at Camp David
-
Collection Presidential Pastimes
Although the presidency is an often all-consuming job, many presidents have found solace in their various hobbies and pastimes. When...
-
Senior Vice President and Director of the David M. Rubenstein Center for White House History
This position oversees the David M. Rubenstein Center for White House History, which is the hub of multi-platform, world-class research...
-
Press New Book: How to Draw the Presidents
The White House Historical Association will release How to Draw the Presidents by artist John Hutton on September 5. This first...
-
Gallery Presidential Pastimes
Although the presidency is an often all-consuming job, many presidents have found solace in their various hobbies and pastimes. When...
-
Gracy Bradley's White House
On November 24, 1831, Andrew Jackson, Jr. married Sarah Yorke. President Andrew Jackson, a devoted father, wanted to give his son’s ne...
-
Press New Issue of White House History Quarterly: "White House Weddings"
The White House Historical Association will release a new edition of its White House History Quarterly next month, this one...