Okla-homey
10/13/2006, 06:11 AM
October 13, 1792, White House cornerstone laid
214 years ago today, the cornerstone is laid for a presidential residence in the newly designated capital city of Washington. In 1800, President John Adams became the first president to reside in the executive mansion, which soon became known as the "White House" because its white-gray Virginia freestone contrasted strikingly with the red brick of nearby buildings.
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/4937/washgwcornerstone0so.jpg
Okay, I confess, this is some mural of Washington laying the US Capitol's cornerstone in his Masonic regalia with Masonic ceremony. I expect the White House ceremony was probably identical.
The city of Washington was created to replace Philadelphia as the nation's capital because of its geographical position in the center of the existing new republic. The states of Maryland and Virginia ceded land around the Potomac River to form the District of Columbia, and work began on Washington in 1791
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/6009/washf22oa.jpg
French architect Charles L'Enfant designed the area's radical layout, full of dozens of circles, crisscross avenues, and plentiful parks.
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/3792/washmc5bs.jpg
Some people (who don't have enough to do) enjoy finding hidden patterns and images in signs, symbols and the lay-out of Washington. Here we see a Knights Templar cross imbedded in the streets around the White House...ooooh, scarrrrry! :D
In 1792, work began on the neoclassical White House building at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue under the guidance of Irish American architect James Hoban, whose design was influenced by Leinster House in Dublin and by a building sketch in James Gibbs' Book of Architecture. President George Washington chose the site.
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/9489/wash3a13205r9fv.jpg
One of Hoban's houseplan sheets
On November 1, President John Adams was welcomed into the executive mansion. His wife, Abigail, wrote about their new home: "I pray heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house, and on all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but wise men ever rule under this roof!"
In 1814, during the War of 1812, the White House was set on fire along with the U.S. Capitol by British soldiers in retaliation for the burning of government buildings in Canada by U.S. troops.
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/2512/wash3b51941r5mb.jpg
Burned out shell of the White House after the Brits burned it late in the War of 1812.
The burned-out building was subsequently rebuilt and enlarged under the direction of James Hoban, who added east and west terraces to the main building, along with a semicircular south portico and a colonnaded north portico. The smoke-stained stone walls were painted white. Work was completed on the White House in the 1820s.
Back in the day, folks could just mosey on up and be admitted for a look around. It is a little harder now, but still worth the hassle if you get a chance while in DC. One of your correspondent's fondest memories is taking a wide-eyed little ten year-old daughter on the White House tour.
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/739/washvc843fy.jpg
Immediately following Andy Jackson's first inauguration in 1849, "Old Hickory" hosted a reception bash at the White House attended by thousands of ordinary folks. It almost got out of control as the limitless whisky provided began to have its effect. They finally decided to haul the liquor barrels out to the lawns and the folks moved outside, saving the carpets, furniture and drapes from further damage from all the muddy boots, seegars and puking. :eek:
Major restoration occurred during the administration of President Harry Truman, and Truman lived across the street for several years in Blair House.
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/545/washphoto51yh.jpg
Interior renovation in progress during the Truman administration. They basically gutted the interior, removing all the timbers used in the first rebuilding installed after the Brits burned the place in 1814. The White House was a veritable termite fest and there was a great deal of wood rot as well. They replaced the interior wood frame with steel framing.
Since 1995, Pennsylvania Avenue between the White House and Lafayette Square has been closed to vehicular traffic for security reasons. Today, more than a million tourists visit the White House annually. It is the oldest federal building in the nation's capital.
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/9589/washwhite20house20far9xe.jpg
http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/4169/insane7zo8iz.jpg
214 years ago today, the cornerstone is laid for a presidential residence in the newly designated capital city of Washington. In 1800, President John Adams became the first president to reside in the executive mansion, which soon became known as the "White House" because its white-gray Virginia freestone contrasted strikingly with the red brick of nearby buildings.
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/4937/washgwcornerstone0so.jpg
Okay, I confess, this is some mural of Washington laying the US Capitol's cornerstone in his Masonic regalia with Masonic ceremony. I expect the White House ceremony was probably identical.
The city of Washington was created to replace Philadelphia as the nation's capital because of its geographical position in the center of the existing new republic. The states of Maryland and Virginia ceded land around the Potomac River to form the District of Columbia, and work began on Washington in 1791
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/6009/washf22oa.jpg
French architect Charles L'Enfant designed the area's radical layout, full of dozens of circles, crisscross avenues, and plentiful parks.
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/3792/washmc5bs.jpg
Some people (who don't have enough to do) enjoy finding hidden patterns and images in signs, symbols and the lay-out of Washington. Here we see a Knights Templar cross imbedded in the streets around the White House...ooooh, scarrrrry! :D
In 1792, work began on the neoclassical White House building at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue under the guidance of Irish American architect James Hoban, whose design was influenced by Leinster House in Dublin and by a building sketch in James Gibbs' Book of Architecture. President George Washington chose the site.
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/9489/wash3a13205r9fv.jpg
One of Hoban's houseplan sheets
On November 1, President John Adams was welcomed into the executive mansion. His wife, Abigail, wrote about their new home: "I pray heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house, and on all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but wise men ever rule under this roof!"
In 1814, during the War of 1812, the White House was set on fire along with the U.S. Capitol by British soldiers in retaliation for the burning of government buildings in Canada by U.S. troops.
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/2512/wash3b51941r5mb.jpg
Burned out shell of the White House after the Brits burned it late in the War of 1812.
The burned-out building was subsequently rebuilt and enlarged under the direction of James Hoban, who added east and west terraces to the main building, along with a semicircular south portico and a colonnaded north portico. The smoke-stained stone walls were painted white. Work was completed on the White House in the 1820s.
Back in the day, folks could just mosey on up and be admitted for a look around. It is a little harder now, but still worth the hassle if you get a chance while in DC. One of your correspondent's fondest memories is taking a wide-eyed little ten year-old daughter on the White House tour.
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/739/washvc843fy.jpg
Immediately following Andy Jackson's first inauguration in 1849, "Old Hickory" hosted a reception bash at the White House attended by thousands of ordinary folks. It almost got out of control as the limitless whisky provided began to have its effect. They finally decided to haul the liquor barrels out to the lawns and the folks moved outside, saving the carpets, furniture and drapes from further damage from all the muddy boots, seegars and puking. :eek:
Major restoration occurred during the administration of President Harry Truman, and Truman lived across the street for several years in Blair House.
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/545/washphoto51yh.jpg
Interior renovation in progress during the Truman administration. They basically gutted the interior, removing all the timbers used in the first rebuilding installed after the Brits burned the place in 1814. The White House was a veritable termite fest and there was a great deal of wood rot as well. They replaced the interior wood frame with steel framing.
Since 1995, Pennsylvania Avenue between the White House and Lafayette Square has been closed to vehicular traffic for security reasons. Today, more than a million tourists visit the White House annually. It is the oldest federal building in the nation's capital.
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/9589/washwhite20house20far9xe.jpg
http://img369.imageshack.us/img369/4169/insane7zo8iz.jpg