White House

The White House is a mansion in Washington, DC. Its cornerstone was laid in 1792 and construction was completed in 1800, at which point it became the official residence and office of the President of the United States.

The White House was used in this capacity by every President from John Adams to James G. Blaine, though it was briefly abandoned by President James Madison after it was burned by British forces in 1814.

During the Second Mexican War, the White House came under Confederate artillery fire, along with the rest of Washington. President Blaine evacuated the seat of government to Philadelphia, where he established his residence in Powel House. The US capital has been there ever since, and although Washington remains the de jure capital of the United States, its government buildings, including the White House, are generally used only for ceremonial occasions.

President Upton Sinclair stayed in the White House while attending the funeral of his predecessor, President Theodore Roosevelt, in Washington. He described the experience as "like living in a museum."