White House
White House
President's Park
1100 Ohio Drive, SW
Washington. DC 20242
202-208-1631 (White House Visitor Center)
President's Park and White
House Visitor Center Web Site
The White House has been the residence and office of the Presidents of the United States since November 1800, and it has become the symbol of the Presidency. The cornerstone was laid October 13, 1792, on the site selected by George Washington and included in the L'Enfant Plan.
Transferred Aug. 10, 1933, to National Park Service. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, the direct legal successor of three Federal Commissioners, who were appointed by the President under act of July 16, 1790, and directed initial construction. Their authority developed through acts of May 1, 1802; April 29,1816; March 3,1849; March 2,1867; July 1,1898; Feb. 26. 1925; March 3, 1933; and Executive Order of June 10, 1933. Under act of Sept. 22, 1961, "the White House ... shall be administered pursuant to the act of August 25, 1916" and supplementary and amendatory acts. Acreage- 18.07, all federal.
| VISITATION | 1.2 million. Highest in March, April, June, July, October & December. Lowest in January and February. |
| LOCATION | White House Visitor Center 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC |
| TELEPHONE | (202) 208-1631 |
| OPERATING HOURS | Daily; 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Closed on November 26, December 25, & January 1 |
| CLIMATE | Summers generally hot and humid. Winters are generally cold with variable precipitation |
| DIRECTIONS | The White House Visitor Center is located at 1450 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, between 14th and 15th Streets on Pennsylvania Avenue. The Visitor Center is inside the north end of the Department of Commerce Building. (Map) |
| TRANSPORTATION | The closest METRO subway stops to the White House Visitor Center are the Metro Center (red) and Federal Triangle (blue & orange). Public transportation is highly recommended. No parking available on the premises. |
| FEES, COSTS RATES | Free. White House Tours tickets are required during peak seasons. |
| RECOMMENDED ACTIVITIES/PARK USE | Visiting various exhibits, viewing a 30 minutes video about the White House, and ranger-led programs. |
| BASIC VISIT RECOMMENDATIONS | Most guidebooks recommend at least thirty minutes to visit the site. Call ahead at (202) 208-1631 to determine if the White House will be open during your visit and ask if tickets are required. Please visit our web site for more updated information on White House tours. |
| SPECIAL EVENTS/PROGRAMS | Various types of interpretive programs and educational programs are presented at the site. Call ahead for more information. |
| VISITOR IMPACTS | Information on White House closings is available by calling the White House Visitor Office 24-hour tour recording at 202-456-7041. At times the White House may need to close with little notice due to the official functions. |
| ADJACENT VISITOR ATTRACTIONS | National Aquarium, Washington Monument, Ronald Reagan Building and National Museum of American History |
| ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | For park information, please write to President's Park, 1100 Ohio Drive, SW, Washington, DC 20242 or call (202) 208-1631. |
| OTHER WEB SITES | The White House |