Foralmosttwohundredyears，theWhiteHousehasstoodasasymbolofthePresidency，theUnitedStatesgovernment，andtheAmericanpeople.Itshistory，andthehistoryofthenation’scapital，beganwhenPresidentGeorgeWashingtonsignedanActofCongressinDecemberof1790declaringthatthefederalgovernmentwouldresideinadistrict"notexceedingtenmilessquare……ontheriverPotomac."PresidentWashington，togetherwithcityplannerPierreL’Enfant，chosethesiteforthenewresidence，whichisnow1600PennsylvaniaAvenue.Aspreparationsbeganforthenewfederalcity，acompetitionwasheldtofindabuilderofthe"President’sHouse."Nineproposalsweresubmitted，andIrish-bornarchitectJamesHobanwonagoldmedalforhispracticalandhandsomedesign.
    ConstructionbeganwhenthefirstcornerstonewaslaidinOctoberof1792.AlthoughPresidentWashingtonoversawtheconstructionofthehouse，heneverlivedinit.Itwasnotuntil1800，whentheWhiteHousewasnearlycompleted，thatitsfirstresidents，PresidentJohnAdamsandhiswife，Abigail，movedin.Sincethattime，eachPresidenthasmadehisownchangesandadditions.TheWhiteHouseis，nt’sprivatehome.Itisalsotheonlyprivateresidenceofaheadofstatethatisopentothepublic，freeofcharge.