White House - View of the North Side from Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Facts About the White House

• The address is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20500.
• George Washington and Pierre L’Enfant (Washington city planner) selected the site.
• Architect James Hoban’s design was selected from nine proposals.
• Construction began in late 1792.
• John Adams, the second president, was the first chief executive to occupy the White House when he and his wife Abigail moved there in 1800.
• In 1805 Thomas Jefferson held a public open house following his inauguration.
• There were fires in the White House in 1814 and 1929.
• The interior of the White House was reconstructed while Harry Truman was president.
• The stone exterior of the White House is the same as when it was originally constructed during the years 1792 to 1800.
• There are 132 rooms in the White House and 35 bathrooms.
• Although not apparent from the outside, the White House has 6 levels.
• The White House has been known by a variety of names including:
  • President’s Palace
  • Presidential Mansion
  • President’s House
  • Executive Mansion
  • White House – used officially by Theodore Roosevelt in 1901

Tours of the White House are generally conducted Monday through Saturday. A tour can be arranged by contacting the Member of Congress from your district. Citizens of countries other than the United States will need to contact their embassy in Washington DC in order to make arrangements for a tour.

White House - View of the South Side and the South Lawn from E Street NW

Both the north and south facing sides of the White House are easily recognizable. The north facing side appears on the back of the $20. The inauguration parade passes by this side of the White House, and this where official guests often arrive by car. The south facing side often appears in the news as the location where the president appears, often accompanied by various officials and dignitaries, and where ceremonies and events take place.

The White House is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, and the north side is visible from Pennsylvania Avenue. Click Here for Google Map showing the location of the sidewalk on Pennsylvania Avenue NW just in front of the White House. At this location you will be about 250 feet or 80 meters from the front of the White House.

Closest Metro Station (North Side): The Farragut West Metro Station and the McPherson Square Metro Station, both on the Blue and Orange Lines, are the nearest stations to the Pennsylvania Avenue side of the White House.

The south facing side of the White House and the south lawn is visible from E Street NW between South Place NW and East Executive Avenue NW. Click Here for Google Map showing the location of the sidewalk on E Street NW from which the south facing side of the White House and the south lawn are visible. At this location you will be about 750 feet or 230 meters from the White House and about three times further away from it than you will be on the Pennsylvania Avenue NW side.

Closest Metro Station (South Side): The Federal Triangle Metro Station on the Blue and Orange Lines is the nearest station to the E Street NW location from which the south facing side of the White House can be seen. At the same time, the Farragut West Metro Station and the McPherson Square Metro Station, both on the Blue and Orange Lines and the Metro Center Station on the Red, Blue and Orange Lines are all just slightly further away than the Federal Triangle Station.

Commodore John Barry Monument - Franklin Square Park - Washington, DC

John Barry served in the Continental Navy and fought in the Revolutionary War. He is known as the Father of the American Navy.

Sculpture at Top of Commodore John Barry Monument - Franklin Square Park - Washington, DC

The inscription at the bottom of the monument reads:

John Barry
Commodore United States Navy
Born County Wexford Ireland 1745
Died in Philadelphia 1803

This monument consists of a statute of Commodore Barry standing on top of a base of pink marble with steps of pink granite. The sculptor was John J. Boyle, and the standing figure was installed in 1914.

The base is adorned by the carved figure of a woman standing on the bow of a ship, an olive branch in her raised right hand. Her lowered left hand holds a shield and sword steady at her side. To her right at the same level as the sword and shield, an eagle standing on a branch of oak leaves gazes up at her.

This monument is located on the west side of the Franklin Square Park and right next to 14th Street NW and halfway between I and K Streets NW. Click Here for Google Map showing the location of the statue of Commodore John Barry.

Closest Metro Station: McPherson Square on the Blue and Orange Lines is the nearest Metro Station to Franklin Square.

Franklin Square Park - Franklin Square Sign Located Near the Intersection of 14th and K Streets, NW

Franklin Square is a park located in downtown Washington, DC. The park is mostly green open space with plenty of trees and one of DC’s least spectacular fountains right in the middle. The park was named after Benjamin Franklin.

Fountain Located in the Middle of Franklin Square Park

On the west side of the park and right next to 14th Street NW is a statute of Commodore John Barry.

The park is bordered on the east by 13th Street NW, on the south by I Street NW, on the west by 14th Street NW and on the north by K Street NW. Some who are paying close attention to the street names may conclude that the park fills two block between I and K Streets NW. But Washington has no J Street, so I and K Streets are only one block apart. Click Here for Google Map showing the location of Franklin Square Park in Washington DC.

Closest Metro Station: McPherson Square on the Blue and Orange Lines is the nearest Metro Station to Franklin Square.

Lost Symbol by Dan Brown: Franklin Square is mentioned in Chapters 90, 91, 92, 93, 95, 97, 99, 101, 102, 105, 106, 113, 115 and 126.