Celebrating the White House

On this day in 1792, the cornerstone was 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.  In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt made the name official when he had "The White House" engraved on his stationery.

To learn more about the White House & its history, try the following resources:

• Inside America's Most Famous Home - Lecture (C-SPAN)
• Inside the White House Video Series (White House)
• The White House in 3-D (The White House Museum)
• White House (National Park Service)