The White House, a photo from Washington, West

Photographer's Note

This photo was taken during The White House Garden Tour this fall. Twice a year the grounds are open to the public for Spring and Fall Tours. The White House Grounds cover just over 18 acres. The gardens are the oldest continually maintained in the United States.

The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States. Every President except George Washington has lived in the White House. It is the only building in the world that serves as the office and residence of a head of state as well as a museum open to the public.

Irish architect James Hoban抯 design, based on British country houses, was chosen for the presidential mansion in 1792, and construction was completed in 1800. In August 1814, British forces burned the building. Only the sandstone exterior and interior brickwork survived. Under Hoban抯 supervision, the White House was rebuilt and painted white in time for incoming President James Monroe. The first fence was built by Thomas Jefferson in 1808 to keep out wandering livestock. Since 1965, a black a black iron fence surrounds the White House grounds.

pajaran, No_One has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

dkmurphys (79209) 2015-10-23 0:09

Hi Betty,
Simple and attractive capture of this iconic American symbol. Good contrasts and colors, well seen.

Daniel

No_One (4) 2015-10-23 1:11

Hi Betty
Very nice view of this iconic house, you captured it under perfect light and with a very beautiful sky behind . It is most unusual to see the people filling the foreground. Interesting note too, I am a fan of James Hobans work and I know that the facade of the white house was based on Leinster House in Dublin which is today the seat of the Irish parliament! I went to school in a place called Belcamp college and the round room there was the inspiration for the oval office. Salt that great house was destroyed by vandalism a few years ago, so the only private house built by Hoban in Ireland is now a ruined memory . Great photo and note
Cheers
Noel

batalay (41261) 2015-11-22 13:29

Hello Betty,

This photo was posted exactly a month ago, and unhappily I had missed it. You had a beautiful day in October, with enough wind for the flag to wave majestically, and for the crowd to add scale and color to the building. Thank you for sharing this superb photo and the history of the White House.

During the summer of 1972, when Richard Nixon was the President, I was sitting at the spot where you took this photo. I was there to do a drawing, but in perusing my gallery of "architectural portraits," I just realized the drawing was never posted.

Warmest regards and Happy Thanksgiving,

Bulent