This map showing the plan for the city of Washington, D.C. was published by John Reid (also referred to as I. Reid) around 1795, during George Washington's presidency. Though President Washington asked French-born architect Pierre Charles L'Enfant to design the new capital, L'Enfant clashed with many important stakeholders, including Thomas Jefferson, and eventually resigned his position. City planners consequently implemented the plan of surveyor Andrew Ellicott, depicted in this map. Ellicott's design very closely mirrored that of his predecessor, but L'Enfant did not receive any credit or payment for his contribution. Renewed interest in beautifying the nation's capital in the early 20th century, however, led to the revitalization of L'Enfant's vision, especially his plan for a "public walk," which became the National Mall.

This elevation drawing was created by Benjamin Henry Latrobe in 1807. The architectural drawing shows an east view of the White House, with guests entering and departing the house from the proposed North and South Porticos. The North and South Porticos were not part of James Hoban's original 1792 design for the White House. Although this drawing anticipates the prominent use of columns on the North Portico (completed ca. 1829-1820) and South Portico (completed 1824), it does not reflect the appearance of the North and South Porticos as they were constructed.

This plan suggested a proposed expansion for the Executive Mansion attributed to First Lady Caroline Harrison around 1891. Compiled and drawn by architect Frederick Dale Owen, the plan proposes the addition of a private central court enclosed by historic and official wings as well as a series of greenhouses and conservatories housing palm gardens and a lily pond. While this proposal never came to be realized, the plan anticipates President Theodore Roosevelt's construction of the East and West Wings in 1902.

This photograph is of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy surveying the Lafayette Square reconstruction plans with architect John Carl Warnecke. With the support of Mrs. Kennedy, Warnecke designed the facades to resemble townhouses. The Lafayette Square plans were a part of a compromise to accommodate the need for new federal buildings while retaining the historic character of the formerly residential neighborhood. Robert L. Knudsen took this photograph on October 17, 1962 at the General Services Administration building in Washington, D.C.

This architectural drawing of the entrance hall doors to Decatur House was created by Benjamin Henry Latrobe in January 1818. The drawing also depicts the door elevation and reflected ceiling. Latrobe is best known as the architect who designed the United States Capitol, St. John's Church, Decatur House in Lafayette Square, the White House East and West Terraces, and the Madison state rooms. He was also the chief engineer for the U.S. Navy. Completed in 1818, Decatur House was the third building on Lafayette Square and its first private residence. Decatur House was designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe, the architect of the Capitol and several other famous buildings, for Commodore Stephen Decatur and his wife, Susan. Tragically, in 1820 Stephen Decatur was mortally wounded during a duel and his widow Susan subsequently rented out the house to foreign ministers and several secretaries of state. The house was eventually sold and passed through several hands, including the Gadsby family, the U.S. Subsistence Bureau, and the Beale family. Marie Ogle Beale, a society maven, and the last owner left the house to National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1961. In 2010, the White House Historical Association and National Trust entered into a co-stewardship arrangement of Decatur House.

This is the unfolded internal page of a program created for a public White House gardens and grounds tour during the administration of President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981). The program includes a greeting from First Lady Rosalynn Carter, a map of the South Grounds including sites of presidential tree plantings, and information about the history of the gardens and their uses. Before the late-19th century, private citizens wandered the White House South Grounds like a public park, but by the Calvin Coolidge administration (1923-1929), the grounds were closed to the public due to security and privacy concerns. However, just as First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy opened the White House to the public with controlled public tours, in 1972 First Lady Pat Nixon established the tradition of hosting White House garden tours. During the anticipated event, which expanded to being held two weekends a year, lucky members of the public have a chance to view the first family's private gardens. To view the complete program, see 1127095. This program is part of a personal collection belonging to former White House Executive Chef Henry Haller. Haller served five first families and their distinguished guests as executive chef of the White House from 1966-1987.

This architectural sketch of the North Front of the White House was drawn by Samuel Blodget, Jr., a merchant and amateur architect and artist. A fainter inscription, possibly added by a different individual, indicates the sketch was made "in the Presidency of Jefferson and Madison" or circa 1800. Blodget added the carved laurel branches, which were not in place at the time of the sketch.

This architectural sketch of the west end of the White House was drawn in 1810 by Samuel Blodget, Jr., a merchant and amateur architect and artist.

This black and white drawing is of the White House from the southeast, with the South Portico rising over a field where a cow grazes. Two figures lean on a fence near the base of the steps leading from the State floor to the ground.

This plan was drawn by James Hoban circa his 1793-1794 designs for the White House. Hoban, an Irish-born architect, won the competition to design the President's House. The competition was announced by then-Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and the prize for the winner was $500 or a medal of equal value. This drawing captures an initial plan for the North Front of the White House. Winfield Parks photographed this plan in 1962.

This plan was drawn by James Hoban circa his 1793-1794 designs for the White House. Hoban, an Irish-born architect, won the competition to design the President's House. The competition was announced by then-Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and the prize for the winner was $500 or a medal of equal value. This drawing captures an initial plan for the North Front of the White House. Winfield Parks photographed this plan in 1962.

This plan was drawn by James Hoban circa his 1793-1794 designs for the White House. Hoban, an Irish-born architect, won the competition to design the President's House. The competition was announced by then-Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and the prize for the winner was $500 or a medal of equal value. This drawing captures an initial plan for the North Front of the White House. Winfield Parks photographed this plan in 1962.

This drawing by Dahl Taylor is of the Stone Yard at Tiber Creek. Here the stones were graded for quality, and selected for the walls or ornamental carvings. It is one in a series of eleven drawings illustrating the journey of the stones used to build the White House from Aquia Quarry to the building site.

This drawing by Dahl Taylor is of a stonemason carving a piece of exterior molding at the building site of the White House. It is one in a series of eleven drawings illustrating the journey of the stones used to build the White House from Aquia Quarry to the building site.

This drawing by Dahl Taylor is of a stonemason further splitting the stone hewed from a rock formation. The stonemason taps the inserted nine iron rods or “points” with a small mallet to separate the stone. It is one in a series of eleven drawings illustrating the journey of the stones used to build the White House from Aquia Quarry to the building site.

This drawing of the White House groin vaulting was done by artist Dahl Taylor. The groin vaulting and a support system of arches was originally constructed in the old basement of the Executive Mansion by stonemasons under the supervision of Collen Williamson and Jeremiah Kale. The original vaulting survived until the Harry S. Truman renovation from 1948-1952.

This elevation shows Benjamin Henry Latrobe's original plans for the basement entrance on the north side of the White House. Situated beneath the raised platform that supported the main entrance, this basement doorway included Collen Williamson's flanking rustication around the door and keystone. This design feature was widely popular in the 18th Century.

This drawing by Dahl Taylor depicts two stonemasons finishing the details on decorative stones for the White House. One stonemason smooths a stone cornice with his mallet and chisel. The other carves an acanthus leaf onto a window console. It is one in a series of eleven drawings illustrating the journey of the stones used to build the White House from Aquia quarry to the building site.

This drawing by Dahl Taylor is of a stonemason smoothing a section of a stone cornice with his mallet and chisel. It is one in a series of eleven drawings illustrating the journey of the stones used to build the White House from Aquia quarry to the building site.

This drawing by Dahl Taylor depicts a stonemason tracing a guilloche [border], or braid onto a piece of stone using a template.[needs a space] It is one in a series of eleven drawings illustrating the journey of the stones used to build the White House from Aquia Quarry to the building site.

This drawing by Dahl Taylor is of stonemasons smoothing and polishing the stone by rubbing it with a [delete a] another stone or using a flat chisel. It is one in a series of eleven drawings illustrating the journey of the stones used to build the White House from Aquia Quarry to the building site.

This drawing by Dahl Taylor is of a stonemason refining the volute on one of the heroic pilasters. A pilaster is an ornamental architectural feature designed to look like supporting column. It is one in a series of eleven drawings illustrating the journey of the stones used to build the White House from Aquia Quarry to the building site.

This drawing by Dahl Taylor is of three workers delivering stone from the quarry to the building site by ferrying it up the Potomac River and into Tiber Creek. It is one in a series of eleven drawings illustrating the journey of the stones used to build the White House from Aquia Quarry to the building site.

This drawing by Dahl Taylor is of three workers splitting the stone in Aquia quarry. One man holds the “drill”—a threaded wrought-iron spike—while the other two strike the drill with their stone hammers. After alternating strikes, the seated man turns the drill several times, boring down as far as possible, and the striking resumes. When the process was complete, they would go down the line and repeat the same steps with a new hole until the stone was separated from the rock formation. It is one in a series of eleven drawings illustrating the journey of the stones used to build the White House from Aquia Quarry to the building site.

This drawing by Dahl Taylor is of workers loading the stone from the quarry onto an oxcart to[transport to a stone boat for delivery to the building site. It is one in a series of eleven drawings illustrating the journey of the stones used to build the White House from Aquia Quarry to the building site.