This detail photograph of the Willard Hotel's roof was taken by Bruce White for the White House Historical Association on May 17, 2014. Founded in 1847 the Willard Hotel has long and storied history. Every president since Franklin Pierce either visited the hotel or stayed as a guest. Other notable guests include the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Emily Dickinson, Walt Whitman, and the Japanese envoys who visited the United States in 1860. The current building opened in 1901 and is in the Second Empire style, which is characterized by a sloping mansard roof and ornate details.