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 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 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 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 of a garden plan was made by Sharon Bradley-Papp around 1996. It highlights the trees planted by presidents and first ladies on the North and South Grounds of the White House. The more than three dozen commemoratives represent only a small portion of the White House trees, but they are among the most venerable.

This letter from President Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Henry Latrobe is dated May 22, 1807. In it, Jefferson sketches a decorative landscape for the White House Grounds. Thomas Jefferson was closely involved with the construction of the White House in its earliest days. Latrobe is best known as the architect who designed the U.S. Capitol, St. John's Church, and the Decatur House in Lafayette Square, the White House colonnades, and the Madison state rooms. He was also the chief engineer for the U.S. Navy.

This sketch of the White House Grounds was drawn by Thomas Jefferson in the early 1800's. It depicts his plan for the White House Grounds, and features his proposed excavations for an extended west wing.

This sketch was included in a letter to President Thomas Jefferson from Benjamin Henry Latrobe sent in 1807. It depicts his ongoing landscape projects at the White House. The earth was too high for the extension of the west wing and needed to be excavated. The South Grounds were also being enclosed by an irregular semicircular stone wall. Latrobe is best known as the architect who designed the U.S. Capitol, St. John's Church, and the Decatur House in Lafayette Square, the White House colonnades, and the Madison state rooms. He was also the chief engineer for the U.S. Navy.

This drawing of the White House was created by Benjamin Henry Latrobe in 1817. It shows the elevation of the south front of the White House. St. John's Church appears over the right hand, behind the east colonnade. Latrobe is best known as the architect who designed the U.S. Capitol, St. John's Church, and the Decatur House in Lafayette Square, the White House colonnades, and the Madison state rooms. He was the chief engineer for the U.S. Navy.

This list was written by James Hoban, designer and architect of the White House, to the Commissioners of the Federal City on October 30, 1792. The list outlines Hoban's preliminary specifications for the President's House. Hoban lists, among other things, his supply specifications for the flooring, scaffolding, joists, and girders. Following President George Washington's wish, the President's House would be a house of stone. Please see images 1113630 and 1113628 for parts I and III.

This elevation plan of the North Front was completed as a part of the 1988-1992 Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) of the sandstone White House walls. The survey, which began during the Jimmy Carter administration and lasted more than twenty years, removed more than 30 coats of white paint and preserved the sandstone walls that dated back to the construction of the Executive Mansion. Though the layers of paint protected the delicate sandstone, they also obscured the intricate stone carvings. The survey also allowed for experts to study and record the stonework done so many years before. The elevation plan is a precise, stone-by-stone scale drawing as the house appeared in 1830, before the addition of the North Portico.

This full elevation of the south facade of the White House shows the pattern for the Aquia sandstone used in that facade. It was commissioned by the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS).

This landscape drawing was created as the Civil War ended in 1865 and captures the White House Grounds as they likely were during Abraham Lincoln's administration. Of note are the eight plots to the west (or left) of the White House. Collectively, these eight plots were over an acre and were the grounds of the White House kitchen garden at the time.

This is a botanical drawing of a common cranesbill from Jacob Bigelow's American Medical Botany, the first comprehensive study of the medicinal properties of native plants. American Medical Botany is one of several tomes President John Quincy Adams would have consulted on botany, forestry, gardening. Adams would apply this knowledge to the White House Grounds.

This is a botanical drawing of an oak tree from John Evelyn's 1664 masterwork Sylva: A Discourse of Forest Trees, one of the earliest published texts on forestry. This is one of the many tomes President John Quincy Adams would have consulted on botany, forestry, gardening which he applied to his plans for the White House grounds.

This lithograph is a survey of Washington D.C. created in 1792 and then reprinted in 1893 by the Norris-Peters Company. The sketch shows the areas of the District and who owned the land prior to the development of the capitol city. Edward Pierce owned apple orchards and tobacco plantations on the area that now is the North Grounds. The South Grounds was owned by a tobacco farmer named David Burns.

This drawing shows the location of the original wooden fence built during the Jefferson administration around the white house in relation to the modern layout of the house and grounds.

This is a botanical drawing of a thorn apple from Jacob Bigelow's American Medical Botany, the first comprehensive study of the medicinal properties of native plants. American Medical Botany is one of the many tomes President John Quincy Adams would have consulted on botany, forestry, gardening which he applied to his plans for the White House grounds.

This drawing of the grounds of the White House is attributed to A. B. Mullett, also known as Alfred Mullett, and shows a plan for reshaping the south and north grounds as well as creating a building in the center of Lafayette Square and the location of the planned State, War and Navy department building, which is now the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Most of the plan was never implemented.

This plan is architect A. B. Mullett's original design for the east entrance to the Executive Mansion. It called for granite balustrades to flank the steps, but a low iron fence was substituted to keep costs down. Mullett was also known as Alfred Mullett.

This drawing is part of Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr.'s plan for improving and unifying the grounds of the White House while preserving the historic trees and other elements. Olmsted had worked with Charles Follen McKim during President Theodore Roosevelt's renovations to the White House. President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked Olmsted to return to redesign the grounds.

This is a botanical drawing of a mountain laurel from Jacob Bigelow's American Medical Botany, the comprehensive study of the medicinal properties of native plants. American Medical Botany is one of several tomes President John Quincy Adams would have consulted on botany, forestry, gardening. Adams would apply this knowledge to the White House Grounds.