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Secondary sourceArtifact1800

White House

James Hoban · 1800

The official residence of the U.S. president, which Abigail Adams was the first First Lady to occupy, in its unfinished state in 1800.

She was the first First Lady to live in the still-unfinished mansion in 1800, famously drying laundry in the East Room.

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The south facade of the White House in Washington, D.C., a white neoclassical mansion with a curved portico of columns and a balcony, a US flag on a pole atop the roof, a fountain and red and purple flower beds on the lawn, and blooming trees on both sides.
The White House, Washington, D.C., designed by James Hoban, completed 1800.

About this source

What it is

The White House, at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., is the official residence and workplace of the U.S. president. Designed by architect James Hoban in the Neoclassical style, it was built between 1792 and 1800.

Why it matters

Abigail Adams was the first First Lady to live in the mansion, moving in with her husband John Adams in 1800 while it was still unfinished. She famously hung laundry to dry in the East Room because the building lacked proper facilities. Her brief residence there marks the very start of the White House's long history as home to every president since.

Look closer

  • What might it have felt like to move into a grand but unfinished building?
  • Why do you think Abigail Adams's practical solution, like drying laundry indoors, has become a memorable historical detail?
  • How has the building changed since 1800, and what does that tell you about how the presidency itself has changed?

This artifact is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Abigail Adams on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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