After President George Washington selected the location for the presidential residence in the new capital city of Washington, D.C., its cornerstone was laid on this date in 1792. Irish American architect James Hoban oversaw the design of the neoclassical building at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. President John Adams in 1800 became the first president to reside in the building, which History.com says “soon became known as the ‘White House’ because its white-gray Virginia freestone contrasted strikingly with the red brick of nearby buildings.”
It was reported in 2024 that about 10,000 people a week visited the White House, though we’d note that as of when this edition of qAM is being finalized, it appears to currently be closed to new public tours.
