On October 13, 1792, the cornerstone of what is now the White House was laid in Washington, D.C. The new building was planned as the official residence for the U.S. president. Irish-born architect James Hoban designed it, and enslaved and free laborers helped construct it. The White House later burned in the War of 1812 and was rebuilt on the same site. Over time, it has been expanded and renovated, but the core structure still traces back to the 1790s. The building became both a workplace and a symbol of the American presidency.
