The 1814 Burning of the White House: History, Reconstruction, and Hidden Facts
From British retaliation in the War of 1812 to architectural evolution, square footage, and lesser-known presidential-era details.
- British troops burned the White House on August 24, 1814, in retaliation for the U.S. burning of York, Canada.
- Only the sandstone walls survived; the building was later painted white to hide scorch marks and rebuilt by 1817.
- Dolley Madison saved a copy of the George Washington portrait; British soldiers ate the Madisons' meal before torching the house.
- Designed by James Hoban after Leinster House; officially named the White House in 1901; expansions include the West and East Wings.
- Main residence is 55,000 sq ft with 132 rooms; full complex reaches about 70,000 sq ft including wings and outbuildings.
The 1814 British Burning and Its Causes
On August 24, 1814, during the War of 1812, British troops entered Washington, D.C., and set fire to the President's House along with the Capitol and other public buildings. The attack came as direct retaliation for American forces burning and looting the city of York (now Toronto) and its parliament buildings the year before.
The British advance followed the one-sided Battle of Bladensburg, where American militia largely fled the field. President James Madison had already left the capital, but British soldiers sat down to the meal that had been prepared for the Madisons before using furniture and books as kindling to torch the interior, leaving only the sandstone exterior walls standing.
Dolley Madison's Escape and the Saved Portrait
As British forces approached Washington on August 24, 1814, President James Madison had already left the capital. Dolley Madison remained at the President's House, directing staff to gather cabinet papers and other key documents for removal before the British arrived.
She also ordered the removal of the large Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington that hung in the state dining room. Though the version she rescued was a copy—the original had been taken down earlier—the painting was cut from its frame and carried to safety as she and her party finally departed.
Architectural Origins and Early Construction
Irish architect James Hoban designed the residence, drawing loosely on Leinster House in Dublin for its overall form and proportions. Work began in 1792 during George Washington’s presidency, with the cornerstone laid that October on the site chosen along the Potomac. Washington oversaw early planning and funding through Congress but never occupied the structure, as construction dragged on for eight years amid funding shortfalls and supply issues. John Adams became the first president to move in, arriving in November 1800 while plaster walls were still damp and many rooms remained unfinished.
Reconstruction, Fireproofing, and Name Change
After the 1814 fire, reconstruction of the President's House began promptly under architect James Hoban and reached completion in 1817. The project incorporated added fireproofing measures to protect the structure from future threats, while retaining the surviving sandstone exterior walls that had been scorched during the British attack.
The distinctive North and South Porticoes were added decades later under different presidents, enhancing the building's formal entrances. It was not until 1901 that Theodore Roosevelt officially named the residence the White House by placing that title on official stationery; prior to this it had been known as the President's House or Executive Mansion.
Later Additions: Oval Office, Wings, and Secret Features
The Oval Office was added in 1909 during William Howard Taft’s presidency as part of the West Wing expansion, because the main house had grown too crowded with staff. During World War II, Franklin D. Roosevelt had a secret underground bunker built beneath the East Wing.
James Hoban’s original plans for the residence included a large ceremonial space that was never built.
Unusual White House Uses and Wartime Details
During World War I, Edith Wilson turned the South Lawn into pasture for a flock of sheep whose wool was sheared and sold to support the Red Cross, easing wartime textile shortages while the flock grazed in plain view of the public. The same lawn had already hosted other makeshift uses, but the sheep experiment stood out for its direct tie to national supply needs.
Staff growth repeatedly forced outward expansion. By 1909 the main residence had become so crowded with clerks and aides that President Taft ordered construction of the West Wing; the new structure housed the first Oval Office and freed living quarters upstairs. In World War II, Franklin Roosevelt added a secret underground bunker beneath the East Wing for command operations during air-raid alerts.
- FDR bunker under East Wing (WWII)
- Sheep pasture on South Lawn (WWI)
- West Wing addition (1909) for staff overflow
Square Footage of the Residence and Extensions
The Executive Residence—the core of the White House—spans roughly 55,000 square feet across six floors. Rebuilt after the 1814 fire, it contains 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, and 28 fireplaces.
The West Wing adds about 9,000 square feet, primarily for staff offices and the Oval Office, while the East Wing measures around 4,500 square feet. Combined with smaller outbuildings and the connected Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the full complex reaches nearly 70,000 square feet of interior space.
Sources
- War of 1812 retaliation for York burning, August 24 1814 date
- 55,000 sq ft residence, 9,000 West Wing, 4,500 East Wing figures
- James Hoban design, 1792 start, 1901 official naming, 1909 Oval Office
