For almost two hundred years, the White House has stood as a symbol of the Presidency, the United States government, and the American people. Its history, and the history of the nation's capital, began when President George Washington signed an Act of Congress in December of 1790 declaring that the federal government would reside in a district "not exceeding ten miles square……on the river Potomac." President Washington, together with city planner Pierre L'Enfant, chose the site for the new residence, which is now 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. As preparations began for the new federal city, a competition was held to find a builder of the "President's House." Nine proposals were submitted, and Irish-born architect James Hoban won a gold medal for his practical and handsome design.Construction began when the first cornerstone was laid in October of 1792. Although President Washington oversaw the construction of the house, he never lived in it. It was not until 1800, when the White House was nearly completed, that its first residents, President John Adams and his wife, Abigail, moved in. Since that time, each President has made his own changes and additions. The White House is, nt's private home. It is also the only private residence of a head of state that is open to the public, free of charge.The White House has a unique and fascinating history. It survived a fire at the hands of the British in 1814 (during the war of 1812) and another fire in the West Wing in 1929, while Herbert Hoover was President. Throughout much of Harry S. Truman's presidency, the interior of the house, with the exception of the third floor, was completely gutted and renovated while the Trumans lived at Blair House, right across Pennsylvania Avenue. Nonetheless, the exterior stone walls are those first put in place when the White House was constructed two centuries ago.Presidents can express their individual style in how they decorate some parts of the house and in how they receive the public during their stay. Thomas Jefferson held the first Inaugural open house in 1805. Many of those who attended the swearing-in ceremony at the U.S. Capitol simply followed him home, where he greeted them in the Blue Room. President Jefferson also opened the house for public tours, and it has remained open, except during wartime, ever since. In addition, he welcomed visitors to annual receptions on New Year’s Day and on the Fourth of July. In 1829, a horde of 20,000 Inaugural callers forced President Andrew Jackson to flee to the safety of a hotel while, on the lawn, aides filled washtubs with orange juice and whiskey to lure the mob out of the mud-tracked White House.After Abraham Lincoln's presidency, Inaugural crowds became far too large for the White House to accommodate them comfortably. However, not until Grover Cleveland's first presidency did this unsafe practice change. He held a presidential review of the troops from a flag-draped grandstand built in front of the White House. This procession evolved into the official Inaugural parade we know today. Receptions on New Year's Day and the Fourth of July continued to be held until the early 1930s.President Clinton's open house on January 21, 1993 renewed a venerable White House Inaugural tradition. Two thousand citizens, selected by lottery, were greeted in the Diplomatic Reception Room by President and Mrs. Clinton and Vice President and Mrs. Gore.2006-2007年，美国建筑师协会评选出来了美国民众最喜欢的建筑。
评选方法是会员建筑师和民众投票相结合。
在前150名中，纽约市独占32个，华盛顿有17个。
在前十名中，华盛顿有六个。
1. Empire State Building 帝国大厦，纽约建筑师：William F. Lamb建筑风格：装饰艺术官方网站：/地址：350 Fifth Avenue地铁：N, Q, R线到34th-Herald Square下。
2，3， A，C，E线到 34th Street/Penn Station下，向东走两个街区到5th Avenue。
B，D，F，PATH 线到 34th Street/Avenue of the Americas下，向东走一个街区到5th Avenue。
全年开放。
每天从早上8点到临晨2点开放。
游客可以到86楼的观景台360度地欣赏纽约的全景。
门票:：成人(13岁以上)$19.45，62岁以上老人：17.61，6-12岁的儿童$13.92Art Deco(装饰艺术)建筑风格的帝国大厦是纽约标志性的建筑物，它在美国建筑师协会公布的美国人最喜爱的建筑中排名第一位。
建于大萧条时期的大厦的建设速度和技术在当时是具有划时代的意义的。
所有的建筑构件全部都在宾西法尼亚的工厂里预装配好，然后运到纽约“搭积木”。
每周的建设速度是4层半，在当时是非常了不起的。
1931年完工的时候，102层381米高的大楼成为纽约最高的大楼，直到1972年世贸中心的双塔建成之前帝国大厦一直是全纽约最高的建筑。
2001年911事件发生，世贸双塔被毁，帝国大厦又夺回之一头衔。
它现在是美国第三高的建筑(第一和第二高的都在芝加哥)。
由于大厦建成的时候正好是大萧条的时期，再加上它的位置距离公交设施比较远，所与入住率很低，被戏称为“Empty State Building”，好在大厦86楼的观景台从游客身上赚了不少钱，总算是减少了运营的损失。
从1931年至今，已经有超过一亿名游客来到大厦的观景台参观。
目前每年到帝国大厦86楼参观的游客大约有350万。
在帝国大厦内有1000多家公司，2万多名雇员，是美国继五角大楼之后的第二大单体办公楼，甚至拥有自己的邮政编码：10118。