enslaved labor

Building the White House

Hoban’s 1793 north elevation drawing reduced the building from three to two floors because of a concern that there was not enough stone at the government quarry to complete both the Capitol and the President’s House. – White House Historical Association, Original Plans Courtesy of the Maryland Historical Society Title image: This drawing has also been used in the title image of this article and has been edited for clarity of viewing

By Lina Mann, Historian, The White House Historical Association “I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves.” – First Lady Michelle Obama, 2016 When First Lady Michelle Obama delivered this powerful statement during a speech…