As the official residence of the president since 1800, the White House has become a symbol of the presidency of the United States of America and one of most widely recognized buildings in the world. This month, discover the rich history of the house and its occupants:

•	George Washington is the only president who never lived in the White House. He occupied presidential homes in Philadelphia and New York before the capital settled in Washington, D.C.
•	In 1792 a competition was held to collect designs for a presidential residence. Among those who submitted drawings was Thomas Jefferson, but the winner was Irish American architect James Hoban, who offered a plan for a Georgian mansion in the Palladian style.
•	During the War of 1812, the White House was burned by the British. President James Madison and his wife, Dolley Madison, were forced to flee the city, but not before the First Lady directed the removal of precious holdings from the mansion, including the famous Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington.
•	Following the inauguration of Andrew Jackson, the "people's president," a frenetic throng of Jackson supporters followed him into the White House, causing thousands of dollars in damage as they scrambled for refreshments.
•	In 1878, first lady Lucy Hayes and President Rutherford B. Hayes sponsored the first Easter egg roll (right) on the White House lawn. It has since become an annual event.
•	A four-year renovation of the White House began in 1948. During this time Harry S. Truman and first lady Bess Truman lived across the street in a residence known as Blair House.
•	During the presidency of John F. Kennedy, first lady Jacqueline Kennedy (right) worked to restore the White House to its original elegance and to protect its holdings. She led a televised tour of the mansion in 1962.