Downtown in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Executive Office Building

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 25, 2020

1. Executive Office Building Marker

Inscription.

Executive Office Building. . Originally State, War, and Navy Departments Constructed 1871-1888, South Wing Ground broken June 1871 Completed December 1875, East Wing Ground broken July 1872 Completed April 1879, North Wing Ground broken July 1879 Completed December 1882, West and Central Wings Ground broken March 1884 Completed January 1888, Total construction time 17 years and 4 months. , On this site in 1871 stood the President's stables, the Old Navy Building designed in 1797 by George Hadfield and the Old War Building designed in 1818 by James Hoban as companions to the Treasury and State Buildings on the west side of the White House. The present building was constructed in four stages around the two-story public offices, as they were officially known, in order to continue their use until the respective wings were completed., At the demolition of "old war" in 1879 six columns from the entrance portico were used to decorate the Sheridan Gate entrance to Arlington National Cemetery., On July 3, 1930, through congressional action, the building name was officially changed to "Department of State Building.", In 1949 the building was officially named the Executive Office Building and is now occupied by the President's Executive Office staff. It had been vacated by Navy in 1918, the War Department in 1938, and the State Department in 1942., Two Presidents have had offices here: Herbert Hoover, December 26, 1929-April 30, 1930 and Richard Nixon 1969-1974; and five future presidents, Theodore Roosevelt, Assistant Secretary of the Navy; William Howard Taft, Secretary of War; Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Assistant Secretary of Navy; Lyndon B. Johnson, Vice-President; Gerald Ford, Vice President., The design is generally described as "second empire style" and the building is one of seven structures designed by the supervising architect in this style, beginning in 1869. Only the Executive Office Building and the Custom House and Post Office in St. Louis have survived., Supervising Architect Alfred Bult Mullett (1834-1890), Chief Designer Richard Von Ezdorf (1848-1926), Superintendent of Construction Colonel Thomas Lincoln Casey (1831-1896) Corps of Engineers, U.S.A., Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Originally
State, War, and Navy Departments
Constructed 1871-1888

South Wing
Ground broken June 1871
Completed December 1875

East Wing
Ground broken July 1872
Completed April 1879

North Wing
Ground broken July 1879
Completed December 1882

West and Central Wings
Ground broken March 1884
Completed January 1888

Total construction time 17 years and 4 months

On this site in 1871 stood the President's stables, the Old Navy Building designed in 1797 by George Hadfield and the Old War Building designed in 1818 by James Hoban as companions to the Treasury and State Buildings on the west side of the White House. The present building was constructed in four stages around the two-story public offices, as they were officially known, in order to continue their use until the respective wings were completed.

At the demolition of "old war" in 1879 six columns from the entrance portico were used to decorate the Sheridan Gate entrance to Arlington National Cemetery.

On July 3, 1930, through congressional action, the building name was officially changed to "Department of State Building."

In 1949 the building was officially named the Executive Office Building and is now occupied by the President's Executive Office staff. It had been vacated by Navy

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in 1918, the War Department in 1938, and the State Department in 1942.

Two Presidents have had offices here: Herbert Hoover, December 26, 1929-April 30, 1930 and Richard Nixon 1969-1974; and five future presidents, Theodore Roosevelt, Assistant Secretary of the Navy; William Howard Taft, Secretary of War; Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Assistant Secretary of Navy; Lyndon B. Johnson, Vice-President; Gerald Ford, Vice President.

The design is generally described as "second empire style" and the building is one of seven structures designed by the supervising architect in this style, beginning in 1869. Only the Executive Office Building and the Custom House and Post Office in St. Louis have survived.

Supervising Architect
Alfred Bult Mullett (1834-1890)

Chief Designer
Richard Von Ezdorf (1848-1926)

Superintendent of Construction
Colonel Thomas Lincoln Casey (1831-1896)
Corps of Engineers, U.S.A.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #26 Theodore Roosevelt, the Former U.S. Presidents: #27 William Howard Taft

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), February 25, 2020

2. Executive Office Building Marker

, the Former U.S. Presidents: #31 Herbert Hoover, the Former U.S. Presidents: #32 Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Former U.S. Presidents: #36 Lyndon B. Johnson, the Former U.S. Presidents: #37 Richard M. Nixon, the Former U.S. Presidents: #38 Gerald R. Ford, Jr., and the National Historic Landmarks series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1871.

Location. 38° 53.912′ N, 77° 2.311′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in Downtown. Marker is at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest and 17th Street Northwest, on the right when traveling east on Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest. Located on the north side courtyard fence for the Old Executive Office building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 700 Jackson Place Northwest, Washington DC 20506, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. State, War, and Navy Building (here, next to this marker); These Five-Inch Brass Trophy Guns (a few steps from this marker); The Lee House (within shouting distance of this marker); First Home of the Reserve Officers Association

Executive Office Building image. Click for full size.

National Archives and Records Administration

3. Executive Office Building

(within shouting distance of this marker); In Honor of Leslie Coffelt (within shouting distance of this marker); The Blair House (within shouting distance of this marker); Francis Preston Blair (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named The Blair House (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.

Additional keywords. "Eisenhower Executive Office Building"; "White House Office Building"

Photographed By Craig Swain, May 23, 2008

4. Executive Office Building

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, August 22, 2015

5. Plan View

Close-up of image on marker

State, War and Navy Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, August 22, 2015

6. State, War and Navy Building

has been designated a
Registered National
Historic Landmark Under the provisions of the Historic Sites Act of August 21, 1935. This site possesses exceptional value in commemorating or illustrating the history of the United States. U. S. Department of the Interior
National Park Service
1972

Dwight D. Eisenhower<br>Executive Office Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Allen C. Browne, August 22, 2015

7. Dwight D. Eisenhower
Executive Office Building

On November 9, 1999 the building (formerly the Old Executive Office Building) was renamed in honor of Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 15, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,124 times since then and 29 times this year. Last updated on January 12, 2014, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 25, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on April 7, 2008, by Matt Gholson of Houston, Texas. 4. submitted on April 5, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5. submitted on August 24, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 6, 7. submitted on August 27, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.