President's Park

President’s Park is the National Park Service unit that encompasses the White House grounds and the surrounding public spaces in northwest Washington, D.C. It includes the White House, Lafayette Square, and the Ellipse and serves as the executive mansion’s public setting.

The exterior views of the White House from pedestrian-accessible points, the statuary and formal landscaping of Lafayette Square, and the open lawns of the Ellipse used for public events. The area includes a small visitor center with exhibits about the White House and presidency.

The White House was designed by James Hoban, with construction beginning in 1792 and completion around 1800; it has been the official residence of U.S. presidents since then and was rebuilt after the 1814 fire. President’s Park and its landscaping developed over the 19th and 20th centuries as the federal city evolved.

The park sits on the north end of the National Mall in downtown Washington, D.C., immediately west of the U.S. Capitol and adjacent to Pennsylvania Avenue, with public access from nearby Metro stations.

• Visiting the White House: Public exterior viewing is unrestricted at Lafayette Square and the Pennsylvania Avenue pedestrian sidewalks, but interior tours of the White House require advance requests through a member of Congress or foreign embassy.
• Best viewing times: Best light for photographs is early morning or late afternoon from Lafayette Square and the north sidewalk of Pennsylvania Avenue to avoid crowds and street closures.

What to See #

• White House: The executive mansion and official residence of the U.S. president with public exterior viewing points on Pennsylvania Avenue and Lafayette Square; the White House building dates to the 1790s and contains roughly 132 rooms across several floors.
• Lafayette Square: A landscaped public square immediately north of the White House that includes statues, public pathways, and views of the North Lawn; it is a frequent vantage point for photos of the mansion.
• The Ellipse: An open recreational area south of the White House used for events and recreation, adjacent to the South Lawn and offering views across the Ellipse toward the Washington Monument.
• White House Visitor Center: A small public facility with exhibits and orientation material about the White House and presidential history, located nearby for visitors who cannot tour the residence itself.