Today in History
October 13
1792: The cornerstone to the White House was laid. The first president to move into the house at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. was John Adams. In 1814 when James Madison was president, the British set the house on fire during the War of 1812. Dolly Madison is credited with saving many valuables as the first family evacuated shortly before the British came. The house was damaged extensively from the fire. It took three years to repair. The West Wing was added in 1901 and the first Oval Office added in 1909.










