Howdy key lovers!
Next week I will be going on an adventure to Washington
DC! In anticipation of my trip, and in
celebration of our nation’s birthday next week, today’s key is from the capital
city herself! It is the key to the men’s
restroom at the White House!
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Key to the Men’s Room at the White House, donated by
Mark
Luke Davis III.
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While somewhat comical, this key also holds great
significance to our nation’s history. In
1791, George Washington chose the site for the White House, and the cornerstone
of the building was laid in 1792.
However, the original building was burned by the British during the War
of 1812, and reconstruction began around the end of 1814. In 1817, President Monroe was able to move
into the new residence with his family, and a few additions were made to the
building over the following ten years. After
Teddy Roosevelt took office, he chartered large scale renovations to the White
House, including a move of the President’s Office from the second floor to what
is now known as the West Wing. Another
important change was the construction of the Oval Office during President Taft’s
administration. In 1901, Teddy Roosevelt
officially named the President’s home “The White House”. In the early 1950s, it was discovered that
the White House was suffering from serious structural issues. The entire house was renovated during the
Truman administration and everything except the outer walls was demolished and
rebuilt.
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| Drawing of the White House in 1792 by James Hoban. |
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| Reconstructed White House after it was burned during the War of 1812 (photograph taken in 1901). |
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| Martin Luther King and Lyndon B. Johnson meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in 1963. |
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| Ronald Reagan and Margret Thatcher meeting on the White House lawn in 1987. |
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| George W. Bush giving his Farewell Address from the East Room of the White House in 2009. |
Today, the White House has 35 bathrooms…and we have the key
to one of them! I cannot wait to see
this incredible portion of American history for myself next week; and as for
you, come visit us at the Baldpate Key Room to see our little key to a big
piece of history!
Blog written by:
Alicia Byers
Museum Curator, The Baldpate Inn
References:
