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Eisenhower Executive Office Building facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Eisenhower Executive Office Building is a really important U.S. government building. It's located right next to the famous White House in Washington, D.C.. People used to call it the Old Executive Office Building.

This huge building was ordered by President Ulysses S. Grant. It took a long time to build, from 1871 to 1888. It stands where an older government building and the White House stables used to be.

The building was designed in a style called French Second Empire. This style was very different from other government buildings in Washington, D.C., which were mostly neoclassical. Because it looked so different, many people didn't like it at first! For example, the famous writer Mark Twain even called it "the ugliest building in America." President Harry S. Truman also thought it was a "monstrosity."

Even though it was criticized for its looks, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building is now considered a very important historical place. It's listed as a National Historic Landmark.

For many years, it was the biggest office building in the world! It has 566 rooms and about ten acres of floor space. In 1981, work began to fix up and restore the building. The main office of the Secretary of the Navy was restored in 1987. Today, it's used as the special office for the Vice President of the United States. Many people who work for the White House also have their offices in this building.

Images for kids

  • Construction of the State, War, and Navy Department Building (26834522234)

    Construction of the State, War, and Navy Building (undated)

  • State, War, & Navy Building - Washington, D.C.

    The State, War, and Navy Building in 1917

  • Eisenhower Executive Office Building 2021

    The EEOB from the intersection of Pennsylvania Ave and 17th St. NW, pictured in 2021.

  • Navy Department Library Collection, State, War, and Navy Department Building, 1915 (26834521644)

    The Navy Department Library, 1915

  • State, War and Navy Department Building, Washington, D.C., circa 1920 (30689582091)

    An overhead view looking northeast, circa 1920

  • OEOB Penn Avenue

    The Eisenhower Executive Office Building north façade

  • USA-Executive Office Building

    Executive Office Building façade detail

  • Charles Evans Hughes; State, War and Navy building 44421v

    Charles Evans Hughes with the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in the background

  • EEOB hallway

    A hallway with decorative elements

  • EEOB skylight

    A skylight above a staircase

  • 17-08-islcanus-RalfR-DSC 4895-Panorama

    A fisheye view of the Façade 2017

  • Eisenhower Executive Office Building Washignton DC

    Detail of the northwest corner

  • Cow-taft

    Pauline Wayne, President Taft's pet cow in front of the building

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Edificio de oficinas ejecutivas Eisenhower para niños

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