Number One Observatory Circle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Number One Observatory Circle |
|
|---|---|
Number One Observatory Circle, the official home of the Vice President of the United States, seen on a snowy day in December 2017
|
|
| Alternative names | The Vice President's Residence |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Address | 1 Observatory Circle NW, U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Coordinates | 38°55′23″N 77°03′56″W / 38.9229553°N 77.0654258°W |
| Current tenants | JD Vance, Vice President of the United States and the Second Family |
| Completed | 1893 |
| Technical details | |
| Size | 33 rooms |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Leon E. Dessez |
Number One Observatory Circle is the official home for the Vice President of the United States. It is located in Washington, D.C., on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Observatory. People sometimes call it "the Naval Observatory" for short.
The house was built in 1893 for the person in charge of the observatory. In 1923, the Navy's top officer, the Chief of Naval Operations, liked the house so much that he moved in. It was his home until 1974. That year, Congress decided it would be safer and cheaper to give the Vice President an official home. So, they made it the first official, though temporary, residence for the Vice President.
Even though the house was ready in 1974, it took more than two years for a Vice President to live there full-time. Vice President Gerald Ford became President before he could move in. His Vice President, Nelson Rockefeller, mostly used the house for parties and official events. He already had a secure home in Washington, D.C. However, the Rockefellers gave many valuable furnishings to the house. Walter Mondale was the first Vice President to actually live in the house. Every Vice President since then has lived there.
Contents
History of the Vice President's Home
Building the House
The house at One Observatory Circle was designed by an architect named Leon E. Dessez. It was built in 1893 for about $20,000. This was a lot of money back then! The first person to live there was the superintendent of the Naval Observatory. The house sits on 13 acres of land. This land was once part of a larger farm.
The Naval Observatory is about 2.5 miles (4 km) from the White House. The observatory moved to its current spot the same year the house was finished. Twelve observatory superintendents lived in what was then called The Superintendent's House. In 1928, Congress decided that the house would become the home for the Chief of Naval Operations. In 1929, Charles Hughes was the first to live in what became known as Admiral's House. For the next 45 years, many admirals lived there, including Chester W. Nimitz.
Why the Vice President Needed a Home
.svg) |
|
| Long title | Joint Resolution designating the premises occupied by the Chief of Naval Operations as the official residence of the Vice President, effective upon the termination of service of the incumbent Chief of Naval Operations. |
|---|---|
| Enacted by | the 93rd United States Congress |
| Effective | July 12, 1974 |
| Citations | |
| Public law | Pub.L. 93-346 |
| Statutes at Large | 88 Stat. 340 |
| Legislative history | |
|
|
Before 1974, Vice Presidents lived in hotels or their own private homes. In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge said that the Vice President should have an official home. He believed it should be a "settled and permanent habitation." This would ensure the Vice President always had a place to live, no matter how much money they had.
In 1966, there was a plan to build a new Vice Presidential home at the Naval Observatory. But President Lyndon B. Johnson stopped the building work. It never started again. Instead, the Secret Service had to spend a lot of money to make Vice Presidents' private homes safe. This included adding security features like fences and special driveways. It became clear that it would be cheaper to have one official home for the Vice President.
The First Vice Presidents to Live There
In July 1974, Congress passed a law. It made Admiral's House the "official temporary residence of the Vice President." This happened after Richard Nixon resigned as President. Work began to get the house ready. The decision was made because it was too expensive to add security to each new Vice President's private home. Elmo Zumwalt was the last Chief of Naval Operations to live there.
The 1974 renovation updated the house's systems. It also made some rooms bigger by removing walls. The inside was painted white, and the walls were mostly light colors. The house officially opened for the Vice President in September 1975.
Vice President Gerald Ford would have been the first to live there. But President Nixon resigned, and Ford became President. The new Vice President, Nelson Rockefeller, chose to live in his own large private home. He only used Admiral's House for entertaining guests. In January 1977, Walter Mondale became the first Vice President to live in the house. Every Vice President since then has called it home.
Modern Updates and Families
Instead of building a new home, Number One Observatory Circle has had many updates over the years. In 1976, the Navy spent $276,000 to add central air conditioning and heating. The roof was replaced in 1980.
When George H. W. Bush and Second Lady Barbara Bush moved in, they raised $187,000 for new carpets and furniture. Vice President Bush also added a horseshoe pit and a running track. He hosted over 900 parties during his eight years there!
Dan Quayle delayed his move in 1989 for a $300,000 remodel. This included new bedrooms on the third floor for children. It also added a ramp for wheelchairs and an updated bathroom. A non-profit group was started in 1991 to raise money for more decorations. A skylit exercise room was added to the roof.
In 1993, Al Gore delayed his move for almost six months. This allowed for the biggest renovation since 1974. The $1.6 million job replaced heating, air conditioning, and plumbing. It also removed asbestos and rewired the house. Second Lady Tipper Gore created a list of all the official household items.
Vice President Dick Cheney and Second Lady Lynne Cheney updated the exercise room and kitchen pantry. They decorated the house in light, neutral colors.
Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff moved into Number One Observatory Circle on April 7, 2021. They stayed at Blair House while $3.8 million in upgrades were finished. These repairs included new chimney liners, heating, air-conditioning, and plumbing. Harris also had the kitchen remodeled and the hardwood floors redone. In October 2021, Emhoff placed a mezuzah on the doorway. This was the first time a Jewish symbol of home sanctity was on an executive home in American history. In November 2021, Harris and Emhoff were the first to light a menorah in the window. In April 2022, they hosted the first known Passover Seder at the residence.
In 2024, Vice President-elect JD Vance and his family were preparing to move in. His wife, Usha Vance, was interested in making sure the house was safe for their three young children.
Images for kids
-
President-elect George H. W. Bush and First Lady-designate Barbara Bush, after he was elected president on November 9, 1988
-
Number One Observatory Circle in 2001
-
Vice President Dick Cheney meeting with Vice President-elect Joe Biden, on November 13, 2008
-
Vice President Joe Biden meeting with Vice President-elect Mike Pence, on November 10, 2016
-
Halloween festivities during the time of Vice President Mike Pence in 2019
.jpg)
House Design and Style
Queen Anne Style Architecture
The house is built in the Queen Anne style. This style was popular in the late 1800s. Key features of Queen Anne homes include:
- An uneven floor plan.
- Rooms that open into each other, not just a central hallway.
- Round tower-like rooms.
- Cozy nooks near fireplaces.
- Large porches that wrap around the first floor.
All these features can be found at Number One Observatory Circle.
When the house was first built, its outside was made of terracotta brick. The wood trim was painted a warm gray, and the porch was gray and white. Window frames were gray, and shutters were olive green. The inside was decorated with furniture from the people who lived there.
Over time, Victorian-style architecture became less popular. Many brick or wood houses were painted white to look more modern. This happened inside and out. Beautiful wood details were often painted white to make rooms feel brighter. The house's outside was dark red brick until 1960, when it was painted gray. It changed to white with black shutters in 1963. By 1993, it was a cream color.
House Layout
The house is 9,000 square feet (836 square meters) and has 33 rooms.
- The first floor has a dining room, garden room, living room, and a large porch.
- The second floor has the main bedroom, another bedroom, a den, and a study.
- The attic used to be for servants. Now it has four bedrooms.
- The main kitchen is in the basement.
.jpg)
Inside Decorations
After the 1974 renovation, most of the furniture was new. It was made to look like older American styles. One special item was a bed brought by Nelson Rockefeller. It was designed by artist Max Ernst. The Rockefellers also left some antique Korean and Japanese chests.
Vice Presidents often bring their own furniture, especially for the upstairs rooms. They redecorate to fit their own tastes. When the Mondales lived there, Joan Mondale added brighter colors and modern art. The Bush family used colors like light green and blue. The Quayles preferred off-white colors. The Gores completely redecorated and added new furniture. Second Lady Tipper Gore made a list of all the official items in the house.
The Cheneys brought in modern art. Before Vice President Kamala Harris moved in, the Navy fixed the wooden floors and chimneys.
Garden and Outdoor Areas
The home is surrounded by a garden with cherry trees, Japanese magnolias, tulips, and daffodils. In 1989, Dan Quayle added a putting green for golf. In 1991, he added a pool, hot tub, and pool house. In 2010, Vice President Joe Biden added a tree swing for his wife, Jill Biden.
The grounds also have the Family Heritage Garden, started by the Bidens in 2012. This garden has stones remembering the Vice Presidential families who have lived there, including their pets. Vice President Mike Pence and Second Lady Karen Pence added a beehive and a new basketball court in 2017. In 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris planted a pomegranate tree. A thick forest surrounds the 73-acre property, keeping it quiet from the nearby road.
Privacy and Security
Privacy for the Vice President
Unlike the White House, Number One Observatory Circle and the Naval Observatory do not offer public tours. This helps keep the Vice President's home private.
Underground Area
In 2002, after the September 11 attacks, neighbors heard loud noises from the house. People wondered if an underground bunker was being built. The observatory superintendent said that information about the project was secret for national security.
In 2009, Vice President Joe Biden mentioned an underground "9/11" bunker. His press secretary later clarified that he was talking about an upstairs workspace. This space was often used by Vice President Cheney and his team. Some people think Biden might have been referring to a tunnel that leads to one of the Navy's telescopes on the grounds.
See also
In Spanish: Rotonda del Observatorio número 1 para niños
- White House – the official home of the President of the United States
- Camp David – a country retreat for the President
- Blair House – the official guest house for the President's visitors
- Tingey House - the Chief of Naval Operations' official home since 1974
