Pierre Charles L’Enfant’s 1791 plan for Washington, D.C., included the President’s House. After his dismissal in 1792, President Washington and Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson held a design competition, awarding the project to Irish-American architect James Hoban. Trained in Dublin, Hoban emigrated to the U.S., working in Philadelphia and South Carolina, where his Charleston County Courthouse impressed Washington during a 1791 visit. Summoned to Philadelphia in 1792, Hoban met with Washington, who swiftly chose his design on July 16, 1792.

A 1793 elevation by James Hoban. His 3-story, 9-bay original submission was altered into this 2-story, 11-bay design.

including elevation, as part of the White House drawing competition. The sketch comprises a single sheet of creme paper with pricked guide points, pen and iron gall ink, scored guide lines and black ink washes. The page was signed "A. Z." in the upper left corner, and was later inscribed "Abraham Faws" on the right upper edge (almost totally removed by restoration).

A proposed plan for the first floor of the White House, the home of the President of the United States. This plan was an anonymous submission to a design competition held in 1792 to determine the architect of the White House, and was one of nine entries. Although it was submitted anonymously, it is attributed to former president Thomas Jefferson. The work is signed "Faws." at the center of the lower edge, and "Abram Faws." at the upper edge. The plan was created on a single sheet of creme paper and has pricked guide points along with pen and iron gall ink and black ink washes.

Floor plan for the second floor of the proposed President's House made for the U.S. White House and Capitol Drawing Competition held by the federal government in 1792. The drawing features a square building with rooms surrounding a central rotunda.

Architectural drawing of a floor plan for the third floor of the proposed President's House. Plan features three rectangular rooms on either side of a large central rotunda. Building has a rectangular footprint. Made for the White House and Capitol Drawing Competition held by the United States government in 1792.

An architectural elevation of the back and floor plan of the lower floor of the proposed United State Capitol Building. Made for the Capitol and White House Drawing Competition held by the United States Government in 1792. Elevation features a three-story building with a central pediment supported by six Corinthian columns. Floor plan includes a large central rectangular room flanked by two wings, each including three smaller rooms. Steps are seen marking the entrances and exits at each of the four sides of the building.

Architectural elevation of the façade of the proposed Capitol Building. The building is three stories with both flat and arched windows. The roof is supported by four large columns. Inscriptions and signature appear at bottom right and. Made for the Capitol and White House Drawing Competition held by the United States government in 1792.

Architectural elevation of one end of the proposed Capitol Building. The building is three stories tall and has a central portico surrounding the entrance in the center of the ground floor with steps leading up to it. A floor plan for the portico is seen at the bottom. Made for the Capitol and White House Drawing Competition held by the United States government in 1792.

Perspective View of a proposed Federal House. View shows a U-shaped building with the central entrance in the background and two wings protruding towards the picture plane. The central wing is topped by a steeple and the two-story building has a high hipped roof with eight chimneys. Made for the Capitol Drawing Competition held by the United States government in 1792.

An elevation of a proposed design for a Capitol building made for the U.S. Capitol Drawing Competition held by the government in 1792. The drawing features a two story building with a central rotunda topped by the form of a large bird with outstretched wings. The building has a mansard roof surrounded by a balustrade with two chimneys at either end. The title of the drawing is inscribed along the bottom of the paper.

Architectural drawing featuring two stories of a floor plan for the proposed Capitol Building. Made for the Capitol Design Competition held by the federal government in 1792. The floor plan features a rectangular building with many rooms and a central courtyard. A portico stands at the entrance to the building in the bottom drawing, while both stories feature an octagonal room at the back of the building. An inscription describing the drawing is seen at the bottom of the paper.

The White House Design Competition