East Wing: Difference between revisions

Structure part of the White House complex

The East Wing of the White House is a partially demolished two-story structure built to serve as office space for the first lady and her staff, including the White House social secretary, correspondence staff, and the White House Graphics and Calligraphy Office.

On the ground floor, the East Wing includes the East Colonnade, a corridor connecting the body of the East Wing to the Executive Residence and once included the visitors’ entrance. Along the corridor is the White House Family Theater. The East Wing was built on top of the Presidential Emergency Operations Center, a secure emergency underground shelter for the president.^[1]

In September 2025, work began on a state ballroom expansion and selective demolition began in October, starting with the facade.^[2][3] According to the official White House statement, the East Wing will be “modernized”, but some White House officials have indicated that the new ballroom will eventually replace the entire structure.^[4][5][6][7]

Social and touring visitors to the White House usually entered through the East Wing,^[1] continuing through the wood-paneled lobby, where portraits of presidents and first ladies hung. The tour continues through the Garden Room and along the East Colonnade, which has a view of the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, past the theater to the Visitors’ Foyer. Entry to the residence is made at the ground floor.^[8]

President Thomas Jefferson added colonnaded terraces to the east and west sides of the White House, but no actual wings. Under President Andrew Jackson in 1834, running water was piped in from a spring and pumped up into the east terrace in metal tubes. These ran through the walls and protruded into the rooms, controlled by spigots. Initially, the water was for washing items, but soon the first bathing rooms were created, in the ground-level east colonnade. President Martin Van Buren had shower baths installed here. The East Terrace was removed in 1866. For many years, a greenhouse occupied the east grounds of the White House.^[1]

The first small East Wing was built during the Theodore Roosevelt renovations, as an entrance for formal and public visitors. This served mainly as an entrance for guests during large social gatherings, when it was necessary to accommodate many cars and carriages. Its primary feature was the long cloak room with spots for coats and hats of the ladies and gentlemen.^[1][9]

A two-story structure^[10][11] was added to the White House in 1942 primarily to cover the construction of an underground bunker, now known as the Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC). Around the same time, Theodore Roosevelt’s coatroom became the movie theater. Later, offices for correspondence, calligraphers and the social secretary were placed in the East Wing. Eleanor Roosevelt employed the first social secretary.^[1]

Rosalynn Carter, in 1977, was the first first lady to keep her own office in the East Wing.^[12] Today, the social secretary prepares all of the invitations and written correspondence for every event held at the White House.^[1]

In July 2025, the White House announced the construction of the White House State Ballroom, which would be used to host events for about 900 people.^[13] Clark Construction was awarded the $200M contract,^[14] and much of the East Wing was demolished in October 2025 without review by the National Capital Planning Commission, which oversees federal construction.^[15][16]

38°53′51.2″N 77°2′8.4″W / 38.897556°N 77.035667°W / 38.897556; -77.035667