The DC Traveler

…no, the Old Executive Office Building, or is it the Eisenhower Executive Office Building?

Regardless what you call it, people either love it or hate it; due to its very unique and as some people think, totally out of place architectural style. 

The exterior, with its 900 columns, and 1,500+ windows is Second Empire Style, an architectural style popular during the Victorian era.  The 7 floors cover over 660,000 square feet and originally had 151 fireplaces, but only 83 remain today.

Probably the most notable aspect of the building is its exterior cast iron used for window frames, sculpture, chimneys, cornices and roof trim.  Even more cast iron was used inside for columns, wall and floor panels, and even library bookshelves.

Built over a 17 year period and completed in 1888, The State, War and Navy Building, commonly referred to as the Old Executive Office Building or officially designated as the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building, originally housed the Dept. of War (as it was called before changing its name to the Dept. of Defense), as well as the Dept. of State, and the Navy.

In the late 1950s, it came close to being torn down, but was saved and has subsequently been remodeled numerous times.  The remodeling has preserved the original elements of the structure. 

Since the Kennedy-Johnson era, when VP Johnson had his office there, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building houses the Ceremonial Office of the VP. Starting with the Jimmy Carter Administration, most VPs also kept an office in the West Wing of the White House.  The Office of Management and Budget and the National Security Council are the other primary tenants.

A couple of the Presidents have also had offices there, including a private office used by President Nixon and President Hoover, who took over the office of the Secretary of Navy after a Christmas Eve Oval Office fire in 1929.

You can tour the building on Saturday mornings, but advanced reservations are required. 

Eisenhower Executive Office Building (Old Executive Office Building) 
639 17th Street, NW, at Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC (map it)

Dates and Times - Most Saturday mornings, by reservation only in advance.  

Tickets - Free, but you must call for availability and reservations. Call the Preservation Office at 202-395-5895 on any Tuesday or Wednesday between 9:00 am and Noon.  You will need to provide the legal name, date of birth, country of citizenship, and Social Security number for each visitor.

Nearest Metro Subway Station - Farragut North - Blue and Orange lines, or Farragut West - Red line, then a 2-3 block walk.

Parking - Metered street and paid garage parking is available in the area.
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