Where Does the Vice President and His Family Live

This story was originally published on 12/11/2020; it has been updated to reflect new information.

topshot us politics inauguration
Kamala Harris is sworn in as Vice President on Jan 20, 2021.

SAUL LOEB Getty Images

Everyone knows that the president of the Us lives in the White House, but did you know that the vice president lives in a different, less grandiose (but still impressive) white house? Since 1977, every person who has held the position of vice president has called the same place home: Number One Observatory Circumvolve. The house in question is a Queen Anne-manner Victorian home that was congenital in 1893 on the grounds of the U.Southward. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C.—and its history is pretty fascinating.

Although Kamala Harris was initially expected to move into this habitation shortly afterward being sworn in equally the Vice President in January—as is tradition—the historic residence has been unoccupied since Inauguration Mean solar day, so that it could undergo some necessary renovations.

Fortunately, at present that the renovation work is consummate, the Vice President's Residence is movement-in ready—and Vice President Kamala Harris and her hubby, Doug Emhoff, volition finally movement in next week, according to CNN . In the meantime, they take been living merely across the street from the White Business firm, in the President's Guest Firm, as well known every bit Blair Firm (more on that hither).

And so, what renovations were made to the belongings in the by two months? According to a tweet from Symone Sanders, Vice President Harris'due south chief spokeswoman, "The repairs included maintenance on the HVAC system, replacing the liners in the chimneys and refurbishing of some of the hardwood floors." Additionally, Sanders explained, "The movement was initially delayed to allow for repairs to the abode that are more easily conducted with the home unoccupied."

Originally, this house was the residence of the superintendent of the U.Due south. Naval Observatory, given that the site of the house was once the grounds of the observatory (hence the accost One Observatory Circle). In 1966, post-obit the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Congress passed a law that established "an official residence for the vice president of the U.s. in the District of Columbia," likely due to prophylactic concerns.

In 1974, the home was officially authorized for its new purpose, with Congress handling the costs of its restoration and furnishing. Prior to this authorization, vice presidents would either purchase a Washington, D.C. home or stay at nearby hotels. Just information technology wasn't until 1977 that a vice president actually moved into the firm: Gerald Ford's fourth dimension as vice president was cut short following then-President Richard Nixon'due south resignation in 1974. Under Ford, Nelson Rockefeller was appointed the side by side vice president, and he already had a nearby residence—just he did sometimes apply the firm at One Observatory Circle as an entertaining space.

a photo of number one observatory circle from 1895
A photograph of Number Ane Observatory Circle from 1895.

U.S. Naval Observatory Library

In total, seven vice presidents take lived at 1 Observatory Circle: Walter Mondale, George H.W. Bush-league, Dan Quayle, Al Gore, Dick Cheney, Joe Biden, and Mike Pence. Next month, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris volition presently join this list, becoming the get-go woman, the outset Black person, and the first person of Asian descent to have on this important job. Of grade, no two vice presidents are the same, so the house interiors are redecorated appropriately every four or eight years, ofttimes past interior designers, to best friction match the new second family's style.

Although the habitation did non originally accept a puddle, old Vice President Dan Quayle had ane installed in 1991, along with a hot tub and a pool house, cheers to private donations. Because of these new additions to the firm, President-elect Joe Biden once said his favorite vice president was Dan Quayle. When Biden lived here, he even told then-Vice President-elect Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, "You're gonna beloved the puddle." And that they do; for the past four years, the Pences take hosted an annual pool party here for veterans.

As for the architectural design of Number I Observatory Circle, architect Leon Due east. Dessez was the visionary behind this historic house. The home's exterior was left unpainted until 1960, when its terra cotta bricks became the white colour we meet today. Back in 2014, we even caught a glimpse of the domicile'southward interiors thanks to HGTV.com, when they shared an inside look at how the Bidens decorated the Victorian-era habitation for the holiday season, complete with wreaths and garlands aplenty, within and out.

the bidens' holiday decorations at number one observatory circle in 2014
The Bidens' holiday decorations at Number Ane Observatory Circle in 2014

Ken Cedeno/HGTV

Given the more than than four decades this firm has spent every bit the official residence of the vice president, it goes without saying that there are enough of stories worth telling about the people who lived hither. In the book The Haunting of the Presidents: A Paranormal History of the U.S. Presidency , it was revealed that during Vice President Mondale's fourth dimension spent living at Number Ane Observatory Circle, his and so-teenage girl Eleanor decided to call the Secret Service because she saw a silhouette past her window that she thought was a man. "Minutes later, two agents busted into the room, guns fatigued," Eleanor said, and warned her to never allow this happen always again. On another occasion, Vice President Cheney'due south granddaughter accidentally clicked a panic button while trying to affluent a toilet.

Hopefully, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will have a seamless transition into Number One Observatory Circle, free of ghosts and accidental panic button clicks! And maybe she'll even get some decorating advice from the Bidens.

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Associate Editor Mary Elizabeth Andriotis is House Beautiful'southward Associate Editor, where she covers historic homes, amusement, culture, and blueprint.

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Source: https://www.housebeautiful.com/design-inspiration/a34933767/vice-president-residence-number-one-observatory-circle/

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