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01of 19Number One Observatory CircleWashington, D.C.: Mansion on the grounds of the Naval Observatory.Getty ImagesWhen Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff move into Number One Observatory Circle in Washington, D.C., they will be the eighth vice-presidential family in American history to do so.The official residence of the veep — often referred to as the Superintendent’s House, the Admiral’s House, or simply VPR (vice president’s residence) — the property has been home to every vice president since Walter Mondale (who served under Jimmy Carter) in 1977.
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Number One Observatory Circle
Washington, D.C.: Mansion on the grounds of the Naval Observatory.Getty Images
When Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff move into Number One Observatory Circle in Washington, D.C., they will be the eighth vice-presidential family in American history to do so.
The official residence of the veep — often referred to as the Superintendent’s House, the Admiral’s House, or simply VPR (vice president’s residence) — the property has been home to every vice president since Walter Mondale (who served under Jimmy Carter) in 1977.
02of 19The GroundsDigitalGlobe via Getty ImagesBuilt in 1893, the home is located on 12 of the 72 acres of land that comprise the U.S. Naval Observatory, a government agency where scientists work on providingastronomy-related insightsfor the U.S. Navy and Department of Defense. It’s located approximately two-and-a-half miles north of the White House, the President’s official residence.Before it housed American vice presidents, Number One Observatory Circle first served as a home for U.S. Naval Observatory superintendents. Twelve superintendents lived in the home, then,according to the White House, “the house was so lovely that in 1923, the chief of naval operations kicked out the superintendent so he could move in himself.”
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The Grounds
DigitalGlobe via Getty Images
Built in 1893, the home is located on 12 of the 72 acres of land that comprise the U.S. Naval Observatory, a government agency where scientists work on providingastronomy-related insightsfor the U.S. Navy and Department of Defense. It’s located approximately two-and-a-half miles north of the White House, the President’s official residence.
Before it housed American vice presidents, Number One Observatory Circle first served as a home for U.S. Naval Observatory superintendents. Twelve superintendents lived in the home, then,according to the White House, “the house was so lovely that in 1923, the chief of naval operations kicked out the superintendent so he could move in himself.”
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The Architect
Number One Observatory Circle.Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP/Shutterstock
04of 19The DesignVice President’s residence.Stacy Zarin Goldberg for The Washington Post via Getty ImagesAccording toauthor Charles Denyer, who has written one of the most detailed books on the property, titledNumber One Observatory Circle,the three-story house cost approximately $20,000 to build.It measures approximately 9,150 square feet of living space. The second floor is where the main suite, office and den are located, while the other bedrooms — typically used for guests and family members — can be found on the third floor.
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The Design
Vice President’s residence.Stacy Zarin Goldberg for The Washington Post via Getty Images
According toauthor Charles Denyer, who has written one of the most detailed books on the property, titledNumber One Observatory Circle,the three-story house cost approximately $20,000 to build.
It measures approximately 9,150 square feet of living space. The second floor is where the main suite, office and den are located, while the other bedrooms — typically used for guests and family members — can be found on the third floor.
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The History
Prior to 1974, vice presidents lived in their own homes, and those who did not own properties in or around Washington were put up in hotels, according to theNew York Times.
06of 19The First Second FamilyNational Archives Catalog/Jimmy Carter LibraryWalter and Joan Mondale, the home’s first VP and Second Lady, are pictured here hosting President Jimmy and First Lady Rosalynn Carter for dinner in January 1977.Congress actually first designated Number One Observatory Circle as the vice president’s residence in 1974, but no one moved in for three years. According tothe White House, this is because “Vice President Gerald Ford acceded to the Presidency before he could use the home, and his Vice President, Nelson Rockefeller, only used it for entertaining.”
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The First Second Family
National Archives Catalog/Jimmy Carter Library
Walter and Joan Mondale, the home’s first VP and Second Lady, are pictured here hosting President Jimmy and First Lady Rosalynn Carter for dinner in January 1977.
Congress actually first designated Number One Observatory Circle as the vice president’s residence in 1974, but no one moved in for three years. According tothe White House, this is because “Vice President Gerald Ford acceded to the Presidency before he could use the home, and his Vice President, Nelson Rockefeller, only used it for entertaining.”
07of 19The ResidentsStacy Zarin Goldberg for The Washington Post via Getty ImagesIn addition to Mondale, George H.W. Bush, Dan Quayle, Al Gore, Dick Cheney, Joe Biden and Mike Pence have all called Number One Observatory Circle their home during their vice presidency — each bringing their own unique changes and additions to the residence.
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The Residents
Stacy Zarin Goldberg for The Washington Post via Getty Images
In addition to Mondale, George H.W. Bush, Dan Quayle, Al Gore, Dick Cheney, Joe Biden and Mike Pence have all called Number One Observatory Circle their home during their vice presidency — each bringing their own unique changes and additions to the residence.
08of 19The InsideVice President’s residence.Stacy Zarin Goldberg for The Washington Post via Getty ImagesThough tours of the home are not available to the public, photographers and reporters are let in from time to time, allowing glimpses at the ways the property has changed through the years.
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The Inside
Though tours of the home are not available to the public, photographers and reporters are let in from time to time, allowing glimpses at the ways the property has changed through the years.
09of 19George H.W. Bush’s AdditionsDavid Hume Kennerly/Getty ImagesGeorge H.W. Bush, who served as Vice President from 1981 to 1989 and then as President from 1989 to 1993, added a few outdoor features to Number One Observatory Circle, including a horseshoe pit and a quarter-mile-long running track.According to theWashington Post, the Bush family entertained frequently during their time in the home, hosting more than 900 parties.
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George H.W. Bush’s Additions
David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images
George H.W. Bush, who served as Vice President from 1981 to 1989 and then as President from 1989 to 1993, added a few outdoor features to Number One Observatory Circle, including a horseshoe pit and a quarter-mile-long running track.
According to theWashington Post, the Bush family entertained frequently during their time in the home, hosting more than 900 parties.
10of 19Dan Quayle’s AdditionsVice President Dan Quayle, who served from 1989 to 1993 and is seen here hostingPrince Charlesin February 1989, had to delay his move into the home for a month so that extensive renovations could take place.Like Bush, Quayle also added a few features that have kept the home’s residents happy and healthy: an exercise room on the top floor, and a pool out back.
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Dan Quayle’s Additions
Vice President Dan Quayle, who served from 1989 to 1993 and is seen here hostingPrince Charlesin February 1989, had to delay his move into the home for a month so that extensive renovations could take place.
Like Bush, Quayle also added a few features that have kept the home’s residents happy and healthy: an exercise room on the top floor, and a pool out back.
11of 19The PoolKatherine Frey/The Washington Post via Getty ImagesIn 2010, now-President Bidentold reportersthat Quayle was his “favorite vice president” because he put in the pool, noting, “my granddaughters love it.“Pence and his wife, Karen, used it to holdyearly pool partiesfor military families.
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The Pool
Katherine Frey/The Washington Post via Getty Images
In 2010, now-President Bidentold reportersthat Quayle was his “favorite vice president” because he put in the pool, noting, “my granddaughters love it.”
Pence and his wife, Karen, used it to holdyearly pool partiesfor military families.
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The Gore Era
JOYCE NALTCHAYAN/AFP via Getty Images
Al Gore and his wife Tipper resided in the home while Al served under President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 2001.Along with their four kids, the couple were known to take full advantage of the property’s many acres of green space, playing frisbee, catch and football (Al is seen here after scoring a touchdown during a game in November 2000).
13of 19The Cheney EraShutterstockDick Cheney — seen here welcoming his soon-to-be successor Joe Biden into the home in November 2008 — and his wife Lynne lived in the house from 2001 to 2009, while Dick served under President George W. Bush.The pair enlisted the help of interior designer Frank Babb Randolph to freshen up the home, changing the color scheme to include creams and greens.In an essay forArchitectural Digestin December 2001, Lynne wrote, “One of the great pleasures of living in the vice president’s house is being able to borrow art to display in it,” sharing that they held several dinner parties to celebrate the artists they featured.
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The Cheney Era
Shutterstock
Dick Cheney — seen here welcoming his soon-to-be successor Joe Biden into the home in November 2008 — and his wife Lynne lived in the house from 2001 to 2009, while Dick served under President George W. Bush.
The pair enlisted the help of interior designer Frank Babb Randolph to freshen up the home, changing the color scheme to include creams and greens.
In an essay forArchitectural Digestin December 2001, Lynne wrote, “One of the great pleasures of living in the vice president’s house is being able to borrow art to display in it,” sharing that they held several dinner parties to celebrate the artists they featured.
14of 19The Biden EraCharles Dharapak/AP/ShutterstockJoe and Jill Biden, whose tenure lasted from 2009 to 2017, are seen here hosting a barbeque for wounded service members in May 2010.The Bidens welcomed many guests and even made it a tradition to host Ireland’s Prime Minister Enda Kenny on St. Patrick’s Day forall eight yearsthey were in the home.
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The Biden Era
Charles Dharapak/AP/Shutterstock
Joe and Jill Biden, whose tenure lasted from 2009 to 2017, are seen here hosting a barbeque for wounded service members in May 2010.
The Bidens welcomed many guests and even made it a tradition to host Ireland’s Prime Minister Enda Kenny on St. Patrick’s Day forall eight yearsthey were in the home.
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Joe and Jill Biden’s Additions
In 2012, Joe and Jill Biden created the Family Heritage Garden of the Vice President, located just off the front lawn. Stone pavers surrounding a fountain commemorate all of the vice-presidential family members (including kids and pets!) that have ever called Number One Observatory Circle home.
16of 19Joe’s Love NoteKatherine Frey/The Washington Post via Getty ImagesIn 2010, Joe surprised Jill with a sweet Valentine’s Day present: a commemorative plaque reading “Joe Loves Jill” affixed to a tall tree in the backyard, which still hangs there today.
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Joe’s Love Note
In 2010, Joe surprised Jill with a sweet Valentine’s Day present: a commemorative plaque reading “Joe Loves Jill” affixed to a tall tree in the backyard, which still hangs there today.
17of 19The Pence EraChip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesVice President Mike Pence and his family lived on the property while he served under President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2021.Here, they’re pictured on the front porch of the home on Inauguration Day in 2017.
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The Pence Era
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Vice President Mike Pence and his family lived on the property while he served under President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2021.
Here, they’re pictured on the front porch of the home on Inauguration Day in 2017.
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Mike and Karen Pence’s Additions
According to theWashington Post, the family added a beehive in 2017. A nod to their home state of Indiana, they also put a “Hoosiers” logo on the basketball court — making sure it was removable for the next resident.
19of 19New Digs!From left: Second Gentleman and Vice President Kamala Harris at the inauguration on Wednesday.Drew Angerer/GettyOfficially sworn in on January 20, 2021, Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff will be Number One Observatory Circle’s next residents — and there’s certainly plenty of room fortheir blended family. They’re sure to put their own special touches on the home!
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New Digs!
From left: Second Gentleman and Vice President Kamala Harris at the inauguration on Wednesday.Drew Angerer/Getty
Officially sworn in on January 20, 2021, Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff will be Number One Observatory Circle’s next residents — and there’s certainly plenty of room fortheir blended family. They’re sure to put their own special touches on the home!
source: people.com
