The Six Buildings. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.

The Madisons moved in October 1801 to 1333 F Street, N.W. They lived there while Mr. Madison was Secretary of State.

View of the back of the White House. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.

This picture was done soon after the White House was first constructed, 1799-1800. Note the rural and mixed quality of its surroundings. As one visitor remarked upon seeing the presidential mansion, "The ground around it instead of being laid out in a suitable style, remains in its ancient rude state, so that in a dark night, instead of finding your way to the house, you may, perchance, fall into a pit, or stumble over a heap of rubbish." (Charles W. Janson, The Stranger in America, 1793-1806 (1935)).

This engraving was done by William Strickland (1787-1854) from an aquatint by George Munger (1781-1825).

The Seven Buildings. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress.

Located between 2017 and 2117 Pennsylvania Avenue, the Madisons occupied the corner building as a temporary presidential residence between March 1815 and April 1817 when they retired to Montpelier. In addition to the corner house they rented another house in the complex, probably for use as office space.