Once mocked as a monstrosity, this granite giant now anchors the American presidency.

Countries & Cities · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Before it was the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building, this Washington landmark was derided by critics as the ugliest building in America. Today, it stands as a National Historic Landmark, housing the Vice President and critical executive staff within its fireproof, cast-iron-reinforced walls and ornate, four-story libraries.

Constructed between 1871 and 1888, the building was originally designed to house the State, War, and Navy Departments under one roof. Architect Alfred B. Mullett employed the French Second Empire style, characterized by dramatic mansard roofs, paired colonnades, and gray granite facades. Despite its current prestige, the building faced intense scrutiny upon completion; figures like Mark Twain and Harry S. Truman famously criticized its aesthetic, with Truman calling it the greatest monstrosity in the country.

The interior was a marvel of 19th-century engineering, overseen by Chief Designer Richard Von Ezdorf. To ensure fire safety, Von Ezdorf utilized cast-iron structural elements, brick, and plaster, creating three massive libraries—the largest being the four-story State Department library. The building also featured the first hydraulic lift elevator in a U.S. government facility, installed in 1875. Its corridors, stretching nearly two miles, are lined with white marble and black limestone, while the Indian Treaty Room remains a site of significant diplomatic history.

By the mid-20th century, the original departments had outgrown the space, and the building was repurposed for the Executive Office of the President. It narrowly escaped demolition in 1957, when an advisory commission recommended replacing it with a modern structure. Instead, it was preserved, designated a National Historic Landmark in 1969, and eventually renamed in 1999 to honor Dwight D. Eisenhower. Today, it remains a vital hub for the White House, hosting the Vice President’s ceremonial office and serving as the backdrop for major presidential events, including the first televised press conference held by Eisenhower in 1955.

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