Planeta Fascinante

The latest issue of my favorite Spanish-language magazine, Planeta Fascinante, is on the stands, and I naturally rushed out to get it. So there I am, reading "Se pueden leer los pensamientos?" ("Have you lost your thoughts of Mentos?"*) and I turn the page to find none other than Peter Sharkey's 3-D White House diagrams!

The article concerns the security of the White House and its anti-bomber defenses. Unfortunately, the editors seem to have taken the liberty of moving the Despacho Oval from the Ala Del Oeste to the Salon Amarillo, for some reason. But the images look great, don't they?

Congratulations, Pete!

* My Spanish, she is a little rusty.

White House visitors

Theodore Roosevelt returned from the dead to visit the White House yesterday and, presumably, take over and start a war with Spain. Or possibly Paraguay. Or any of the several other nations whose leaders have visited recently.

One way or another, the White House is preparing for a transition of power to someone.

Nancy Reagan

I've been remiss in not wishing Nancy Reagan a speedy recovery from her fall in which she fractured her pelvis. She is out of the hospital now and making a gradual—but expected full—recovery.

Thanks to Mike B for commenting previously.

Diagrams

I added a new and improved East Wing first floor. And I've created a page of high-resolution overview diagrams useful as visual aids for, say, a school report like the one Madeline J has to do for her fourth grade class.

White House contractors

I got a request looking for information on businesses that do contract work for the White House. I know pretty much all the regular maintenance is done by in-house staff and the Parks Department, tho. The one thing that came to mind is the making of the Oval Office rugs and some of the furniture. Rode Brothers laid a new Oval Office floor a few years ago, for one. I believe Scott Group made the rug for the Clinton Oval Office, but I don't know they have an ongoing relationship with the WH.

Anybody know more about this?

Floating White House for sale

The Manitou, John Kennedy's "floating White House" has been restored and is up for sale for a ridiculous amount of money. Inevitable unfortunate quote: "JFK using her adds to the intrigue."

Scannin'

I took a little time finally and scanned an article from a 1902 issue of The Outlook magazine called "The White House - The Plans for Its Reconstruction" and also the recent Architectural Digest spread of the Bush 2 renovation. Look for those soon.

I also scanned the floor plan of 1 Observatory Circle (the VP residence) from American Monarchy; so I'll create a mini-site for that soon, too.

UPDATE: 1902 article now available

C-SPAN's White House

Pete clued me in to C-SPAN's documentary on the White House scheduled to air December 14-20: White House: Inside America's Most Famous House. Can't wait!

New front page - doorway

I've put up a new front page: a visitor's picture of doorway from the East Room to the Green Room (at least, that's what I think it is), suggested by Pete. Thanks Pete!