Most Amazing White House Presidential Renovations, From Bowling Alleys to Hot Tubs

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The jury is still out on which first family will be settling in for a nice four-year stint in DC’s 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. What we do know, of course, is that the Obamas will be moving out. Still, physical reminders of their eight years in these hallowed halls will live on. There was first lady Michelle Obama‘s extensive revamp of the Old Family Dining Room, for instance. And there was her beloved and meticulously tended kitchen garden.

Planted on the South Lawn during her first year at the White House in 2009, the L-shaped 1,100-square-foot patch of soil grows 55 varieties of vegetables that get incorporated into the first family’s meals.

The White House kitchen garden’s seating area

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Perhaps in an attempt to keep future presidents from plowing all that parsley and parsnips into oblivion, a historic marker was added. It states, “White House Kitchen Garden established in 2009 by First Lady Michelle Obama with the hope of growing a healthier nation for our children.”

White House kitchen garden historical marker

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As far as White House home improvements go, it’s a rather modest one—at least if you compare it with what other first families have done to our nation’s most famous residence.

Here’s a look back at some of the most memorable Executive Mansion renovation jobs over the years.

Solarium

Built in 1927 as part of a third-floor addition during the Calvin Coolidge administration, this greenhouse-style sunroom has been dubbed “The Camp David of the White House.” Why? Because it has since become a prime POTUS chill-out center. With floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the Washington Monument and the Mall, it served as a nursery for Franklin Roosevelt‘s kids and a recovery room for Ronald Reagan in the wake of an assassination attempt on him, leading him to call it his favorite room in the White House.

Chilling in the White House solarium

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The Truman balcony

In 1947, Harry Truman proposed building a new second-floor balcony off the Yellow Oval Room to serve as a roof over the porch below (and replace the ugly awnings in place at the time). This seemingly innocuous renovation plunged him into controversy, with political cartoons at the time joking it could cost him re-election. So why all the fuss? Critics, including members of the Commission of Fine Arts, argued that this leisure space would cut straight across the Greek columns around it and undermine their sleek vertical lines. Nonetheless, Truman stuck to his guns, and once the balcony was finished, many of his naysayers admitted it looked pretty darn nice. The Obamas dubbed this balcony their favorite spot..

This second-floor balcony nearly cost Harry Truman his re-election bid.

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 19

1961:

Private kitchen and dining room

Jackie Kennedy famously went on a massive redecorating and restoration spree once her husband, John F. Kennedy, assumed office in 1961. In addition to hauling in antiques and artwork galore (shown off during a televised tour of the house on Valentine’s Day in 1962), she turned the former Prince of Wales suite into a private kitchen and dining room for the first family. Because hey, even a glamorous first family just wants to occasionally whip up a grilled cheese on their own without calling in the whole kitchen cavalry. Sadly, the George Foreman Grill had yet to be invented.

Bowling alley

Did you know that Richard and Pat Nixon were big bowlers? This explains why, upon moving into the White House in 1969, they made sure to carve out space in the basement for a single-lane bowling alley. It was actually the White House’s second alley—the first was installed by Truman on the ground floor of the West Wing. Nixon, whose bowling average was purportedly 232, craved a private and secret alley of his own. He had it installed in an underground workspace below the White House driveway leading to the North Portico. The man did love his secrets.

President Nixon at the White House bowling alley

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Solar panels

In 1979, eco-friendly straight shooter Jimmy Carter installed 32 solar panels on the White House roof to harvest the sun’s rays for hot water. In a dedication speech, Carter said he hoped they’d remain there at least until 2000 providing “cheap, efficient energy.” Alas, they were removed during the Reagan administration, but were reinstalled by George W. Bush in 2003.

Hot tub

While we have no idea what new features Hilary Clinton might bring to the White House, we know what her husband, Bill, ushered in: a hot tub! The deluxe seven-person, above-ground unit was donated, and installed near the South Lawn, beside the swimming pool.

“White house addition lets the president enjoy being in hot water,” reported the New York Times at the time. Add your own joke here!

As you might imagine, making any major change to the White House is hard. Since it’s a historical building, all modifications must be approved by the Committee for the Preservation of the White House.

In fact, even lawn gardens have proved hard to push through: The Clintons had wanted one but were turned down because, at that time, the committee feared that a bunch of carrots and kale would make the lawn look messy and not be in keeping with its formal vibe. So, the Clintons planted a vegetable garden in the only place they could: the roof.

The nation waits breathlessly: What will the next era of presidential home improvements bring? Stay tuned.

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