Washington, D.C. · August 24, 1814
The White House Burns
British forces have entered Washington after defeating American forces at Bladensburg. The Capitol is burning—and the President’s House is next.
Quick Context
Where
Washington, District of Columbia
When
August 24, 1814
Why it matters
British forces burned major public buildings in the U.S. capital during the War of 1812.
Inside the Story
Before the flames reached the President’s House
Earlier that day, British forces defeated American defenders at the Battle of Bladensburg, clearing the route into Washington.
As the British approached, Dolley Madison directed that Gilbert Stuart’s full-length portrait of George Washington be saved. She did not carry it out alone; White House staff, enslaved workers, and other associates participated in its removal and evacuation.
The Night Unfolds
Bladensburg falls
American forces were defeated outside Washington, opening the route into the capital.
Washington is entered
British forces moved into the city and burned major government buildings, including the Capitol.
The President’s House burns
The building was deliberately set on fire. Its roof and interior were devastated, leaving much of the surviving exterior masonry shell.
Reconstruction begins
Reconstruction began in 1815, and President James Monroe moved into the restored residence in 1817.
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Step into Washington, 1814
Watch the History
The White House and the War of 1812
Explore the historical context of the White House during the War of 1812 with the White House Historical Association.
What to Notice
The residence people now call the White House survived through reconstruction. The 1814 fire devastated its interior and roof, but the story continued through rebuilding rather than total demolition.
Visit This History Today
Walk through Washington’s historic landscape
The modern White House and President’s Park stand within a larger Washington landscape shaped by the War of 1812, the rebuilding of the capital, and generations of American history.
Today, visitors can explore the exterior of the White House, President’s Park, the National Mall, and other historic sites connected to the capital’s past.
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Keep traveling
The building survived. The memory of that night did too.
The burning of Washington remains one of the most dramatic moments in the history of the American capital.