Technology and the White House

Smartphones, social media, and self-driving cars are examples of today’s monumental technological advancements. But less modern technologies like running water, electricity, and word processors transformed life in the United States and the White House. At its simplest, technology is the application of scientific knowledge for a practical purpose. The White House has been a testing ground for many of these technologies, as occupants and staff have continually sought innovative technologies to improve working and living conditions. From the beginning of its construction in 1792 to present day, the White House has been a site of technological innovation. Explore two centuries of technological advancement at the White House.