Presidents' Retreats

Although the White House serves as the president’s home and office, almost every chief executive has taken the opportunity to travel during their time in office. While early presidents often returned to their own homes—as many had farms or estates that required attention—others escaped to cottages and cabins closer to the White House or just outside of Washington, D.C. As advances in transportation and communication significantly expanded the distance a president could travel and still fulfill their duties, retreats became a mixture of work and leisure. Discover how and where several presidents retreated to and worked outside the White House.