The two agencies have been working since 2014 to develop an appropriate barrier that will keep the White House and grounds as accessible as possible to the public while ensuring the security of the White House and its occupants. Both agencies are committed to respecting the historical significance and visitor experience at the White House and President’s Park.
Construction will take place in phases, beginning in the northwest corner of the White House grounds along Pennsylvania Avenue. The second phase will move to the northeast corner. In the coming weeks, construction fencing will enclose a portion of the immediate White House sidewalk and part of Pennsylvania Avenue adjacent to the work area.
The White House will remain visible from multiple views throughout the duration of this project. The NPS will continue to issue permits for demonstrations in Lafayette Park and the open areas of the White House sidewalk. Scheduled tours of the White House will continue as planned. Pedestrians and cyclists will generally have access to travel through Pennsylvania Avenue, but should expect occasional temporary closures to facilitate access for construction equipment and materials. The project will encompass the 18-acre White House complex and involves over 3,500 feet of steel fencing. The current 6 feet 6 inch tall fence will be replaced by an approximately 13 feet tall fence with wider and stronger fence posts. The new fence incorporates anti-climb and intrusion detection technology and is designed to mitigate current and future security threats.
The design of the fence was approved in 2017 by both the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) and the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC). The contract for construction of a new fence and gates was awarded in June of 2018.
The design, materials and perimeter of the White House fence have evolved over the past two centuries. The first perimeter fence was a wood rail fence completed in 1803 during Thomas Jefferson’s presidency. The wooden fence was replaced by a stone wall and later an iron fence. Paint analysis indicated that the earliest color of the north iron fencing may have been a deep forest green. The NPS plans to preserve sections of the current fence in its museum collection.
To learn more about this project and history of the White House fence, visit go.nps.gov/WhiteHouseFence.
About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 419 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. The National Park Service has cared for the White House and its grounds since 1933. President’s Park, which includes the Ellipse and Lafayette Park, was officially included in the national park system in 1961.
About the United States Secret Service: The United States Secret Service was originally founded in 1865 for the purpose of suppressing the counterfeiting of U.S. currency. Now an agency within the Department of Homeland Security, the USSS is widely known for its protective mission in safeguarding the nation’s highest elected officials, visiting foreign dignitaries, and events of national significance. Today, the USSS maintains a unique integrated mission of protection and investigations, as one of the premier law enforcement organizations charged with investigating cyber and financial crimes.
-- United States Secret Service