The East Wing of the White House complex was first built in 1902 during President Theodore Roosevelt’s administration, and later significantly expanded in 1942 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Brief timeline

  • In 1805, Thomas Jefferson added colonnades extending east and west from the main White House, creating the footprint where the modern East Wing would eventually stand.
  • In 1902, Theodore Roosevelt ordered construction of the original East Wing as part of a major renovation of the White House.
  • In 1942, Franklin D. Roosevelt oversaw a large expansion and redesign of the East Wing, adding a second story and concealing an underground bunker.
  • The East Wing stood in that form until it was demolished in 2025 to make way for a new White House ballroom project.

So, if you are asking “when was the East Wing built,” the key date usually given is 1902, with a major rebuild and enlargement in 1942.