Houses of the Presidents: Childhood Homes, Family Dwellings, Private Escapes, and Grand Estates

by Hugh Howard, Roger Straus

HOUSES OF THE PRESIDENTS offers a unique tour of the houses and day-to-day lives of America's presidents, from George Washington's time to the present. Author Hugh Howard weaves together personal, presidential, and architectural histories to shed light on the way our chief executives lived. Original photography by Roger Straus III brings the houses and furnishings beautifully to life. From Jefferson's Monticello to Reagan's Rancho del Cielo, with fascinating and surprising stops between and beyond, HOUSES OF THE PRESIDENTS presents a fascinating alternative history of the American presidency.

Genres: History, Presidents, Nonfiction, Architecture, Politics, Photography

256 pages, Hardcover

First published November 6, 2007

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful pictures and information on the houses depicted. Not all inclusive, however, but what was there was impressive.

[Bryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great reference book to read after reading biographies of president. Makes one want to travel to see all the original buildings.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big coffee table book with nice original photos. The text is so dense, it's impossible to take in all the stories of so many presidents. Not sure why some were picked and some weren't. He left out Harry Truman's place but included Martin van Buren? If you own a copy, you will need plenty of time to read. I had a library copy and can't possibly take it all in before it's due.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely coffee table-esque book with some lovely pictures of homes of various presidents. I was a bit disappointed that James A. Garfield's home was left out - I've visited the historical site and it is a stunning, wonderful place - but other than that, it was pretty good. The text was a bit dense, and I would have preferred more pictures than text, but again, still interesting.

[Herman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent coffee table.....all these guys seem to have one thing in common. They all have a secure home life and a loving mother. Still, a great account of the homes of this special club of men. Great photography. Good read.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gem of a find at the Hermitage gift shop

[Read Ng · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a GoodReads Giveaway. It made my eyes drool just looking at the cover.

An excellent coffee table book. The glimpses of these homes will make you want to visit each home to see for yourself. I have been to Mount Vernon and have to admit that the small selection of photos can hardly convey the historic feel of the real thing. The narratives are short, just as expected for a book of this nature. Some homes are just majestic, while others are so simple and humble. The photos are just stunning. I wish there were more photos, but then the book would be too heavy to pick up. You will be planning your next vacation to see these homes yourself.

It will make a great gift. Buy a copy for a present, but you may need to buy a second for yourself.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has two sections of chronological chapters about houses lived in by U.S. Presidents – in some cases their childhood home; in others, presidential retreats or post-presidency residences. The first section has lengthy spreads and photos covering 22 houses (24 presidents: the Adamses and Bushes have to share). The second section devotes one page to other presidents. A more accurate title would be “Houses of Most of the Presidents,” because unfortunately not all are included, although the reasoning is explained in the intro. Great photographs and nice biographical summaries, with a comprehensive "visitor’s information" section. I’ve seen quite a few of the houses, which added to my enjoyment of this book.

[Nancy Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

While at first glance this book might appear to be a coffee table book for display only, the text is also quite informative and interesting. Twenty-two Presidential homes are featured (homes for 24 Presidents), from birthplaces to family residences. The photos are amazing, and the author has included biographical information on the Presidents themselves as well as verbal portraits of many family members and capsule histories of major accomplishments of their times in office. The last chapter of the book includes brief articles on 15 other Presidential homes. There is also an appendix listing visitor information for historical sites relating to most of the Presidents. I've already visited a number of them but as a result of reading this book, I've added several more to my list.

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as a Christmas gift, and I can honestly say that it is the only coffee table book that I have ever read from cover to cover. I have a lifelong love affair with beautiful coffee table books, and this certainly fits that bill, but it is also so much more than that- it is a great introduction to the personal stories of about half of our presidents and a fascinating survey of US history. I've always been interested in history and love historical fiction, but this book really inspired me to pick up some biographies and start reading more about the lives of our national leaders.

[Judi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't want to say I was disappointed but for lack of a better word, I'll use it. This is what I call a coffee table book; a quick, flip-thru kind of thing that could be a conversation piece. The content of this book was too wordy instead of filled with mostly pictures. When I ordered it from the library, that's what I thought I was getting. I was wanting something that gave short stories about their childhood home; such as sliding down the bannister or building a tree house. This book was too much about the president's politics and if that's what I wanted I could have found something better than this. I mean read the title and it's misleading.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book here on Goodreads. When it arrived, I was shocked. It is a giant coffee-table book. But unlike most coffee-table books, I'm finding that other people than me are picking it up and reading it. They are finding it facinating and asking questions. It is beautiful and nicely written. If you are looking for this type of book, I would definatly recommend this one.

[Marguerite · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book via Goodreads. It is a beautiful book. The photos are fantastic and I wish I could visit every house. Appreciate the opportunity to receive this. It is great coffee table book and great conversation starter.

[Susan Vasquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this coffee-table book through a goodreads giveaway. It is a wonderfully well-written account of our presidents through a look at their personal homes. The text is accompanied by spectacular photographs with well-thought-out captions. Why can't all history books be this beautiful?

[Janet]

What a wonderful idea - a glimpse into the upbringing of our Presidents in the homes they grew up in. Curiosity is always a fun way to read! Hope I win a copy to cure my curiosity!

[Robin]

I've entered a Goodread giveaway for this one and if I'm not lucky enough to win I am definitely buying it.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an extraordinary and beautiful book. The pictures are gorgeous and the trivia is fun. Highly recommend.

[Jim Blessing · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contained pictures and descriptions of Presidential homes, all that I have seen except Reagan's ranch. The book was informative and the pictures were excellent.

[Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great coffee table book. Wonderful pictorial and history of presidential homes. Hope to visit those I haven't already.

[Charles M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautifully pictured book on the presidential homes, including birthplaces or adult residences, etc. With information on visitation hours and dates, etc.