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A house that closely resembles the White House has come on the market in Hillsborough, California, for $38.9 million.
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The four-story home is 24,350 square feet and comes with 11 bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, a breakfast room, dining room, and gourmet kitchen, as well as a replica of the Oval Office.
Like the original White House, the property has a spacious garden with roses and a swimming pool. Despite its grandeur, it cannot be seen from the road.
The interior of the house has remarkably large rooms, filled with chandeliers and ornate details.
HILLSBOROUGH, CALIFORNIA – JULY 03: An aerial view of a home designed as a replica of the White House is seen on July 03, 2023 in Hillsborough, California. A home called the “Western White House” in San Mateo County, California, is for sale for $38.9 million. Photo by Justin Sullivan /Getty Images
The replica was designed by a well-known architect julia morgan in the 1920s for George Hearst – chairman of Hearst Corporation and grandson of newspaper publisher William Hearst.
“The story goes that he had ambitions to become president one day, a presidential candidate,” said broker Alex Buljan. ABC7 News. “His idea was to donate it to the United States government to turn it into a Western White House, a residence on the West Coast of the United States to complement those on the East Coast. That never really took off and George never even moved in and lived here.
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HILLSBOROUGH, CALIFORNIA – JULY 03: An aerial view of a home designed as a replica of the White House is seen on July 03, 2023 in Hillsborough, California. A home called the “Western White House” in San Mateo County, California, is for sale for $38.9 million. Photo by Justin Sullivan /Getty Images
According to Buljan, the house has had minor updates, but remains essentially the same as when it was first remodeled to look like the White House in the 1920s. The house itself dates back to the 1800s.
He also revealed that the property’s current owner had plans to live there with his family, but realized it wasn’t ideal for his two young children.
“We live in an area where big houses and expensive houses seem normal,” Buljan said. “But the amount of attention this is getting, from here to Washington, DC, to London, is pretty wild.”
HILLSBOROUGH, CALIFORNIA – JULY 03: An aerial view of a home designed as a replica of the White House is seen on July 03, 2023 in Hillsborough, California. A home called the “Western White House” in San Mateo County, California, is for sale for $38.9 million. Photo by Justin Sullivan /Getty Images
The White House has been the symbol of the American presidency since the 19th century.
WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 24: The White House is on display on June 24, 2023 in Washington, DC. Photo by Samuel Corum /Getty Images
In 1790, President George Washington signed into law an act of Congress that introduced standards for where the president should live.
Construction was completed in 1800 and President John Adams and his wife were the first to live in the White House. After that, all the presidents who stayed in the White House updated the house to their taste, with different decorations and other changes.
HILLSBOROUGH, CALIFORNIA – JULY 03: An aerial view of a home designed as a replica of the White House is seen on July 03, 2023 in Hillsborough, California. A home called the “Western White House” in San Mateo County, California, is for sale for $38.9 million. Photo by Justin Sullivan /Getty Images
