Known as Blair House, the president’s guest house complex actually consists of four houses joined to form a single facility. The nucleus of the complex, the original Blair House, was built in 1824 and acquired by Francis Preston Blair in 1836. The building was occupied by members of the Blair family until 1942, when it was purchased by the United States government. Directly west of Blair House is the Lee House, constructed in 1858 by Blair for his daughter and son-in-law. It became part of the complex in 1943. To the east are two large brick townhouses, 700 and 704 Jackson Place, which were built in 1860 and greatly altered during the late 1960s and early 1970s. These two houses were joined to the complex to provide support facilities. ...more information...