White House replica in INDIANA hits the market for $8.5m

A property that looks just like the White House complete with neoclassical-style columns, a circular front façade and the US flag flying proud, has hit the market for $8.5 million

Located in Evansville, Indiana, the home is nowhere near the President’s home in Washington DC, but you’d be forgiven for giving a double take when passing by.

It even has it’s very own ‘Oval Office’ with swags and tails curtains and a rug branded with an eagle. 

The only difference is, is that the property is a fraction of the size of the real thing. While the White House has 16 bedrooms and 35 bathrooms, the Indiana replica has a more manageable five bedrooms and 11 bathrooms spread across 33,000 sq ft.

George Washington held a competition in 1792 to design a house for the president, eventually selecting Irish-American architect James Hoban’s neoclassical mansion which is now known around the world 

When it comes to the interior design, no expense has been spared, with a spread of opulent furnishings and lashings of gold leaf being a running theme

Other luxe features of the sprawling pad include a billiards room, game room and media room

While the White House has 16 bedrooms and 35 bathrooms, the Indiana replica has a more manageable five bedrooms and 11 bathrooms spread across 33,000 sq ft

The home definitely has the wow factor, with an impressive lobby area featuring a sweeping double staircase

It even has it’s very own ‘Oval Office’ with swags and tails curtains and a rug branded with an eagle

While work on the White House was completed in 1800 after an almost eight-year build, the lookalike property was constructed in 1997. 

Size and history aside, luxe features of the wannabe White House include an impressive lobby area with a double staircase, an elegant dining room, a state-of-the-art kitchen, a fitness room, a billiards room, game room and media room.

Topping things off, there is a basement offering lots of storage space and a vault with wine cellar. 

When it comes to the interior design, no expense has been spared, with a spread of opulent furnishings and lashings of gold leaf being the running theme.

Several of the rooms, including an office space and lounge area, feature decadent wood paneling with grand fireplaces completing the regal look.

Along with the main house the property, located at 7700 Henze Road, comes with an accompanying outbuilding. 

Listing agent Kelly Martin of says the 11,000 square foot area could be used for a variety of different things, with some of her suggestions being ‘a car museum, recreational sports area, [or an] event facility.’

Moving outside, there is a large swimming pool next to the house and plenty of land to play with. 

Several of the rooms, including an office space and lounge area, feature decadent wood paneling with grand fireplaces completing the regal look

The kitchen features a central island and plenty of space for entertaining

The listing describes the overall property package as ‘exquisite, phenomenal, pristine, elegant, charming and breathtaking’

While work on the White House was completed in 1800 after an almost eight-year build, the lookalike property was constructed in 1997

The listing quickly went viral on social media, where the stately home left people divided. Jaimie Olds-Kiefer mused: ‘I’d need a Segway to get from the bedroom to the kitchen’

One critic of the home wrote on social media that it was ‘eye-bleedingly tacky’

While the real White House is visible to prying eyes from the garden gates, the Indiana replica offers plenty of privacy with a gated driveway and dozens of mature trees providing coverage

The mini mansion will particularly appeal to equestrians, as there are four horse barns, a riding arena and multiple paddocks within the grounds. 

Meanwhile, for motor enthusiasts, there is enough garage space to house 26 cars. 

While the real White House is visible to prying eyes from the garden gates, the Indiana replica offers plenty of privacy with a gated driveway and dozens of mature trees providing coverage. 

The listing describes the overall property package as ‘exquisite, phenomenal, pristine, elegant, charming and breathtaking.’ 

The listing quickly went viral on social media, where the stately home left people divided.

Alison Edwards wrote on Facebook: ‘Beautiful, I’ve stayed in less glamorous five star hotels. I couldn’t live there as I’d feel so overwhelmed with its opulence but it is stunning.’

While Jaimie Olds-Kiefer mused: ‘I’d need a Segway to get from the bedroom to the kitchen.’

And Amanda Schmidgall commented: ‘And if it doesn’t include any politicians then it’s definitely better than the White House…’

However, some users were a little more critical.

‘Not sure anyone else will want to spend that much money to live in Evansville, Indiana,’ Chris Smith joked.

While Jason Liechty said: ‘Eye-bleedingly tacky. If this were the White House, I’d renounce my citizenship.’

Alison Edwards said of the property on Facebook: ‘Beautiful, I’ve stayed in less glamorous five star hotels. I couldn’t live there as I’d feel so overwhelmed with its opulence but it is stunning’

George Washington selected the site for the real presidential mansion in 1791

The mini mansion will particularly appeal to equestrians, as there are four horse barns, a riding arena and multiple paddocks within the grounds

Moving outside, there is a large swimming pool next to the house and plenty of land to play with

The history of the White House – from Irish-born architect’s design, to attack by the British and renovations by Roosevelt and Truman

George Washington selected the site for the presidential mansion in 1791. 

The following year, the cornerstone was laid and a design submitted by Irish-born architect James Hoban was chosen. 

George Washington personally considered at least six designs and many of the original drawings are currently archived at the Maryland Center for History and Culture, with three submissions not publicly available. 

After eight years of construction president John Adams and his wife Abigail were the first to occupied the still-unfinished residence, but there were a few setbacks along the way. 

During the War of 1812, the British set fire to the President’s House, and Hoban was back on the job to rebuild his winning design. 

James Monroe moved into the building in 1817, and during his administration, the South Portico was constructed.

In 1829, Andrew Jackson oversaw the addition of the North Portico. 

An engraving by V. Foulquier shows the South Grounds as they appeared before the Civil War during James Buchanan’s administration

Various proposals were put forward during the late 19th century to significantly expand the President’s House or to build an entirely new residence, but these plans were never realized.

In 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt began a major renovation of the White House, including the relocation of the President’s offices from the Second Floor of the Residence to the newly constructed temporary Executive Office Building (now known as the West Wing). 

Roosevelt’s successor, President William Howard Taft, had the Oval Office constructed within an enlarged office wing.

Less than fifty years after the Roosevelt renovation, the White House was already showing signs of serious structural weakness.

President Harry S. Truman began a renovation of the building in which everything but the outer walls was dismantled.

The reconstruction was overseen by architect Lorenzo Winslow, and in 1952, the Truman family moved back into the White House. 

 Source: whitehouse.gov