All About VP Kamala Harris’ Official Mansion

Now that Vice President Kamala Harris has kicked off her presidential campaign, voters are busy putting out plenty of Brat and coconut memes — and learning more about the presumptive Democratic Party nominee. 

Harris actually lives in a little-known three-story official residence that houses the president’s right hand and their family. Here’s what you didn’t know about the vice president’s home at Number One Observatory Circle in Washington, DC, which is closed to the public. 

Vice President (VP) Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff, currently live in the three-story Queen Anne-style building, which was originally constructed in 1893 as a house for the U.S. Naval Observatory’s superintendent. However, because of how pretty the home turned out, the chief of naval operations decided to move in himself, according to the official history of the home on the White House website. 

Queen Anne homes, also known as Victorian homes, were a popular style of architecture when Number One Observatory Circle was built in the late 19th century. Set on 12 acres of land, the sprawling 9,150 square foot home has a basement kitchen, numerous fireplaces, crown molding, and libraries, per rare photos various vice presidents have shared over the years. 

The vice president’s property also is home to a landing area for Marine One and Marine Two, the president and VP’s official helicopters, according to Today.

Despite its many renovations, the residence itself still has many quintessential Queen Anne features, including a large porch with a decorative wood trim, an asymmetrical facade, multipaned windows, a tower on the right side, and large dormers. 

Because of how expansive the property is, many vice presidents have also used Number One Observatory Circle to host foreign dignitaries as well as personal celebrations. According to The Washington Post, Al Gore’s daughter Karenna got married at the home in 1997 during a 300-person wedding where Aretha Franklin performed. George H.W. Bush was also known for hosting 900 parties at the expansive property while he served as vice president under Ronald Reagan. 

Number One Observatory Circle has only housed vice presidents and their family since Walter Mondale in 1977. Before the property was refurbished and designated as the VP’s official home less than 50 years ago, vice presidents lived in their private homes, and Number One Observatory Circle was just part of the 72-acre property of the U.S. Naval Observatory. Today, scientists still work and conduct research from the naval observatory, according to the White House. 

The home has been renovated over the years with additions from different owners, including some interesting updates from former VPs like George H.W. Bush, Dick Cheney, and Mike Pence. But not as much is known about the property as the White House, as it’s not open for public tours.

However, there’s a long history of VPs adding their own personal design touches as well as necessary upgrades to the house, both before and during their move. 

According to reports, Pence’s wife added a beehive to the property and Dan Quayle put in a swimming pool, while H.W. Bush installed a horseshoe pit and a jogging track, which Jill Biden reportedly enjoyed using for her runs when she was Second Lady from 2009-2017.
Harris reportedly did $3.8 million in upgrades to the property before she moved in with Emhoff, which included “maintenance on the HVAC system, replacing the liners in the chimneys, and refurbishing of some of the hardwood floors,” Harris’ spokesperson at the time, Symone Sanders, shared on X (formerly Twitter).