the building was commissioned by president ulysses s. grant. it was built between 1871 and 1888, on the site of the original 1800 war/state/navy building and the white house stables. it is built in the french second empire style which caused a lot of criticism at the time. it did not fit in with other government buildings in the city which were designed in the neoclassical style. mark twain said it was "the ugliest building in america." president harry s. truman called it "the greatest monstrosity in america." historian henry adams called it mullett's “architectural infant asylum.”