The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the President of the United States, located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C.
The first cornerstone was laid on October 13th, 1792.
It has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800.
The majority of the construction was completed by both free and enslaved African- Americans, as well as immigrants.
At various times in history, the White House has been known as the “President’s Palace,” the “President’s House,” and the “Executive Mansion.” President Theodore Roosevelt officially gave the White House its current name in 1901.
The very first president to move into the house was John Adams.
The White House was designed by Irish-born architect James Hoban in the 1790s in the Neoclassical style. Rebuilt after a British attack in 1814, the “President’s House” evolved with the personal touches of its residents, and accommodated such technological changes as the installation of electricity. The building underwent major structural changes in the early 1900s under Teddy Roosevelt, who also officially established the “White House” moniker, and again under Harry Truman after WWII.
John Adams moved in the White House in 1800. He did not live there very long.
The White House and grounds cover just over 18 acres (about 7.3 hectares).
Thomas Jefferson moved into the White House in 1801.
George Washington never lived in the White House in Washington, the city named for him, because he died before it was completed.
On Christmas Eve in 1929, the White House had another fire, when Herbert Hoover was the president. It started because of a fireplace’s blocked flue. Today the White House has 28 fireplaces.
The modern-day White House complex includes the Executive Residence, West Wing, East Wing, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building—the former State Department, which now houses offices for the President’s staff and the Vice President—and Blair House, a guest residence.
Teddy Roosevelt was responsible for having the West Wing built. Thomas Jefferson had the idea about 100 years earlier, but his idea didn’t materialize.
The building is is 51.2 meters (168 feet) long. It is 26.1 meters (85 feet 6 inches) wide without porticoes; 46.3 meters (152 feet) wide with porticoes.
In 1948, when Harry S. Truman was president, the White House was almost condemned. It had to be repaired as it was close to falling down due to structural issues. The repair was completed in 1952.
The overall height of the White House (to the top of the roof) is 70 feet (21.3 meters) on the south and (18.4 meters) 60 feet 4 inches on the north; the façade (grade of lawn to parapet) is 18.3 meters (60 feet) on the south (lawn at 16.4 meters (54 feet) above sea level) and 15.3 meters (50 feet 4 inches) on the north.
There is replica of the White House in Virginia that was built using the same plans as were used for The White House. It would sell for $4 million. The real White House is worth as much as $286 million.
In the 1790s, the people of Philadelphia were not happy that the president’s home would be in Washington, so they built their own home for the president. It failed to tempt the president to live there.
The original cornerstone, set in place by freemasons having a few alcoholic beverages, has not been seen since that day in 1792. Nobody knows its exact location.
The White House has 5,110 square meters (55,000 square feet) of floorspace.
The White House has 412 doors and 147 windows.
There are 132 rooms, 32 bathrooms, and 6 stories — the Ground Floor, State Floor, Second Floor, and Third Floor, as well as a two-story basement.
There are 35 bathrooms in the White House, and a total of 132 rooms on six levels.
There are also 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 7 staircases, and 3 elevators.
Two floors of the White House are reserved for the First Family.
The West Wing houses the President’s office (the Oval Office) and offices of his senior staff, with room for about 50 employees.
The White House has also been known as the President’s House, the President’s Palace and the Executive Mansion.
Thomas Jefferson anonymously submitted an entry into the design competition. He didn’t win. He did become the third president of the United States however.
About 6,000 people visit the White House each day.
George Washington chose the winning design for the White House.
For recreation, the White House has a variety of facilities available to its residents, including a tennis court, jogging track, swimming pool, movie theater, billiard room, putting green and a bowling lane.
It takes 570 gallons to paint the outside of the building.
With five full-time chefs, the White House kitchen is able to serve dinner to as many as 140 guests and hors d’oeuvres to more than 1,000.
The White House is said to receive 65,000 letters per week, 2,500-3,500 calls. 1,000 faxes and 100,000 emails per day.
The White House receives up to 30,000 visitors each week.
The White House Complex is protected by the United States Secret Service and the United States Park Police.
Washington itself was named after George Washington.
Urban legend says that the White House has a secret laser defense system and anti-aircraft missiles on the roof.
In February 1974, a stolen army helicopter landed without authorization on the White House’s grounds. Twenty years later, in 1994, a light plane crashed on the White House grounds, and the pilot died instantly.
The land that became Washington, DC was acquired from Virginia and Maryland, where slavery was practiced. Historic payroll reports document that many of the workers hired to build the White House were African Americans – some free and some slave.
The initial construction took place over a period of eight years, at a reported cost of $232,371.83 (equal to $3,279,177 today).
The White House is constructed of gray-colored sandstone from a quarry in Aquia, Virginia. The sandstone walls weren’t painted white until the White House was reconstructed after the British fires.
The White House requires 2,150 liters (570 gallons) of paint to cover its outside surface.
The property is a National Heritage Site owned by the National Park Service and is part of the President’s Park.
The White House’s address is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C.
In 2007, it was ranked second on the American Institute of Architects list of “America’s Favorite Architecture”.
Some real-estate pros think that the White House value is more than $100 million. And if all of the artwork, historic artifacts, and American memorabilia were included in the sale, the asking price would soar—to upwards of $250 million.
The White House has twin buildings – one in France and one in Ireland. The building in France is a tourist attraction and the building in Ireland is for the Irish Parliament.
There is a persistent rumour that President Abraham Lincoln’s ghost, also known as ‘the White House Ghost’, has haunted the building since his death in 1865.
The White House Complex also has a jogging track, movie theater, billiards room, bowling lane and a tennis court.
The White House is regularly featured in film and TV, most notably the American series ‘The West Wing’ and the 1996 blockbuster ‘Independence Day’ in which it is shown being destroyed by an alien spaceship.
Frequently Asked Questions About the White House
The White House is the official residence of the President of the United States and a symbol of American government. Here are some of the most common questions people search about it:
What is the history of the White House?
- Construction began in 1792 and was completed in 1800. It was designed by Irish-born architect James Hoban in the neoclassical style.
- The White House was first occupied by President John Adams in 1800.
- The building was damaged by fire during the War of 1812 but was rebuilt and reoccupied in 1817. The white paint applied during the reconstruction gave rise to its current name.
- The White House has undergone numerous renovations and expansions over the years to accommodate the growing needs of the presidency.
Who lives in the White House?
- The President of the United States and their immediate family reside in the White House.
- The White House also houses a large staff of advisors, assistants, and other personnel who support the President’s work.
Can I visit the White House?
- Public tours of the White House are available, though they require advanced reservations and may be suspended during certain times. You can check the White House website (https://www.whitehouse.gov/) for information on scheduling a tour.
- Virtual tours of the White House are also available online, allowing you to explore the rooms and grounds from the comfort of your home.
What are the different parts of the White House?
- The White House is divided into several sections, each serving a specific purpose:
- The Residence: The private living quarters of the President and their family.
- The West Wing: Houses the offices of the President, senior staff, and the Situation Room.
- The East Wing: Contains the First Lady’s Office, social and ceremonial rooms, and the White House press office.
- The State Floor: Used for official receptions, ceremonies, and state dinners.
- The Executive Residence: Provides additional living and entertaining space for the President and their family.
What are some interesting facts about the White House?
- The White House has 132 rooms, 32 bathrooms, 6 levels, and 6 acres of land.
- There is a bowling alley in the basement.
- The White House has a tennis court, a movie theater, and a swimming pool.
- A beehive is located on the South Lawn to promote pollination.
- The White House has its own zip code: 16006.
Is the White House secure?
- The White House is one of the most secure buildings in the world. It is protected by the Secret Service, a specialized federal agency responsible for the safety of the President and their family.
- Security measures include physical barriers, advanced technology, and highly trained personnel.
These are just some of the many questions people have about the White House. It’s a place steeped in history and a symbol of American leadership on the world stage.
