Undoubtedly the most famous house in the world , White house is the residence and the workplace of the U.S president .It has been the home of every US president since 1800. with John Adams being its first occupant and its present occupant being president Joe Biden.
Here are 10 amazing and lesser known facts about the building found at 1600 ,Pennsylvania avenue NW.
10.The Architect of the White House wasn't American.
The white house was designed by James Hoben who was an Irish architect.In 1792 a contest for an architect for the then proposed precedential palace was held and Hoben won.The cornerstone of the president's house was laid in October 1792 and it took 8 years to finish.
James Hoben
9.The White house was set on fire by British Forces.
This happened in August 1814 and this act was in retaliation of the destruction of York,Canada by US forces in June 1813.After the fire James Hoben ,the original architect of White House lead the rebuilding.In 1817 the process was completed and the then president James Munroe moved into the building.
8.White house got its current name in 1901.
Have you ever wondered why white house got its name.White house was painted white after the fire set by the British in 1814.
Prior to 1901 it was known as the ''President's palace'' ,''President's House'' and the ''Executive Mansion''. President Theodore Roosevelt gave White House its current name in 1901.He wanted to make sure that the President's residence has a more distinguished name.
Theodore Roosevelt
7.Move in and move out takes place in 5 hours.
As soon as the sitting president leaves for the President-elect's swearing in ceremony White House staff have 5 hours to move out the sitting president's belongings and move in the president elects belonging.
In five hours the entire furniture and artworks are swapped.Even the walls are repainted to suit the interest of the incoming family !! It can be undoubtedly said that moving day is a tough day for white house staffers.
6.There are 132 rooms in the White House.It requires 570 gallons of paint to cover its outer surface.
White house is a really big!! .There are 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, and 6
levels in the Residence. There are also 412 doors, 147 windows, 28
fireplaces, 8 staircases, and 3 elevators.
A recent appraisal valued the White house at $ 400 million .
5.White house receives around 6000 visitors per day.
The white house visitors office is responsible for public tours of the White House.Anyone visiting Washington D.C can experience the history and art of the white house after submitting a request through their member of Congress. The house and grounds, collectively
known as President's Park, is designated as one of 59 United States National
Parks. President's Park, which spans around 18 acres is maintained
by 13 staff members, which includes 8 gardeners and a chief horticulturist.It's the only private head of state residence that is open to the public for free.
4.President is responsible for all personal expenses.
At the end of each month, the president receives a bill for his and
his family’s personal food and expenses which includes dry cleaning,
toothpaste, and toiletries. The amount is then deducted from his salary.There have been several stories of presidents and first ladies shocked at the amount when they receive their first monthly bill.
3.The first president to use telephone in white house was Rutherford B Hayes and his phone number was simply '' 1 '' .
He had the first telephone installed in the telegraph room of the White House on the 10th of May 1877.It was just 14 months after Alexander Graham Bell's invention.Intially his number could only be reached from the treasury department.
2.White House has a dental clinic ,flower shop ,carpenter's shop,movie theater and a situation room along with other facilities.
The Situation Room is where the President meets his advisors during a crisis.There is also a bowling alley installed by President Nixon in 1969.
1. George Washington never set foot in the President's Palace.
George Washington's farewell address (Source :Wikipiedia)
The White House was
under construction during his two terms in office, and at the end of his
presidency, he returned to Mount Vernon, his farm in
Virginia. In fact, the White House was not completed until 1800, the
year after Washington's death. The second president of the United States , John Adams, who was
elected in 1796, became the first occupant of the official presidential
quarters.
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