Fun Facts About White House

White House Facts,

For two hundred years, the White House has stood as a symbol of the Presidency, the United States government, and the American people. Its history, and the history of the nation’s capital, began when President George Washington signed an Act of Congress in December of 1790 declaring that the federal government would reside in a district "not exceeding ten miles square…on the river Potomac." President Washington, together with city planner Pierre L’Enfant,

chose the site for the new residence, which is now 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. As preparations began for the new federal city, a competition was held to find a builder of the "President’s House." Nine proposals were submitted and Irish-born architect James Hoban won a gold

medal for his practical and handsome design.

 

Here, you can find facts about White House that you might need to know :

- Construction started October 13, 1792, 222 years ago

- There are 132 rooms, 16 bedroom, 32 bathrooms and 6 levels to accommodate all the people who live in, work in, and visit the White House. There are also 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 7 staircases and 3 elevators.

- 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.

- Each week the White House receives up to 30,000 visitors and 65,000 letters, plus nearly 3,500 phone calls, 100,000 emails and 1,000 faxes, presumably sent from a time when people still used them.

- The White House receives approximately 6,000 visitors a day.

- 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.

- There’s no such thing as a free lunch, even for the First Family.

At the end of each month, the president receives a bill for his and his family’s personal food and incidental expenses including dry cleaning, toothpaste, and toiletries, which is then deducted from his $400,000 annual salary. But it’s not just food. Toothpaste, toilet paper, and nearly every commodity they personally use must be paid for by Mr. Obama! Pay for food? That could get pricy with all of the world famous guests and five star kitchen staff that are present at the

White House, but luckily for the president the bill is only for times that are not official

state functions.

- The White House requires 570 gallons of paint to cover its outside surface.

- Presidential Firsts President John Tyler (1841-1845) was the first President to have his photograph take. President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909) was not only the first President to ride in an automobile, but also the first President to travel outside the country when he visited Panama. President Franklin Roosevelt (1933-1945) was the first President to ride in an airplane.

- For recreation, the White House has a variety of facilities available to its residents, including a tennis court, a jogging track, swimming pool, movie theater, billiard room and a bowling lane.

- The West Wing was only meant to be temporary.

Originally known simply as the Executive Office Building, the West Wing was built by Teddy Roosevelt to keep the residential and official business areas distinctly separate. It wasn't attached to the main house until President Taft cleared it so that he could be more involved with the day-to-day operations. And if you’ve seen photos of Taft, you'd understand why he wasn't big on having to move between buildings too frequently.

- There is a twin White House in Ireland.

Irish architect James Hoban is thought to have based his plans for the White House on the Leinster House in Dublin, originally the home of the Duke of Leinster and these days the seat of the Irish Parliament.

- The White House was built with the help of many, many European artists and immigrant workers including Scottish masons and Irish and Italian brick and plaster workers. On an uglier note, historic payroll records indicate many other builders were enslaved African Americans. In fact, the architect James Hoban put three of his own slaves to work on the project.

- FDR’s physical limitations forever changed the White House.

The original builders never considered the possibility of a handicapped president, so when he was elected it had to be outfitted appropriately with ramps and elevators to accommodate a wheelchair. He also added a heated indoor pool to help with his therapy.

- It's haunted. Of all the haunted White House anecdotes out there, this is the one that really sticks. Winston Churchill refused to ever again stay in the Lincoln Bedroom after Lincoln's ghost appeared to him beside the fireplace as he was emerging from a bath, fully nude.

- The East Wing has room for the first lady and an underground protection bunker!

Source:

http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov

http://www.supercompressor.com