5 things you didn’t know about the White House
Do you know what the most famous building in the United States is? It’s a no-brainer: The White House in Washington DC. The White House was constructed between 1792 and 1800 in Washington, D.C. and was designed by James Hoban, an Irish-born architect, in the neoclassical style. It has served as the home to every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800. Well, many of you might be aware of these nuggets of information. But do you know why it is called White House? Or the fact that it is believed to be haunted? The building has many more secrets to intrigue you. Keep reading to unveil the ‘unknowns’ of White House.
How big is the White House?
The white house may not appear large from the outside or in the pictures, but it is enormous. With 132 rooms and 35 bathrooms, it is spread across 6 levels and has 8 staircases and 3 elevators. You could play hide and seek for hours here! The White House can accommodate 40 guests for dinner in its large dining room. Wondering about the kitchen? It can serve over 1000 guests at once! Sounds like the house elves working in the Hogwarts kitchen, doesn’t it? And this is not it. The White House has its own mini-city. It has a movie theatre, a one-lane bowling alley, an indoor and outdoor pool, a jogging track and a tennis court.
Why is it called the White House?
Until 1901, the White House was known as the Executive Mansion or the President’s Palace. White House was actually a nickname given to the building due to its white walls. However, when Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, began his presidency in 1901, he decided to officially name the presidential residence to ‘White House’. And that’s how the White House got its unique name.
The ghost of Abraham Lincoln!
This famous building has a mysterious aspect to it as well. It is believed that many ghosts roam around the halls of the White House, including that of Abraham Lincoln. Yes, many famous people have claimed to have seen Abraham Lincoln in the White House. It was the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill who first claimed that he saw the ghost loitering around the White House. During a visit in the 1940s, Churchill noticed Lincoln sitting in his room. What a shock that must have given him! Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt’s wife, was also said to have seen Lincoln looking outside a window. Wait, there’s more. His sightings do not end there. Ronald Reagan, the 40th US president, believed his dog Rex could sense Lincoln’s ghost. His dog was seen barking near Lincoln’s bedroom multiple times. Weird, isn’t it?
George Washington was never a resident of the White House
The White House is situated in Washington, D.C., which was named after the first US president, George Washington. As a result, it is natural to assume that George Washington was the first resident of the White House. Unfortunately, he wasn’t. Washington did choose the site for constructing the White House. However, the White House was constructed between 1792 and 1800. By the time it got completed, Washington had passed away (1799). John Adams, the country’s second president, was the first to take office in the White House. Eventually, in 1800, he moved to the White House.
Two fires broke out in the White House
The White House has seen a ghost and survived two major fires. The first accident occurred in 1814 when the British set fire to the White House during the War between the United States and the United Kingdom. The fire destroyed much of the building and the surrounding architecture. Subsequently, James Hoban, a Irish- American architect, rebuilt the house. A second fire broke out on Christmas eve of 1929, during Herbert Hoover’s presidency. It was caused by a clogged fireplace flue. Despite extensive firefighting efforts, in which president Hoover himself assisted, the fire managed to destroy the entire east wing of the building. However, it was quickly rebuilt.
After undergoing these disasters and recurrent reconstructions alongside routine renovations, very little of the original White House remains today. Well, frankly the only original part of the building is the exterior stone walls!