The White House in Washington, D.C is one of the most iconic and stunning places ever built in history. Earlier called by the name ‘Executive Mansion’, the white house is the most esteemed place in the United States where the President lives. Built by the local slaves of the State, it is so huge that it can easily accommodate the guests apart from the people living and working there. The royal palace has much more interesting like hidden swimming pools, a strip mall and much more. Here are following few amazingly interesting facts about the President’s House, one would probably never know.
1. Why ‘White House?’
Every child is aware of the childhood story that the white house was painted white to cover up the burning of the house by the British in 1814. But that’s not true. The building of the White House was first made white with lime-based whitewash in 1798 when its walls were finished. The reason behind it is to protect the porous stone from freezing.
source: whitehousehistory.org, image: mediad.publicbroadcasting.net
2. “President’s Palace”
The White House is the official place of the President of the United States and is hence for more than 150 years, it was called “President’s Palace,” or the “President’s House,” and the “Executive Mansion.” In 1901, when Theodore Roosevelt was the President of United States, changed its name to the ‘White House.’
source: clinton4.nara.gov, image: media.tinmoi.vn
3. Underneath The House
There is an entire strip mall underneath the White House along with a flower shop and a bowling alleyway. Apart from this, there is also a dentist’s office under the White House.
4. How Big Is That?
The White House is big enough to accommodate all the people living and also working there. There are 132 rooms, 32 bathrooms, and 6 levels in total. There are also 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 7 staircases, and 3 elevators.
Source: clinton4.nara.gov, image: whitehousemuseum.org
5. Pay A Visit For Free
The White House is the only private residence of a head of state that the public can visit for free. The only condition is that the visitors may need to book their visit in advance.
source: buzzfeed.com, image: newyorker.com
6. George Washington Never Lived Here
Despite the beautiful paintings hanging in the White House, it is a fact that George Washington never lived here. The president died in 1799, less than a year before the first tenants moved in to live there.
source: buzzfeed.com, image: Flickr
7. Twinning With The One In Ireland
The White House in the United States is not the only white house in the World. There is a twin White House in Ireland designed by an Irish architect James Hoban.
source: thrillist.com, image: declancullengroup.ie
8. Even The First Family Pays Here!
A seriously shocking fact about the white house is that nothing is for free here, not even for the first family. Monthly, they have to pay for their daily expenses, food, and toiletries.
9. Is It Haunted?
People say that the White House is haunted. One popular anecdote that prevails is that Winston Churchill (Former British Prime Minister) refused to ever stay in the Lincoln Bedroom. It is rumored that he refused to stay there after he saw Lincoln’s ghost beside the fireplace as he was coming out from a bath.
source: thrillist.com, image: saddind.co.uk
10. Temporary West Wing
The West Wing of the White House was initially temporary. It was not there until 1902 when Roosevelt got it built as a replacement for the greenhouses of the Palace.
source: buzzfeed.com, image: whitehousemuseum.org
11. The First Movie!
The first movie screened at the White House was Birth of a Nation in 1915.
source: buzzfeed.com, image: Wikipedia
12. A Glamorous Prison
President Truman called it the Great White Jail and the Glamorous Prison. And maybe, it is indeed.
source: list25.com, image: cdn.loc.gov
13. Electricity For The First Time
For the first time, Electricity came to the White House in the tenure of Benjamin Harrison who was the president of the United States from 1889 to 1893. However, Benjamin never touched even a switch because he was very scared of getting electrocuted.
source: kickassfacts.com, image: biography.com
14. “Painting The White House Is A Costly Affair”
White House need 560 Gallons of paints to cover its exterior.
source: list25.com, image: s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com
15. First Tenant To House
John Adams, who was the second president of the United States, served from March 1797 to March 1801 was the first person to inhabit White House.
source: Wikipedia, image: 2.bp.blogspot.com
16. Who Is James Hoban?
James Hoban was an Irish Architect who was the architect of White House, Official Residence of the US President.
source: Wikipedia, image: s3-production.bobvila.com
17. 140 Together!
In the White Houses’ dining room approximately 140 persons can have dinner simultaneously.
source: list25.com, image: obamawhitehouse.archives.gov