17 Interesting Facts About White House

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.

Front of the White House
Front of the White House

image: askideas.com

1. Why ‘White House?’

A Drawing of the First White House
A Drawing of the first 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”

Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt

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.
source: list25.com

4. How Big Is That?

White House Map
White House Map

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

Visitors to White House
Visitors to White House

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

George Washington portrait in White House
George Washington portrait in White House

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

Irish White House
Irish White House

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.
source: thrillist.com

9. Is It Haunted?

Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill

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

West Wing Portico
West Wing Portico

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!

Birth of a Nation theatrical poster
Birth of a Nation theatrical poster

The first movie screened at the White House was Birth of a Nation in 1915.
source: buzzfeed.com, image: Wikipedia

12. A Glamorous Prison

Southern Facade of White House from Above
Southern Facade of White House from Above

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

Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison

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”

Painting at House
Painting at House

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

Portrait of President John Adams
Portrait of President John Adams

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 at the stamp of White House
James Hoban at the stamp of White House

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!

Dinner in White House
Dinner in White House

In the White Houses’ dining room approximately 140 persons can have dinner simultaneously.
source: list25.com, image: obamawhitehouse.archives.gov