50 Fun Facts About The White House

What is the street address of the White House?

The White House is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. This address has been the official residence of U.S. presidents since 1800.

Who was the first president to live in the White House?

John Adams moved into the White House in November 1800 while the building was still under construction. George Washington oversaw its construction but never lived there.

In what city is the White House located?

The White House is located in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. The city was purpose-built to serve as the nation's capital.

What is the name of the president's primary office in the White House?

The Oval Office, located in the West Wing, is the president's formal workspace. Its distinctive oval shape was designed during the Taft administration in 1909.

What color is the exterior of the White House?

The White House is painted white with a lime-based whitewash. It has been white since at least 1798, though the name 'White House' wasn't officially adopted until Theodore Roosevelt did so in 1901.

Which famous garden is located just outside the Oval Office?

The Rose Garden, located just outside the Oval Office, is frequently used for press conferences and ceremonies. It was redesigned by Rachel Lambert Mellon in 1962 at the request of President Kennedy.

How many rooms does the White House have?

The White House has 132 rooms, including 35 bathrooms, 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases, and 3 elevators.

Which wing of the White House contains the Oval Office?

The West Wing houses the Oval Office, the Cabinet Room, the Situation Room, and the offices of the president's senior staff. It was built in 1902 under Theodore Roosevelt.

What is the name of the helicopter that flies the president to and from the White House?

Marine One is the call sign for any United States Marine Corps helicopter carrying the president. The helicopter lands and departs from the South Lawn of the White House.

Which president officially gave the White House its name?

Theodore Roosevelt officially established 'White House' as the building's name in 1901 by having it printed on presidential stationery. Before that it was called the 'President's House' or 'Executive Mansion.'

Which first lady is credited with starting the White House Easter Egg Roll tradition?

Dolley Madison is credited with organizing the first egg rolling event on the Capitol grounds around 1814. However, Rutherford B. Hayes and his wife Lucy officially moved the event to the White House South Lawn in 1878.

What is the South Lawn of the White House primarily used for?

The South Lawn is used for Marine One helicopter arrivals and departures, as well as large outdoor events such as the Easter Egg Roll and state arrival ceremonies.

What material is the White House primarily built from?

The White House is constructed primarily from Aquia Creek sandstone, quarried from a site in Stafford County, Virginia. The porous stone is coated with white paint to protect it.

Which room in the White House is traditionally used for state dinners?

The State Dining Room, located on the State Floor, can seat up to 140 guests for formal state dinners. It was expanded during the 1902 Roosevelt renovation.

What type of fence surrounds the White House perimeter?

The White House is surrounded by a tall iron fence that has been upgraded multiple times for security. The fence includes anti-climb features and was most recently enhanced after several fence-jumping incidents.

Who designed the original White House?

Irish-born architect James Hoban won the design competition in 1792. His neoclassical design was influenced by Leinster House in Dublin, Ireland. He also supervised its reconstruction after the British burning in 1814.

In what year did construction of the White House begin?

Construction of the White House began on October 13, 1792. The cornerstone was laid that day, and the building took approximately eight years to complete enough for occupancy.

During which war was the White House burned by British forces?

British troops burned the White House on August 24, 1814, during the War of 1812. First Lady Dolley Madison famously saved a portrait of George Washington before fleeing. The building was rebuilt over the following years.

What famous portrait did Dolley Madison save before the British burned the White House?

Dolley Madison saved the full-length Lansdowne portrait of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart before fleeing the White House ahead of the British in 1814. The portrait still hangs in the East Room today.

Which president had the first telephone installed in the White House?

Rutherford B. Hayes had the first telephone installed in the White House in 1877. The phone number was simply '1.' Hayes reportedly rarely used it because so few people had telephones at the time.

Which president had the first indoor plumbing installed in the White House?

Andrew Jackson had running water piped into the White House in 1833, making it one of the first homes in Washington to have indoor plumbing on the main floor.

Which room in the White House is the largest?

The East Room is the largest room in the White House at approximately 80 feet long and 37 feet wide. It has been used for dances, receptions, press conferences, and even the lying in state of presidents.

What significant renovation took place at the White House from 1948 to 1952?

Under President Truman, the White House interior was completely gutted and rebuilt with a steel frame from 1948 to 1952 after engineers found the building was structurally unsound. The exterior walls were preserved.

Which president added the Oval Office to the White House?

William Howard Taft had the Oval Office built in 1909 as part of an expansion of the West Wing. The oval shape was inspired by the Blue Room in the main residence.

How many floors does the White House have?

The White House has six floors: two basement levels (including the Situation Room and bowling alley), the Ground Floor, the State Floor, the Second Floor (private residence), and the Third Floor.

Which first lady led a major historical restoration of the White House in the early 1960s?

Jacqueline Kennedy undertook a major historical restoration of the White House in 1961-1963, acquiring period furniture and artwork. She gave a famous televised tour of the restored rooms in February 1962.

What is the Situation Room in the White House used for?

The Situation Room, located in the basement of the West Wing, is a secure intelligence management center used for monitoring crises and conducting secure communications. It was created in 1961 by President Kennedy.

Which president installed the first electric lights in the White House?

Benjamin Harrison had electric lights installed in the White House in 1891. However, he and his wife were reportedly afraid of being electrocuted and sometimes refused to touch the switches, leaving lights on all night.

What famous room on the State Floor is oval-shaped and used for receptions?

The Blue Room is the oval-shaped reception room on the State Floor. It is traditionally where the White House Christmas tree is displayed each year and where presidents greet guests at state dinners.

Which president was the first to have a Christmas tree in the White House?

Franklin Pierce is generally credited as the first president to place a Christmas tree in the White House in 1856, though some historians debate this claim.

What is the name of the private movie theater in the White House?

The White House Family Theater, located in the East Wing, was converted from a cloakroom in 1942 during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. It seats about 40 people.

Which president added a swimming pool to the White House?

Franklin D. Roosevelt had an indoor swimming pool built in the West Wing in 1933, funded by public donations. It was later covered over by Richard Nixon to create the Press Briefing Room, though the pool still exists beneath the floor.

Which president's ghost is most commonly reported to haunt the White House?

Abraham Lincoln's ghost is the most frequently reported apparition in the White House. Winston Churchill, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, and several first ladies have all claimed to have seen or sensed Lincoln's spirit.

What is the Lincoln Bedroom actually used for?

The Lincoln Bedroom is used as a guest room for important visitors and dignitaries. Despite its name, Lincoln never slept there — he used the room as his office and Cabinet room. The room contains the famous Lincoln Bed, purchased by Mary Todd Lincoln in 1861.

How many bathrooms does the White House have?

The White House has 35 bathrooms spread across its six floors. The building also has 132 rooms, 412 doors, 147 windows, and 28 fireplaces.

Which first lady started the White House vegetable garden that became famous?

Michelle Obama planted the White House Kitchen Garden on the South Lawn in 2009. It was the first substantial food garden at the White House since Eleanor Roosevelt's World War II Victory Garden.

What is the White House bowling alley, and which president installed it?

Richard Nixon had a one-lane bowling alley installed in the basement of the White House in 1973. Truman had previously installed lanes in the West Wing in 1947, but those were later moved.

What is the name of the room where the president meets with the Cabinet?

The Cabinet Room is located in the West Wing adjacent to the Oval Office. It features a large oval mahogany table where the president and Cabinet secretaries meet. Each member has an assigned chair.

Approximately how many people visit the White House each year on public tours?

Approximately 500,000 people visit the White House each year through the public tour program. Tours are free and available through requests made to members of Congress.

What Irish building is believed to have inspired James Hoban's design for the White House?

James Hoban, an Irish-born architect, is believed to have modeled the White House after Leinster House, the Dublin mansion that now houses the Irish parliament (Oireachtas). Both feature a similar Palladian facade.

What is the name of the tunnel system beneath the White House?

The tunnel leading to the Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC) is a reinforced underground bunker beneath the East Wing. It was built during World War II and has been used during emergencies including the September 11 attacks.

Which president's daughter had her wedding in the White House and it became a massive public spectacle?

Alice Roosevelt's 1906 wedding to Nicholas Longworth in the East Room was a national sensation. Known as 'Princess Alice,' she was so popular that a shade of blue was named after her. She famously said, 'I can either run the country or attend to Alice, but I cannot possibly do both.'

What famous pet did Calvin Coolidge keep at the White House?

Calvin Coolidge kept a remarkable menagerie at the White House, including a raccoon named Rebecca that he walked on a leash around the White House grounds. The Coolidges also had dogs, cats, birds, a donkey, a bobcat, and a pygmy hippo named Billy.

How many acres does the White House complex (including grounds) cover?

The White House complex sits on approximately 18 acres. This includes the main building, the North and South Lawns, the Rose Garden, the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, and the surrounding grounds.

Which president had a pet alligator that reportedly lived in the East Room?

John Quincy Adams is said to have kept a pet alligator in the East Room, a gift from the Marquis de Lafayette. While some historians debate the details, the story is one of the most colorful White House pet legends.

What is the Resolute Desk, and where is it located?

The Resolute Desk was built from the timbers of the British Arctic exploration ship HMS Resolute and was a gift from Queen Victoria to President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1880. It has been used by many presidents in the Oval Office.

Which president built the current West Wing of the White House?

Theodore Roosevelt built the West Wing in 1902 (originally called the 'Temporary Executive Office Building') to separate work space from the family living quarters. It was later expanded by Taft in 1909 to include the Oval Office.

What is the Vermeil Room in the White House, and what does it contain?

The Vermeil Room, located on the Ground Floor, houses the White House's collection of vermeil (gilded silver). The collection was donated by Margaret Thompson Biddle and includes pieces dating from the 17th to the early 20th century.

Approximately how many people work in the White House on a daily basis?

Approximately 6,000 people work in the White House complex daily, including the president's staff, Secret Service agents, household staff, military personnel, and others. The residence staff alone numbers around 100.

The White House Press Briefing Room was built over what previous feature?

In 1970, Richard Nixon had the Press Briefing Room constructed over FDR's indoor swimming pool. The pool still exists beneath the briefing room floor and can reportedly still be accessed.