The White House

The first President, George Washington chose the site for the White House but he was never to live there. The White House is the official residence of the President of the United States and has been since the second President of the United States, John Adams, in 1800. It has also been the principal workplace of the Presidents. The residence has had a few names prior to becoming officially the “White House” in 1901. It has been called the President’s Palace, Executive Mansion, and Presidential Mansion. During the War of 1812, the British burned down the White House. It was rebuilt and President James Monroe established residency in 1817. There have been five architects that have built and added on to the now existing White House since it has been rebuilt after the War of 1812.

Some facts of the White House are that there are six floors and roughly, 55,000 square feet, there are 132 rooms, 16 family-guest rooms, and 35 bathrooms. The fence that surrounds the White House encloses 18 acres. In 1801, the third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson, was active in planning the garden at the White House. Many of the Presidents had contributed to the Landscape and gardens of the White House since then.

In 1861, there were two official homes called the “White House.” Besides the White House we know in Washington, DC, there was a house set up in Richmond, as the presidential home of the Confederate States of America. It was acquired by the city and provided for Jefferson Davis prior to the Civil War.