Fascinating facts you didn’t know about the White House

When the building was first constructed, it was covered with a lime-based whitewash, as a way of protecting the porous stone from freezing. The whitewash was meant to weather and wash off, however, it was never allowed to weather. Instead, it was refreshed periodically until the structure, at last, was painted with white lead paint in 1818.

8 / 28 Fotos

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

Although George Washington was responsible for commissioning the construction, choosing the site, and approving its design, he never actually lived in the White House. That honor went to president number two, John Adams.

9 / 28 Fotos

It was built by slaves -

Since Michelle Obama openly expressed her feelings about waking up every day in a house built by slaves, this White House fact has become common knowledge. Historical records show that African American slaves were trained on the spot to fill certain capacities, such as quarryman, brick-maker, and carpenter.

10 / 28 Fotos

It's full of fun, lesser-known rooms -

Harry S. Truman commissioned the White House's first bowling alley, and Franklin D. Roosevelt had a cloakroom transformed into a 42-seat movie theater. Also, Hillary Clinton even converted one sitting room into the music room, so Bill Clinton could play his saxophone.

11 / 28 Fotos

There's a hidden pool beneath the Press Room -

The White House has both an exterior and interior pool hidden beneath the floors. The indoor pool, which opened in 1933 for FDR, is underneath the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room.

12 / 28 Fotos

It's been home to many animals -

The White House has seen its fair share of cats and dogs, but also a number of more unusual pets. When the Coolidges were sent a raccoon to cook for Thanksgiving dinner, they opted instead to keep it as a pet, naming her Rebecca. President Benjamin Harrison kept two opossums named Mr. Protection and Mr. Reciprocity.

13 / 28 Fotos

The White House didn't have electricity for nearly a century -

The White House was entirely lit by gaslights until 1891, when electricity was first installed.

14 / 28 Fotos

The Oval Office was inspired by George Washington -

The first president reportedly insisted upon having rounded walls in his Philadelphia home, so that it would be suitable for hosting formal gatherings. This design was followed when the Oval Office was constructed.

15 / 28 Fotos

It didn't have indoor plumbing for decades -

It wasn't until 1833 that indoor plumbing was installed. However, it was another 20 years before all the bathrooms had hot water!

16 / 28 Fotos

The White House kitchen keeps busy -

The executive residence has hosted its fair share of parties, including many banquets, which keeps the kitchen busy. It's staffed by some of America's greatest chefs, who adjust their menus to the president's taste.

17 / 28 Fotos

When did the White House burn? -

During an invasion on August 24, 1814, the British burned the White House down. This was only 14 years after the original construction was finished.

18 / 28 Fotos

When was the White House rebuilt? -

The original architect, James Hoban, was responsible for rebuilding the White House. The new building was done in 1817, when James Monroe became president.

19 / 28 Fotos

Who owns the White House? -

The National Park Service owns the White House. It's an agency by the federal government that manages all national parks and most national monuments.

20 / 28 Fotos

It nearly fell apart in 1948 -

Due to the Great Depression, Roosevelt had very little budget for annual repairs to the White House, and as a result, the building was literally collapsing. But the seriousness of it was only discovered when engineers working on President Truman's balcony in 1948 found that the floorboards were cracking, and that the building's weakened wooden beams were at risk of breaking.

21 / 28 Fotos

The West Wing didn't always exist -

The West Wing is home to the Situation Room, the Cabinet Room, and of course, the Oval Office. However, none of that existed before Theodore Roosevelt called to have an executive office building built alongside the residence in 1902. Then in 1909, President William Howard Taft doubled the Wing's size, and the Oval Office was included.

22 / 28 Fotos

It has hosted some weddings -

While it's unlikely that you can host your own nuptials there, there have been 19 official weddings at the White House.

23 / 28 Fotos

It was one of the first wheelchair accessible government buildings -

Franklin D. Roosevelt was responsible for making the White House entirely wheelchair accessible. Paralyzed below the waist due to polio, Roosevelt's additions of elevators and ramps made the White House one of the first wheelchair-friendly buildings in the capital.

24 / 28 Fotos

It's a big task to repaint it -

Part of the routine upkeep is making sure the White House stays true to its name. And that's a task that requires a lot of paint. At 55,000 square feet (5,100 m2), it takes 570 gallons (2,160 liters) of paint to cover the entire surface.

25 / 28 Fotos

Presidents can get their teeth cleaned on-site -

There's a dentist's office in the basement of the White House. In fact, the basement is essentially a mini-mall, including a chocolate shop, a florist, and a carpenter.

26 / 28 Fotos

There's a secret entrance -

For the use of the president and secret visitors, this entrance opens onto H Street in Washington, D.C. It passes through two tunnels and an alleyway before arriving at the White House basement. It was designed as an underground bomb shelter during World War II.

Sources: (Parade) (Constitution Center) (Best Life Online)

Fascinating facts you didn’t know about the White House

Bizarre facts and interesting tidbits about the famous American landmark

23/05/24 | StarsInsider

LIFESTYLE Us politics

As the longtime home of the US president and the location of countless momentous decisions and historic moments, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is immediately identifiable around the world. But as well as you know it, how well do you really know the White House? Do you know who built it? Who owns it? Or how large it is?

To find out, check out this gallery for all the fascinating details about the White House and its history.