AWhite House is the official residence of the president of the U.S and also the main seat of the Executive Branch of the country. Its construction ended in 1800, in the place chosen by the then president, George Washington.
This building was not always white. Its original color was brown, but it was painted white after being renovated, becoming known as the White House during Roosevelt's term. It is a construction whose security involves bars, sensors, trained dogs, bulletproof windows and even bunkers, being one of the main symbols of american power.
Read too: Alvorada Palace — the official residence of the presidents of Brazil
Topics of this article
- 1 - Summary about the White House
- 2 - Who lives in the White House?
- 3 - History of the White House
- 4 - Architecture and characteristics of the White House
- 5 - White House Security
- 6 - Some of the presidents of the United States who have lived in the White House
- 7 - Curiosities about the White House
Summary about the White House
The President of the US Republic lives and works in the White House.
It began construction in 1792 and was completed in 1800.
To choose your project, a national architectural design contest was held.
Its style is neoclassical.
It was once a venue for weddings and receives visits — very well monitored — from the public.
Previously, it was not called the White House, but the Presidential Palace or just the president's house.
Who lives in the White House?
The White House is the official residence of the president of the United States. It is also his place of work and the main seat of the US Executive Branch.
White House History
The White House it was built between 1792 and 1800, expanded in 1801 and partially destroyed in 1814 by the British Army in the Anglo-American War.
The site of its construction was chosen by the then president, George Washington, and the project, after a national contest with nine competitors. It was built after the creation of the District of Columbia by an act of Congress in December 1790.
Shortly after it was partially destroyed, then President James Monroe began its reconstruction in 1814, which lasted until 1817, when he then moved there. In 1901, during Roosevelt's mandate, the west wing. Eight years later, President William Howard Taft expanded the ward, creating the first oval office. The outside of the house also has the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden.
Do not stop now... There's more after the publicity ;)
Architecture and features of the White House
The main architect of the White House was James Hoban, whose project was selected after a national competition.
It was built between 1792 and 1800 and renovated between 1814 and 1817. The White House it is 21.34 m high and 51.21 m wide, with three elevators, in a built area of 5109.67 m².
The facade is in the neoclassical style, and its cost, in 1800, was US$ 232,372. It is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20500, United States.
White House Security
The White House has 2 meter high railings all around which are millimetrically supervised. there is still infrared sensors capable of detecting any movement (even animals) in the external or internal courtyard and even underground. These sensors are invisible to the naked eye. There are also military dogs of the belgian shepherd breed.
The windows and doors do not have a key and are opened and closed automatically by the security system. are bulletproof, considered the most powerful in the world in this regard. So much so that, in 2011, when a sniper tried to shoot at one of the windows of the house, it was not broken.
No flying objects, including drones, can circle the White House. If that happens, they are summarily shot down by the Air Force.
Underground there is a bunker.. Although there is little information about it, it is known that it was built during the Second World War by Roosevelt, but it is not known how many meters it is below the ground and if it is true or myth that it can protect even from radiation.
On important days or days of tension in front of the White House, snipers are on top of it — as in the inaugurations or moments of presidential crises.
The White House receive visits from duly identified tourists, with requests that must be made 21 days in advance. Until the 19th century, Abraham Lincoln kept it completely open to the population, who went there frequently.
The White House air system is also monitored., to avoid possible attacks with gas toxic or tear gas. Therefore, all the air circulating inside is previously filtered.
Furthermore, Food also goes through a rigorous system ofmonitoring. Suppliers are kept anonymous, and the preparation team is accompanied at all times by agents responsible for tasting all the ingredients.
Some of the Presidents of the United States who have lived in the White House
Since World War II, the White House has housed the following Presidents of the United States of America:
Franklin D. roosevelt (1932 – 1945);
Harry Truman (1945 – 1952);
Dwight Eisenhower (1952 – 1960);
John F. Kennedy (1960 – 1963);
Lyndon Johnson (1963 – 1968);
Richard Nixon (1968 – 1974);
Gerald Ford (1974 – 1976);
Jimmy Carter (1976 – 1980);
Ronald Reagan (1980 – 1988);
George H. W. Bush (1988 – 1992);
Bill Clinton (1992 – 2000);
George W. bush (2000 – 2008);
Barack Obama (2009 – 2017);
Donald Trump (2017 – 2021);
Joe Biden (2022 – present).
See too: How are presidential elections held in the United States?
Facts about the White House
![Replica of the Oval Office of the White House in the state of Arkansas, in the United States. [1]](/f/be0853b251a5f05db3ac86f2a296a396.jpg)
The permanent staff of the White House is 13 people. The external staff comprises more than 300 people.
According to the White House Historical Association, 18 weddings have taken place there. One of the weddings was between Pete Souza, the official White House photographer, and Patti Lease.
There are several replicas and copies of the house scattered around the world.
In the 19th century, the White House was brown. The white color only came after the reform made after the fire of 1814.
It was only named the White House during Roosevelt's term. Before, it was simply called the president's house, also known as the Presidential Palace.
image credit
[1] amadeustx / Shutterstock
By Mariana de Oliveira Lopes Barbosa
History teacher
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
BARBOSA, Mariana de Oliveira Lopes. "White House"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/historia-da-america/casa-branca.htm. Accessed on April 07, 2023.
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