The White House

(By: Aubrey Schultz)

Address:   1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington D.C. 20500
Hours:   Monday - Saturday, 9:00am - 6:00pm
Cost:   Free
Contact Number:   (202) 456-1414
Website:   www.whitehouse.gov/about/history

For more than 200 years, the White House has been more than just the home of the Presidents and their families. Throughout the world, it is recognized as the symbol of the President, of the President's administration, and of the United States of America.

The White House is made up of six stories—the Ground Floor, State Floor, Second Floor, and Third Floor, and a two-story basement. The White House was built between 1792 and 1800. It has been the home of every U.S. President since John Adams (2nd President of the United States). Today the White House Complex includes the Executive Residence, West Wing, Cabinet Room, Roosevelt Room, East Wing, and the Old Executive Office Building which houses the executive offices of the President and Vice President.

Family gatherings, birhtday parties, holiday dinners, weddings, and funerals were all held at the White House.  In September 1893 the first lady Frances Cleveland, married to Grover Cleveland (22nd and 24th President), gave birth to Esther Cleveland. She was the only child EVER to be born in the White House. Theodore Roosevelt (26th President) holds the record for the most kids to live in the White House - 6 childeren!  

The Red Room received it's name in the 1840's because of it's color scheme. In this room, first lady Dolley Madison, married to James Madison (4th President), held Wednesday drawing night for socializing with members of opposite political parties. Also, first lady Eleanor Roosevelt, married to Franklin Delano Roosevelt (32nd President), hosted the first of many press conferences for women reporters. They discuused cooking and housekeeping topics.

The Blue Room is on the center of the first floor. It is one of three oval shaped rooms and has a breathtaking view of the south lawn, which captivates visitors. This room is a customary place for the President to formally receive guests. This room is also used for receptions, receiving lines, and small dinners. It is 40 feet long and 30 feet wide and traditionally decorated in shades of blue.

The Green Room is also on the first floor of the white house. It is the state parlor, and has been a favorite of the Presidents and their families due to its intimate scale and distinctive decor. The green room got its name when Thomas Jefferson (3rd President) used the room as a drinking room and would cover the floor in a green colored canvas for protection.  In this room was the signing of our first declaration of war.

The Press Room is where the press corps gather to hear daily breifings from and ask questions of the White House press secretary and other spokesmen for the executive branch. On February 11, 2000 the Press Room was renamed the James S. Brady Press Room. James Brady was the White House press secretary who was shot and seriously injured following an assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan (40th President) in 1981.

The Oval Office is the official office of the President of the United States. Created in 1909 as part of an overall expansion of the West Wing of the White House, during the administration of William Howard Taft(27th President). The oval office was inspired by the Blue Room. The room has three large south-facing windows behind the President's desk and a fireplace at the north end of the room. Presidents like to change the office to suit their personal taste, choosing new furniture, new drapery, and designing their own oval-shaped carpet to take up most of the floor. Paintings are chosen from the White House’s own collection, or borrowed from other museums. The Oval Office has four doors: the east door opens to the Rose Garden; the west door leads to a private smaller study and dining room; the northwest door opens onto the main corridor of the West Wing; and the northeast door opens to the office of the president's secretary.


I hope you enjoyed reading and learning all about the White House.  I am even more excited now to see it in person!  It sounds like an amazing place that I know our family will enjoy.  The picture below labels the White House grounds.
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