Plus other interesting facts about the President’s residence

The White House has been the residence of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800.

At various times in history, the White House has been known as the “President’s Palace,” the “President’s House,” and the “Executive Mansion.” President Theodore Roosevelt officially gave the White House its current name in 1901.

The White House was designed by Irish-born architect James Hoban in the 1790s in the Neoclassical style. Rebuilt after a British attack in 1814, the “President’s House” evolved with the personal touches of its residents, and accommodated such technological changes as the installation of electricity. The building underwent major structural changes in the early 1900s under Teddy Roosevelt, who also officially established the “White House” moniker, and again under Harry Truman after WWII.

The White House and grounds cover just over 18 acres.

The modern-day White House complex includes the Executive Residence, West Wing, East Wing, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building—the former State Department, which now houses offices for the President’s staff and the Vice President—and Blair House, a guest residence.

The building is 168 feet long. It is 85 feet 6 inches wide without porticos; 152 feet wide with porticos.

The overall height of the White House (to the top of the roof) is 70 feet on the south and 60 feet 4 inches on the north; the façade (grade of lawn to parapet) 60 feet on the south lawn (54 feet above sea level) 50 feet 4 inches on the north.

The White House has 55,000 square feet of floorspace.

There are 132 rooms, 32 bathrooms, and 6 stories — the Ground Floor, State Floor, Second Floor, and Third Floor, as well as a two-story basement.

There are also 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 7 staircases, and 3 elevators.

The West Wing houses the President’s office (the Oval Office) and offices of his senior staff, with room for about 50 employees.

For recreation, the White House has a variety of facilities available to its residents, including a tennis court, jogging track, swimming pool, movie theater, billiard room, putting green and a bowling lane.

With five full-time chefs, the White House kitchen is able to serve dinner to as many as 140 guests and hors d’oeuvres to more than 1,000.

The White House is said to receive 65,000 letters per week, 2,500-3,500 calls. 1,000 faxes and 100,000 emails per day.

The White House receives up to 30,000 visitors each week.

The White House Complex is protected by the United States Secret Service and the United States Park Police.

In February 1974, a stolen Army helicopter landed without authorization on the White House grounds.

Twenty years later, in 1994, a light plane crashed on the White House grounds, and the pilot died instantly.

In April 1995 a man piloted a small gyrocopter onto the west front lawn of the White House after planning a “protest” for 2 1/2 years.

The initial construction took place over a period of eight years, at a reported cost of $232,371.83 (equal to $3,879,177 today).

The White House is constructed of gray-colored sandstone from a quarry in Aquia, Virginia. The sandstone walls weren’t painted white until the White House was reconstructed after the British fires.

The White House requires 570 gallons of paint to cover its outside surface.

The property is a National Heritage Site owned by the National Park Service and is part of the President’s Park.

In 2007, it was ranked second on the American Institute of Architects list of “America’s Favorite Architecture”.

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