White House

The best-known address in the United States is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. It’s the White House, the home of the president of the United States. This is where the president lives, works, and entertains the leaders of other countries.

You can visit the White House and see some of the rooms used for entertaining.

AT THE WHITE HOUSE

There are more than 130 rooms in the White House. They spread across a main building and two wings called the East Wing and the West Wing. You can recognize the main building by its large central porches with tall columns. The wings were added later. Large lawns and gardens surround the White House.

Living quarters for the first family and their pets are on the second floor of the main building. Each presidential family usually decorates this area when they move into the White House. Rooms for the president’s guests are on the third floor.

On the first floor, there are large rooms used for presidential receptions, dinners, teas, and other gatherings. Some of these rooms are known by the color of their furnishings, including the Blue Room, Red Room, and Green Room. Tourists can view five rooms on the first floor.

THE OVAL OFFICE

The president works in the Oval Office in the West Wing of the White House. It’s one of the most famous offices in the world. Doors lead from the Oval Office to the Cabinet Room. This is where the president meets with a group of top advisors called the Cabinet.

The Rose Garden is just outside the Oval Office. Sometimes, the president speaks to the country from the Oval Office or the Rose Garden. His talk is broadcast on television.

THE WEST WING AND EAST WING

The Press Room is also in the West Wing. Here, White House officials give information to newspaper, radio, and television reporters. You’ve probably seen a White House press briefing on a TV news program.

The first lady has offices in the East Wing. There’s also a movie theater in the East Wing.

The White House also has a gymnasium, bowling alley, barbershop, and clinic. Outside are tennis courts and a swimming pool.

BUILDING THE WHITE HOUSE

A contest was held for the design of the White House. Thomas Jefferson entered the contest, but he didn’t win. James Hoban, an Irish American architect, turned in the winning design.

George Washington is the only president who didn’t live at the White House. But he chose the site for the building and supervised its construction. President John Adams and his wife, Abigail, were the first occupants. They moved into the White House in 1800.

BURNING THE WHITE HOUSE

During the War of 1812, British troops burned the White House. The inside was destroyed. Smoke blackened the outside walls. The White House was rebuilt from 1815 to 1817. Afterward, the building was painted white to hide the smoke stains.

CHANGES AT THE WHITE HOUSE

Over the years, more office space was added to the White House to accommodate larger presidential staffs. In 1853, central heating went in. Electricity was installed in 1890.

A major rebuilding began in 1948, after the building had begun to fall apart. That’s when the White House got air conditioning and a movie theater.

Several first ladies have made the White House more beautiful. During the 1960s, Jacqueline Kennedy turned the White House into a showcase for historic furniture. Lady Bird Johnson added many paintings by American artists.

Source: Microsoft ® Encarta

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