The White House is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., placing it right at the heart of the U.S. capital and close to other major political landmarks like the Capitol and the Washington Monument.
Construction began in 1792 and was largely completed by 1800. President John Adams moved in on November 1st of that year. Much of the work was carried out by enslaved people and immigrants, a sobering reminder of early American history.
Although it had been nicknamed the White House as early as 1811, it wasn’t officially given that name until 1901. President Theodore Roosevelt made the name formal when he had it printed on official stationery. Other names for the building had been “President's Palace”, “President's House” and the “Executive Mansion”.
As well as being a place of work, the White House is also a home. Over the years, amenities have included a swimming pool, tennis court, bowling alley, putting green, jogging track, and a private cinema.
The White House is only about one-fifth the size of what was initially envisioned. Despite that, it's still a sprawling structure with six floors (two below ground) and 132 rooms. It cost around $232,000 to build in the 1800s - roughly $2.5 million today.
During the War of 1812, British troops set fire to the White House in 1814, destroying much of the interior. Reconstruction began soon after, and President James Monroe moved into the restored residence in 1817.
By the 1940s, the original structure had become dangerously unstable. Under President Truman, the entire interior was gutted between 1949 and 1952 and replaced with a steel frame. Truman lived across the street in Blair House while the work was done.
In the 19th century, the White House was so accessible that crowds sometimes stormed in during inaugural celebrations. President Andrew Jackson's 1829 party got so rowdy that staff lured guests out with bathtubs of whiskey and orange juice. Public tours today must be arranged in advance and are subject to security measures.
Every First Lady selects a theme for the official Christmas Tree, a tradition that began with Jacqueline Kennedy in 1961 with the "Nutcracker Suite." The tree is displayed in the Blue Room, and decorations are made by American artisans.
Grover Cleveland is the only U.S. President to have a wedding at the White House, marrying Frances Folsom in the Blue Room on 2nd June 1886. At 21, she remains the youngest First Lady in American history. (Bonus fact: Cleveland was the first president to serve two non-consecutive terms. The second is Donald Trump).
