White House in the USA: history, diagram, interesting facts. White House in Washington (USA)

The White House is perhaps the most famous building in the world. This name, chosen simply by the color of the paint, became a symbol of one of the world's centers of power.

US presidents have not always lived and worked here. The country's first leaders lived in mansions in New York and Philadelphia. The federal government has announced a competition to design a special residence in Washington. The winner was the Irish-born architect James Hoban, who proposed a classical-style building. Construction began in 1792. It employed workers and slaves from neighboring slave states, Virginia and Maryland.

The walls were built from sandstone, whitewashed with a mixture of rice glue, casein and lead. The building has acquired its own color. However, it was first called the White House only in 1811.

In a young, poor country, the residence became an outstanding landmark. Until the Civil War of 1861–1865, the building was the largest in the United States. In 1814, during the Anglo-American War, British marines captured Washington and burned the White House, leaving only the walls. The building was restored only in 1830. In 1948, the house became dilapidated and was reconstructed: instead of a wooden frame, a durable steel frame was built. Under Kennedy, the design of the premises was changed - this was done by the president’s wife, Jacqueline.

Today's White House is a whole complex: the presidential residence in the center, connected to it by the East and West wings by colonnades. The central building with its well-known circular portico includes halls for official receptions and living quarters for the president and his family. In the West Wing there is the famous Oval Office of the head of state, in the East Wing there is the office of the First Lady and a cinema.

The building does not seem large, but the appearance is deceptive: in fact there are four floors and two basements. Deep beneath the East Wing lies an emergency operations center designed to protect against nuclear attack. The complex has 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, 28 fireplaces.

In addition to its official purpose, the White House is also a living museum of American history. A rich collection of paintings, sculptures, and furniture is exhibited here. There is a collection of portraits of US presidents and first ladies. One of the most valuable items in the collection is a portrait of George Washington, saved by a slave from a fire caused by the British in 1814. About five thousand tourists visit the residence every day. The excursions are free, but you must register for them approximately six months in advance.

The house is surrounded by a garden of about 7 hectares. President Thomas Jefferson personally planned the first landings here. During World War I, President Wilson's family raised a flock of sheep on the South Lawn, and their wool was auctioned off to benefit the Red Cross. Michelle Obama created an organic garden and beehives here - honey and organic products are supplied to official receptions.

The White House looks accessible. The Oval Office with windows to the garden is located on the first floor. However, this is one of the most secure buildings in the world, guarded by the US Secret Service.

The White House is the official residence of the President of the United States, located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington.

All American leaders took turns becoming the owners of the legendary mansion, with the exception of the first President George Washington, who left office before the White House was finally completed.

The White House is a Palladian-style mansion. Its construction began in 1792 and was completed on November 1, 1800. On the same day, the palace became the official residence of the second US President John Adams.

The mansion has six floors: two basements, two for public receptions and two for the president's family. Visitors who take a tour of the White House have the opportunity to see some of the most beautiful and historic rooms, including the East Room, Green Room, Blue Room, Red Room and the Formal Dining Room. These premises are used by the President and First Lady to receive guests and leaders from other countries. And the main workplace of the president is the Oval Office, where the head of state signs bills and government orders, and also meets with his employees, visitors and guests.

How arranged White house| RIA News

The basement and ground floors of the Presidential Residence are occupied by technical services (air conditioning and heating units, laundry, etc.)

The first floor of the White House was originally intended to house support services (kitchen, laundry, etc.) At the beginning of the 20th century, under the twenty-sixth US President Theodore Roosevelt, and also after the Second World War, during the reign of the thirty-third US President Harry Truman , the first floor of the central part of the White House was rebuilt and reconstructed.

Nowadays there is a library, a diplomatic reception hall, a map room, a Chinese room, a Gilded room and other rooms located here.

Library

Map room

The Map Room got its name during World War II, when the thirty-second US President Franklin Roosevelt worked with maps there. The room is now used for television interviews with the President and other events.

The Diplomatic Reception Room, one of three oval rooms in the central part of the White House, is the entrance to the building from the South Lawn. It is here that the reception of foreign ambassadors is held, presenting their credentials.

Let's look- (White House Tour)

Inside the White House

• Interactive Tour
• West Wing
• Video Series
• Decor and art
• Holidays

The Chinese Room is so named because it houses a unique collection of Chinese art (porcelain, ivory, jewelry, etc.) It was started to be collected in the 19th century by the wife of the twenty-third US President Benjamin Harrison, Caroline Harrison. Over the following decades, the collection grew and a special room was allocated for it. The Chinese Room often hosts receptions, tea parties and other events for the First Lady of the United States.

The Gilded Room houses another collection of gilded silver items from the 18th-19th centuries.

In addition, on the ground floor of the White House there is a bowling alley and a number of service rooms - a kitchen, a doctor's office and others.

The second floor (called the "state floor") is used for various official events - receptions, dinners, press conferences.

Here are the East Hall, Green Hall, Blue Hall, Red Hall, State Dining Room, Family Dining Room.

The East Room is the largest room in the White House. Receptions, concerts, and gala dinners are held here.

The Blue Room is another oval room in the White House, traditionally decorated in blue tones. Used for receptions and dinners with a small number of participants. A Christmas tree is being installed in the Blue Hall.

The Green and Red halls are decorated in green and red colors accordingly. They are small and host small receptions and tea parties.

Red Hall

Green Hall

Blue Hall

There are two dining rooms on the second floor of the White House - the State Dining Room and Family Dining Room.

On the same floor there is also the office of the head of the technical service - the “supply manager” and “house manager” of the White House.

Plan of the third (family) floor of the White House

Most of the rooms on the next, third floor of the White House are the living quarters of the President's family, but some are also used for official purposes.

Small receptions and meetings with heads of foreign states are held in the Yellow Oval Office.

The Treaty Room, so named because the twenty-fifth President of the United States, William McKinley, signed the peace treaty with Spain there in 1898, is used as the President's private office.

There are several bedrooms on the floor, including the President's Bedroom, the King's Bedroom and the Lincoln Bedroom.

Also on the third floor there are several living rooms, a dressing room and a number of other rooms.

Lincoln Bedroom at the White House

White House Royal Bedroom

On the last, fourth, floor of the White House there is a music room, a solarium, as well as guest rooms and office space.

Ground floor plan of the West Wing of the White House

The three-story West Wing is the “working” part of the White House.

It is here, in the Oval Office, that the President of the United States works. In addition, the West Wing houses the Cabinet Room, where meetings of the United States Cabinet are held; the office of the Vice President of the United States, the offices of the heads of the Office of the President of the United States of America and support staff.

The West Wing also houses the White House Press Corps and a room where briefings and press conferences are held.

In the basement of the West Wing there is a situation room designed to work during crises, Secret Service premises, a dining room, and a swimming pool.

The West Wing is lower than the central part of the White House and hidden from the eyes of tourists by trees.

The two-story East Wing of the White House houses the office of the First Lady of the United States, the White House Cinema and office space.

The President's wife, the First Lady of the United States, has at her disposal a whole staff of employees who are involved in conducting all public and ceremonial events in the White House. These include a press secretary, floral designer, chief calligrapher, chef and other specialists. Their work is supervised by the White House Social Secretary.

Cinema

It is through the East Wing that visitors enter the White House. They walk through a wood-paneled hallway lined with portraits of the Presidents and First Ladies of the United States.

There is also an underground floor of the East Wing, where the Presidential Emergency Operations Center is located, designed to protect against a nuclear attack.

I was curious to see!

The White House in Washington is one of the most famous places among the population not only of the United States, but of the whole world. There is probably no person in the world who has not heard of him. The White House is located in Washington, the capital of the United States, and is the residence of the President. It is located in the northwestern part of the capital in the District of Columbia. The construction of Washington was carried out in the 90s of the 18th century, and the construction of the White House itself began in October 1792. Even then, everyone knew that this building would become the residence of the President of the United States.

The White House was designed by architect James Hoban. It was made in the neoclassical style. Virginia sandstone was chosen as the material for the construction. Due to the fact that this material was porous, after construction was completed, the walls of the White House were covered with a lime mixture with the addition of rice glue, casein and lead, which determined the color of the building. The grandiose construction lasted for eight years. 233 thousand dollars were spent, and in modern terms this is approximately three million US dollars.

The first person to live in the White House was John Adams, the second President of the United States. This happened in November 1800. Adams was simply delighted with this structure. An excerpt from John Adams' letter to his wife was carved into the residence's formal dining room on the mantelpiece. It said that Adams prayed for the blessing of this house and for all its future inhabitants, so that only honest and wise people would rule and work under this roof.

Initially, this building was called the “House of the President”, “Palace of the President” or “Presidential Mansion”. But in 1811 it began to be called the White House. Officially, this name came from Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States.

Today, the White House is a six-story building with a total area of ​​five thousand square meters. It consists of 35 bathrooms and 132 rooms, there are 8 staircases, 28 fireplaces, 3 elevators, 147 windows and 421 doors. There are also entertainment options such as a jogging track, a swimming pool, a cinema, a tennis court, a bowling alley, and a whole host of office spaces.

The main US family lives in the central part of this residence. All celebrations and official events are usually held here. The White House also includes the West and East Wings. The ensemble of the house is also decorated with the South and North Lawns, the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, and the Rose Garden. White House Park has an area of ​​7.3 hectares.

The famous Rose Garden was created in 1913 by Ellen Wilson, the wife of the 28th US President Woodrow Wilson. The rose garden is quite small - only 38 by 18 meters, but often serves as a place for receiving famous guests. In addition, it was here that at one time a law was passed assigning the rose the status of the official flower of the United States of America. This law was signed by the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan.

Near the East Wing of the White House there is the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, which is named after the wife of John Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States. He rightfully deserved it, because it was she who made a huge contribution to the renovation and restoration of the White House parks.

The Office of the President of the United States operates in the Eisenhower Building, adjacent to the White House complex.

As noted above, the White House is considered one of the most popular attractions in the United States and a favorite place for tourists. But after the September 11 terrorist attacks, the number of excursions was strictly limited due to security concerns. In the list of monuments of the United States, the White House takes an honorable second place after New York's Empire State Building.

Book a hotel in Washington

To get acquainted with the sights of the United States, in particular the interesting places of Washington, you will need to stay somewhere. Especially for you, below are hotels in Washington, divided into three categories: popular hotels, luxury hotels and cheap hotels. Here you can book a hotel room in Washington in advance according to your wishes and financial capabilities. For your convenience, here is information about the location of the hotels relative to the city center, as well as the number of stars.

Simply select the hotel you like by clicking on the “View Hotel” button. Next you will find yourself on a page where you can book a hotel. There you can also find more detailed information about it, reviews, ratings, photographs, location on the map, features and, of course, prices.

If you want to look at other hotels, you can simply select the city “Washington” from above, and you will see a list of all Washington hotels available for booking.

Over the two hundred years of existence of this house, there was so much that was not there - from animals to ghosts, secret passages, bunkers, swimming pools and even a bowling club...

The White House is the official residence of the President of the United States, located in Washington. All American presidents, with the exception of George Washington, under whom it was built, were “registered” here.
A symbol of "USA, democracy and freedom", the White House is a Palladian-style mansion (architect James Hoban). Construction began in 1792 and ended on November 1, 1800. On the same day, the second US President, J. Adams, became its first “owner”.
The White House is open to the public at designated times, but visiting the residences of the president and his family, as well as all private properties, is not always possible.
The White House has a press and media area. Tom Hanks even made a personal gift to the press office: two coffee machines when he learned that the press corps was living “decaffeinated”... And this is just one of many interesting facts about the White House that you will never know knew!

Animal house

In general, the White House has always been a place where not only presidents lived, but also many different animals. President Hoover, for example, kept two alligators and rarely locked them up. Jefferson had a mockingbird that flew around his house. John Q Adams also kept a crocodile in his upstairs bathroom. One of Adams' assistants fed the pet "according to job descriptions."
In addition to this, there was a period of time when the White House was more like Animal House, the John Belushi comedy. The 1820s were a time of open doors. Anyone and everyone could always come here. And visitors had to ensure a comfortable stay. Including alcohol! There are cases where visitors were lured out of the house by placing bottles of liquor and wine on the lawn. And everything turned into a party... Today it would be an absolute nightmare for the intelligence services.

Big? More! Even more!

When the White House was designed, its architect, Pierre Charles Lanfant, wanted to make a very unique mansion: as an example, he imagined the residences of French kings... President George Washington, who oversaw the construction of his new residence, hated Lanfant's work. And he finally fired him. The work was completed in accordance with James Hoban.
As a result, the residence became five times smaller than its original author wanted. However, it was still the largest house in the United States when it was built.
It remained so until the Civil War, but after it it lost the title of “largest house” in the country - mansions, and then skyscrapers, began to be built everywhere.

The White House is on fire

On December 24, 1929, a fire broke out in the west wing due to a short circuit. It was classified as 4-point in terms of power. The fire caused blockages in all internal air ducts and sewers. Unfortunately, the White House did not even have fire insurance, but the tenants managed to get money from Congress and most of the interior spaces were completely rebuilt and reconstructed.
A fire broke out in the attic during the Yule Ball. The employee smelled smoke and reported it to the president and his aides. They were able to save many of the president's personal belongings, as well as shelter his office from further damage after the fire. But the press center suffered the most: photo archives, articles and materials were lost.

Mr. Lincoln's Shadow

It is said that when Winston Churchill stayed at the White House, he spent the night in President Lincoln's old bedroom. The next day, Churchill left the White House in great haste. He probably saw the ghost of the late president emerging from the bathtub.
Churchill returned to the White House more than once, but since then he has never stayed in the Lincoln Bedroom.
Should he be blamed for cowardice? After all, the British Prime Minister is not the first and not the last who saw the ghost of Abraham... True, before him it was mostly ladies.

White House Twin

Yes Yes. The White House has a double. It was built in Ireland in 1745-1747 and is called the "mini White House".
There is an opinion that James Hoban, whose designs were used to complete the construction of the residence of US presidents, saw sketches of Leinster House before submitting his own project for the “presidential residence” to the George Washington competition. There is also a slight possibility that it was inspired by the Irish President's residence in Phoenix Park, Dublin. After all, Hoban grew up and studied in Ireland. And after his project won, he decided to stay in America. He made a name for himself and a wonderful career, by the way!

Secret tunnels

Indeed, there are secret tunnels under the White House. Approximately 6 floors deep there is a bunker under the eastern wing. They say there is a hole from the Oval Office into a secure bunker.
The only thing that is known for sure is that after Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt built a bomb shelter that provided access to the basement of the Treasury building. The room especially for the president looks like a concrete box. Roosevelt saw him once in his life. Several US Presidents have since also toured the site, but it was more of a tribute to a difficult time in America's great history.

Breakdown in the ventilation system

In 1909, President Taft really wanted air conditioning, so he went out and bought himself something like a cooling system. This system looked like this: huge fans were installed in the attic of the White House, with ice standing in vats next to them. The cold air would flow down the ductwork and cool the entire house.
In theory it looks convincing, but in practice it didn’t work at all. Even the attic couldn't cool down. Since there was no way to keep the air at the required low temperature, warm and dusty currents blew through the house, to the great displeasure of the cleaners. Fortunately, Taft gave in in time and stopped using his home air conditioning system.

It's getting warm...

President Nixon was impressed when he first saw the shower in the presidential bathroom. His predecessor, Lyndon Johnson, had very specific requirements for this soul. Well, very specific...
The plumber who was responsible for designing the shower worked on the system for five long years... Yes, yes. Five. Trying to get a "Johnson standard shower". The poor plumber even ended up in a mental hospital.
President Johnson was obsessed: he demanded that hot water flow into the faucet at high pressure. The nozzles had to be positioned at the “just right” height: spray on the buttocks and spray on the genitals.
By the way, President Johnson has never publicly commented on issues related to his spiritual preferences.

Dinner is served!

The White House kitchen is equipped with the latest technology. It is capable of serving 140 guests at a time. The kitchen employs 5 chefs who serve the President's family, White House staff and guests.
State dinners are matters of national importance, and watching how everything is arranged behind the scenes is like being a spectator at a theatrical performance. Everything is so perfectly planned.
President John Adams and his wife Abigail established an orchard and vegetable garden where they grew their own fresh produce. President Jackson had a greenhouse, which was demolished in 1902 to make way for the west wing. At one point there were even tropical fruits grown in the White House garden.
First Lady Michelle Obama planted a large vegetable garden, which is quite relevant today. The pediatrician recommended that her children eat more vegetables and fruits. The main family of the state ate fresh vegetables, and even gave part of the harvest for soup to the local kitchen! The White House even has an apiary to make your own honey.

Architects competition

President George Washington was extremely dissatisfied with the work of Charles Lanfant, the architect who was originally supposed to build the White House. He fired him and then announced a competition for the project to build a presidential residence.
This has received a lot of attention from extremely talented designers. Nine projects were carefully judged and were wonderful examples of modern architecture, but only one could be declared the winner. By the way, one of the participants in the competition was Thomas Jefferson. He sent his sketch without mentioning his real name.
The winner was the Irishman James Hoban, who replaced Lanfant and built the White House.
President Jefferson's anonymous sketch did not win, which, of course, surprised many: he was a very talented man, and his love of architecture is evidenced by his residence at Monticello.

How much does it cost to build a house?

Until the end of the Civil War, the house at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue was considered the largest in the United States. Construction began in 1792, and the House's first occupants, President John Adams and his wife Abigail, moved in in 1800. Their home was then valued at $232,372!
If the White House were put up for auction today, independent experts estimate its cost would be $320 million. Not very surprising, is it? Especially when you consider the amenities it has: a movie theater, a dental office, a bowling alley, a swimming pool, a tennis court, and, of course, 16 bedrooms and 35 bathrooms.
The White House is a city that can support itself. Super luxurious accommodation with all the amenities you could ever dream of!

Bitterly!

I wonder if anyone had a wedding in the White House?
Yes. In 1820, Maria Monroe married her cousin, Samuel Gouverneur, in the East Room of the White House. In 1828, Mary Hellen married the youngest of John Adams' three sons. Which, however, was somewhat unexpected, since Mary was engaged to her eldest son, had close contact with her middle son for a long time, and finally married John II! Family dinners were probably a big awkward place for the first few years of marriage...
In 1886, the only president to get married in the White House was Grover Cleveland. Cleveland, 49, married 21-year-old Frances Folsom.
And in 1906, socialite Alice Roosevelt married Nicholas Longworth. It was a huge wedding with 1000 guests. In 1971, Trisha Nixon (pictured) married Edward Cox in the White House Rose Garden. Her wedding was broadcast on television to the whole world...
Of course, there have been other presidents who got married while in office, but they did not celebrate the occasion in the White House.

Let there be light!

Electricity was installed in the White House in 1891. President Benjamin Harrison and his wife Caroline were so frightened by this innovation that they refused to turn on the lights themselves. This function was performed by butlers.
President Lyndon Johnson earned the nickname "Light Bulb Johnson" for turning off lights almost everywhere, even when people were working in the room. His explanation was simple: he didn't want to waste a single extra taxpayer dollar. In 1979, President Carter installed solar panels over the West Wing.
They weren't very efficient, and in 1989 the solar panels were removed while President Reagan was working on the roof... In 2003, the first solar electric panel went online under the leadership of President George W. Bush. It was not installed over the entire residence due to the high cost. It wasn't until 2014 that Obama installed solar panels over the entire White House.
In 1926, President Coolidge installed the first refrigerator. In 1933, the living rooms of the White House began to be air-conditioned. In 1993, President Clinton replaced the windows with more energy efficient ones.

First inhabitants

The first US President, George Washington, never managed to be the first occupant of the White House - they became John and Abigail Adams. Washington had a chance to see plans for the residence, which he was not very impressed with. He felt that this space would not be enough.
The White House, built under him, burned to the ground in 1814 (this was during the War of 1812). It was restored and ready for new residents in 1817. When President Monroe moved into the newly restored residence, people speculated that the charred walls had been freshly painted or even hastily covered with white paint.
Indeed, the external joints were covered with white paint, especially the areas of fire damage around the windows, but everything on the inside was restored from scratch. In 1901, Teddy Roosevelt named the residence “The White House.”

Our service is both dangerous and difficult

Everyone knows that the White House has the best security system. Many of the details of how it is guarded are unknown, but there are facts: a bunker six stories underground (under the east wing), 147 bulletproof windows, and whenever the president goes outside, snipers and special weapons appear on the roof of the White House security.
They say the White House has the ability to repel air attacks because it has missile defense. And a bunch of snipers stationed on the roof around the clock! And no less than four intelligence agents stationed in the hallways outside the West Wing.
These measures were put in place after the assassination of President McKinley, when the Secret Service assumed full-time presidential protection duties.