The White House, the symbol of the United States, has been more than the home of presidents for over 200 years.
The base address of the White House is chosen by the founding father George Washington, the first president of the United States of America. It started in 1792 and completed in 1800.
The White House started to function when President George Washington signed an Act of Congress in December of 1790. Together with the city planner Pierre L’Enfant, he selected the site for the new residence, which is now called Pennsylvania Avenue.
The construction started when the first cornerstone was laid in October, 1792, which were supervised by President Washington. Unfortunately, he never lived there. The first residents, President John Adams and his wife, Abigail, moved in the White House. From then on, each President and their families resides in there. And the White House has become synonymous with the United States government. It is not only a private residence for president and their family, but also open to the public freely.
The White House is the designed by the famous Irish American architect James Hoban. He constructed it white limestones according to the style of British villas at the end of the eighteenth century , by reference to the popular European style designed by Italy architect Paradi. It wasn’t named White House until President Theodore in 1902.
Presidents have the right to decide their individual styles. They can freely decorate some parts of the house and decide how to receive the public during their stay. President Thomas Jefferson held the first Inaugural open house in 1805. Some people who attended the inauguration at the U.S. Capitol went to the White House with him, where he greeted them in the Blue Room. He also opened the White House to public until wartime.Further more, he welcomed visitors to take part in the annual receptions on New Years Day and on the Fourth of July.
After Abraham Lincolns presidency, the White House accommodated the inaugural crowds comfortably. However, Grover Cleveland changed everything. He held a presidential review of the troops from a flag-draped grandstand built in front of the White House, which evolved into the official inaugural parade we know today.
In the White House exists 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, 8 staircases, 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, as well as 3 elevators. There are five full-time chefs in the White House kitchen, which enables to serve as many as 140 guests at a time. The White House also owns a variety of facilities available to residents here, such as, a tennis court, jogging tracks, swimming pools, movie theaters, and bowling lanes as well as other equipment.