Unveiling Nine Secrets of the White House
April 13th marks the birth of the third President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson. He was one of only a handful of men who were around for the framing the nation and the framing of the nation's presidential mansion.
Thomas Jefferson, aside from being a phenomenal writer and orator, took an interest in architecture, planning, and generally anything that he could deconstruct and/or construct. In that vein, we will take an opportunity to share some lesser-known facts about the White House.
Did you know that the color of the White House is influenced by its lime-based whitewash? The coating was chosen to keep the walls from freezing!
Here are nine more tidbits about the White House...
- Washington D.C. used to be a swampy, mosquito-infested home to pigs due to its location on the Potomac River. The marsh was cleared up, and now the moisture contributes to the lush and beautiful landscape, well-suited for placement of a palatial estate.
- Though Thomas Jefferson did submit a design for the house, he lost the contest to architect James Hoban.
- George Washington oversaw the construction of the White House, but never reaped the benefits of his labor — John Adams was the first president to occupy the "Presidential Palace," though he often wrote about how much he disliked being there.
- Washington D.C. city planner, Pierre Charles L’Enfant's original design for the White House was nearly four times the size of the substantially reduced final design.
- Still, at one quarter size, the home boasts 132 restrooms. While it is difficult to imagine anyone having to wait in line for a tour… more than 6,000 tourists every day makes it the wait seem a little more plausible.
- Tourists can see nearly all of the 132 rooms, 28 fireplaces, 147 windows, 7 staircases and 3 elevators.
- As many as 140 honored guests can be served at one meal by the White House’s five full-time chefs. Conversely, these same chefs could instead serve hors d’oeuvres to as many as 1,000 casual event goers.
- Until after the American Civil War, the mansion was the largest residence in the United States.
- Homesick Americans in Ireland or France can see the homes that inspired the exterior design elements of the White House — Leinster House in Dublin, and Château de Rastignac near Bordeaux.
Hungry for more?
Check out the 2-minute video below from The History Channel.
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