The White House: History and Facts
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Questions and Answers

What was inscribed on the fireplace of the State Dining Room during the presidency of Franklin Roosevelt?

  • Only those who serve the people may dwell here.
  • Let only great leaders guide us in this place.
  • May none but Honest and Wise Men ever rule under this Roof. (correct)
  • May only the worthy govern under this roof.
  • Which president first opened the White House to public visitation each morning?

  • George Washington
  • Abraham Lincoln
  • James Madison
  • Thomas Jefferson (correct)
  • Which room did Abigail Adams use as a drying room for clothes due to the state of the residence?

  • The East Room (correct)
  • The West Wing
  • The State Dining Room
  • The Oval Office
  • What significant event led to the burning of the White House in 1814?

    <p>The War of 1812</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During whose administration was the White House officially ready for occupancy after reconstruction?

    <p>James Monroe</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How much did Andrew Jackson spend on refurbishing the White House during his presidency?

    <p>$50,000</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant change to accommodate modern conveniences occurred in the White House in 1845?

    <p>Refrigerator installation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which European novelist reportedly entered the White House uninvited and was surprised by the condition of the residence?

    <p>Charles Dickens</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How did Americans perceive the White House during the 19th century?

    <p>As a temporary residence for the president.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What major renovations were added to the White House during the administration of James Monroe?

    <p>East and west terraces plus a semicircular portico.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary function of the White House?

    <p>It is both the home and workplace of the president.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the area covered by the White House and its grounds?

    <p>18 acres</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who was the first president to live in the White House?

    <p>John Adams</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which name officially replaced the term 'President's Palace' in 1810?

    <p>Executive Mansion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which architect designed the White House?

    <p>James Hoban</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many rooms are there in the White House?

    <p>More than 100</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What material was primarily used in the construction of the White House?

    <p>Sandstone from Aquia Creek</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When was the cornerstone of the White House laid?

    <p>October 13, 1792</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the name of the president who officially adopted the name 'White House'?

    <p>Theodore Roosevelt</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What shape was the White House designed to resemble?

    <p>Palladian style</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What style influenced the design of the residence?

    <p>Neoclassical</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who was the architect that worked on the White House alongside Thomas Jefferson?

    <p>Benjamin Henry Latrobe</p> Signup and view all the answers

    During which war was the mansion set ablaze by British forces?

    <p>The War of 1812</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant feature was added in 1824 to the White House exterior?

    <p>South Portico</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What structural issue was discovered in the White House by 1948?

    <p>Load-bearing walls close to failure</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which president was responsible for the complete dismantling and reconstruction of the White House interior?

    <p>Harry S. Truman</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which president was the first to occupy the White House?

    <p>John Adams</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which architect was awarded the contract to design the White House?

    <p>James Hoban</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of design primarily influenced the architecture of the White House?

    <p>Neoclassical</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the reported cost of the initial construction of the White House?

    <p>$232,371.83</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What major construction challenge did the White House face regarding its foundation?

    <p>The reliance on enslaved labor</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Where did President George Washington first live after his inauguration?

    <p>Walter Franklin House</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What inspired some of the architectural elements of the White House's upper floors?

    <p>Irish country houses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What style was used for the Blue Room during the Kennedy restoration of the White House?

    <p>French Empire style</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which First Lady was responsible for refurbishing the Lincoln Bedroom during the Bush administration?

    <p>Laura Bush</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which room features antique wallpaper designed by Zuber & Cie in 1834?

    <p>Diplomatic Reception Room</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the primary reason for the creation of the first White House guidebook?

    <p>To help finance the restoration</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what year was the White House accredited as a museum?

    <p>1988</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What innovative feature was installed on the White House roof during Obama's presidency?

    <p>Solar photovoltaic panels</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which committee is responsible for approving changes to the State Rooms of the White House?

    <p>Committee for the Preservation of the White House</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which presidential family made significant changes including refurbishing multiple rooms in the 1990s?

    <p>Bill and Hillary Clinton</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What architectural feature hides the roofline of the White House?

    <p>Balustraded parapet</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was used to whitewash the sandstone walls of the White House?

    <p>Mix of lime, rice glue, casein, and lead</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which president was the first to officially adopt the name 'The White House'?

    <p>Theodore Roosevelt</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which style influences can be found in the design of the southern façade of the White House?

    <p>Palladian and neoclassical</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did Thomas Jefferson help design at the White House?

    <p>The East and West Colonnades</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the condition of the White House after the Burning of Washington in 1814?

    <p>Only the exterior walls remained</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is true about the term 'Executive Mansion'?

    <p>It was the formal name used until 1901.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which unique feature is part of the ground floor of the southern façade?

    <p>Double staircase leading to a loggia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a common misconception about the paint applied to the White House after the fire?

    <p>It was applied to mask burn damage.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant design element was incorporated into the North Portico to link it with earlier architecture?

    <p>Swag of roses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which president ordered renovations to the White House shortly after taking office in 1881?

    <p>Chester A. Arthur</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What major change was made to accommodate President William Howard Taft's large family?

    <p>Expansion of the West Wing</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which first lady proposed a National Wing for art in her renovations plan for the White House?

    <p>Caroline Harrison</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a significant result of the white House renovations during the Truman administration?

    <p>Complete interior dismantling</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was a decision Congress made regarding the White House in 1925?

    <p>To allow gifts of furniture and art for the first time</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which president had the Oval Office moved to its current location?

    <p>Truman</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of architecture was applied during the 1902 expansions under Theodore Roosevelt?

    <p>Neoclassical style</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What was the fate of the Tiffany glass screen during Theodore Roosevelt's renovations?

    <p>Removed completely</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the impact of poor maintenance and renovations on the White House's structure by the mid-20th century?

    <p>It led to the house being declared dangerous</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    The White House: History and Facts

    • The White House is the official residence and workplace of the US president, housing the president's staff.
    • It covers 18 acres (7.2 hectares) of land.
    • Every US president, since George Washington, has resided at the White House.
    • Originally called the "President's Palace," it was officially named the Executive Mansion in 1810. The name "White House" became the official name in 1901.
    • The current structure was designed by Irish-born architect James Hoban in the Neoclassical style, modeled on Leinster House in Dublin. Hoban designed a Georgian mansion, with imported sandstone and over 100 rooms
    • The cornerstone was laid in 1792; construction was completed in 1800 (though not fully ready for occupancy until 1800).
    • John Adams was the first president to live in the White House.
    • The building was burned by the British in the War of 1812, and rebuilt. Parts of the south wall remained intact after the fire..
    • The White House has a rich history of use as a focal point of American democracy.
    • It was meant to be a functional building for the people, not a symbol of royalty.
    • Presidents have always received the public.
    • The White House and its occupants have experienced moments of lavish celebration, public disorder and tragedies.
    • Early occupants, like Thomas Jefferson, influenced the building’s design and use.
    • The First Ladies, like Abigail Adams and Mary Todd Lincoln, played important roles in the White House's history; Abigail Adams was dissatisfied with the unfinished state of the residence.
    • Andrew Jackson's inauguration experienced an unexpected influx of people, requiring his staff to lure the crowd outside with washtubs of liquor and juice.
    • The White House underwent considerable refurbishments over time, including the semicircular South Portico (1824), the North Portico (1829), and the addition of porticos, and amenities like gas and electric lighting in the 19th and 20th centuries.
    • The building's original sandstone walls were whitewashed with a mixture of lime, rice glue, casein, and lead.

    Specific Details and Events

    • The White House has more than 100 rooms and was originally designed to be three stories tall.
    • The War of 1812 led to the White House being burned, damaging the interior and exterior.
    • The White House has been subjected to public crowds and social events, impacting its environment.
    • Early White House servants were often enslaved people.
    • The White House was a source of personal and social drama.
    • The White House has received foreign visitors and the White House itself was the focus of events and social situations.
    • The experiences and attitudes of earlier occupants demonstrate a fascinating look at the development of the White House.
    • Congress provided funding for White House staff only in 1909.
    • The initial construction took place over eight years at a reported cost of $232,371.83 (equivalent to $4,172,000 in 2023).
    • Hoban supervised the construction of the US Capitol.
    • The White House is now a National Heritage Site owned by the National Park Service in President's Park.
    • The White House endured significant structural modifications over time, including a complete reconstruction during the Truman administration that involved the dismantling of interior rooms and construction of a new internal steel frame (1948). The Truman Balcony was a part of these alterations.
    • Later additions include West and East Wings. Jefferson's colonnades link the residence with these wings.
    • Theodore Roosevelt relocated White House offices to the West Wing in 1901; William Howard Taft expanded the West Wing and created the first Oval Office.
    • A third-floor attic was converted to living quarters in 1927.
    • The Eisenhower Executive Office Building (formerly the State, War, and Navy Building), and Blair House, guest residence, are part of the complex.
    • The Executive Residence features a two-story basement and six stories overall.
    • The property is comprised of over 18 acres (about 7.3 hectares) of land
    • The building's north façade has appeared on the reverse of the US $20 bill since 1998
    • The White House has experienced numerous security incidents including unauthorized aircraft approaching the grounds (multiple events detailed in the text).
    • Public tours resumed on a limited basis post-9/11, requiring arrangements through Congressional representatives or embassies for foreign nationals and background checks (since 2003).
    • White House tours were suspended for budget reasons in 2013 but reopened in November 2013.
    • Various First Families (e.g., Carter, Clinton, Bush) undertook renovations, including refurbishing rooms and adding amenities (e.g., adding a wheelchair ramp, installing solar panels)
    • The White House is now a highly modernized structure, while still retaining historic rooms, features, and elements.
    • The current White house complex includes the Executive Residence, the West Wing, the East Wing, the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, and Blair House
    • The building's composition reflects influences from Roman, Venetian, and Irish architectural concepts, as well as potential connections to French designs.
    • The White House has extensive architectural and decorative details inside, including state rooms, dining rooms, and private family quarters.
    • The structure has been modified to accommodate the needs of the occupant.
    • There is a vast collection of art and furnishings within the White House, including additions and restorations under several First Families' direction (e.g., Jacqueline Kennedy)

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    Description

    Explore the rich history and significant facts about the White House, the official residence of the US president. Learn about its architecture, the presidents who have lived there, and its role in American democracy. This quiz covers pivotal moments from its construction to its rebuilding after being burned in the War of 1812.

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