Mistresses of the White House: how the first ladies changed the face of the residence of the President of the United States. The White House in the USA: history, scheme, interesting facts

White House- not just a house where the president and his family live. For more than two hundred years, the White House has been the symbol of the President, the government of the United States, and the entire American people.

The history of the White House, like the history of the US capital, began when President George Washington signed an act of Congress in December 1790 declaring that the federal government would be located in an area "not exceeding ten square miles .... on the Potomac River. Together with the architect Pierre Charles Lanfant specially invited from France, Washington chose a place for a new residence, after which a competition was announced for best project"House of the President". The winner was Irish-born architect James Hoban, who won the gold medal for practical and impressive design.

Construction began in October 1792, when the foundation stone was laid at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. George Washington, who oversaw the construction, is the only president who has never lived in the new residence. In 1800, the second US President John Adams and his wife Abigail moved into the new, almost completed building. Since then, every president who entered the White House made, at his own discretion, small changes and additions to it.

The White House has a unique and highly fascinating story. It survived a British fire in 1814 and another major fire in the West Wing in 1929, during the presidency of Herbert Hoover. At the time when Harry Truman was president, almost the entire interior of the White House was restored anew, while Truman himself lived in Blair House, located here on Pennsylvania Avenue. Nonetheless, appearance The building has always remained the way it was created 200 years ago.

Many presidents have added something of their own to the style of the House, or made changes in the accepted order of receiving guests and holding ceremonies. For example, Thomas Jefferson was the first to inaugurate open doors in 1805 - many of those present at the swearing-in at the Capitol simply followed him to the White House, where he met them in the Blue Drawing Room. Jefferson was also the first to open the doors of the White House to the public, a tradition that continues to this day. The break was made only in years civil war. In addition, Jefferson laid the tradition of receptions on New Year and on Independence Day July 4th.

The White House in Washington is the main building of the country in which the President's residence is located. The beautiful building is built from a unique white stone on Capitol Hill in Washington DC, the capital of the United States. Near the White House building there are two beautiful parks - Kennedy Park and White House Rose Park, where tourists can walk, enjoying the majestic view of the main building of America.

Monuments to great people who have made the greatest contribution to the development of the United States have been erected in the parks of the White House. Of great importance is the monument to George Washington, which rises 169 meters above the ground in the form of a column with four faces. Until the moment they erected in Paris, the most tall building in the world was this monument to Washington. The Washington Monument is located directly between the White House and the Capitol.

Moving further through the park towards the Lincoln Memorial, you will see a memorial to the victims of World War II. The memorial is a fountain surrounded by 56 vertical standing slabs by the number of states that were part of the country in 1945. The Lincoln Memorial is erected in honor of the 16th President of the country and depicts a great man sitting in a chair. The Washington and Lincoln Monuments are connected to the Capitol building, where the US Senate sits, by a two-kilometer Walk of National Glory.

All the presidents of the country lived here, except for the first - Washington, since at that time the residence of the first person of the state was only under construction. The White House was completely erected in 1800, but in 1814 it was burned down by the British Army, which was sent to suppress the rebellion of the colony, which fought for independence. However, the Americans were able to win the war and rebuild the residence for the presidents of their country.

The residence is a luxurious mansion, which was built in accordance with the canons of the Palladian style by the outstanding architect James Hoban. The first president for whom the White House became a true residence was John Adams. His image is printed on the twenty-dollar bill.

The mansion has six floors, and only four rise above the ground, and two are basement. Two ground floors are intended for holding public receptions, and two more - for the residence of the President's family. The facility is open to tourists who are shown the chic premises of the building, which have a huge historical meaning. For example, sightseers can see with their own eyes the East Room, the Blue, Green and Red Rooms, as well as the Dining Room for official receptions. All these premises are collected a large number of guests or leaders from all parts of the world to receptions hosted by the President and First Lady of the country.

The head of state works in the legendary Oval Office, where the president signs the necessary orders, bills, receives visitors and civil servants who work as part of the cabinet of the government or the presidential administration.

Officially, it was called the Presidential Mansion or the Presidential Palace, by analogy with similar buildings in Europe. But later, the whiteness of the walls of the palace gave the mansion of the head of state a new name - the White House, which is still used today. Presumably, the name of the presidential residence came into use in 1811, and was officially fixed only by 1901 on the personal orders of one of the most famous presidents of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. And the fixing of the main workplace of the first person of the country in the Oval Office happened back in 1909 and has not changed since then.

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

US presidents have not always lived and worked here. The first leaders of the country lived in mansions in New York, then in Philadelphia. The federal government has announced a competition to design a special residence in Washington. Won by Irish-born architect James Hoban, who proposed the building classical style. Construction began in 1792. Employed on it were workers and slaves from neighboring slave states, Virginia and Maryland.

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

In a young, poor country, the residence has become 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, the British Marines captured Washington and burned down the White House, leaving only the walls. The building was restored only by 1830. In 1948, the house fell into disrepair, it was reconstructed: instead of wooden frame Built in a solid steel frame. 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 colonnades of the East and West wings. The central building, with its famous circular portico, houses the official reception rooms and living quarters for the President and his family. In the West Wing - the famous Oval Office of the head of state, in the East - the office of the first lady, a cinema.

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

In addition to its official purpose, the White House is also a living museum. American history. A rich collection of works of painting, sculpture 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 set in 1814 by the British. Every day the residence is visited by about five thousand tourists. Tours are free, but you need to sign up for them about six months in advance.

The house is surrounded by a garden of about 7 hectares. The first landings here were personally planned by President Thomas Jefferson. During the First World War, President Wilson's family started a flock of sheep on the South Lawn - their wool was auctioned off in favor of the Red Cross. Michelle Obama set up 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 on the first floor. However, this is one of the most secure buildings in the world, guarded by the US Secret Service.

White House- this is the residence of the President of the United States in Washington (English 1600, Pennsylvania Avenue - Pennsylvania Avenue, 1600). It is a mansion in the Palladian style (architect James Hoban). Construction began in 1792 and ended on November 1, 1800. On the same day, the second US President John Adams became its first owner. Featured on the $20 banknote.

The White House for Americans is a symbol of power, stability and prosperity. This is one of the symbols of statehood along with the flag, emblem and anthem of the state. The history of the White House is rooted in the past, symbolizing the strength and unity of the American nation. Construction of the building, located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, began on October 13, 1792. The first name of the White House was different, it was called differently: "President's Palace", "President's Mansion", "President's House".

The fountain

Historians disagree about the origin of the current name. Some argue that the White House began to be called that way after a fire during the 1812 war between the United States and England. Then the building was very damaged, and during the restoration it was repainted in White color- hence the name. Other researchers believe that the current name of the White House has been mentioned in official documents since 1809, that is, before the fire. In 1901, by order of President Roosevelt, the name "White House" began to be used on official papers, documents, state seals. In any case, now the name of the presidential residence is justified by the color of the walls of the building: they are covered with a composition of lime, casein, lead.

Fountains

The architect of the White House was James Hoban, an Irish-American. He was one of nine architects - applicants for drafting the project. The co-author of James Hoban can be considered the first US President George Washington. He made his own adjustments to the project of the future residence. Thanks to Washington, the White House has increased the area by almost a third compared to the first option and has become more solemn.

For obvious reasons, Americans do not like to advertise that the labor of slaves and emigrants from Scotland, Italy, and Ireland was used in the construction of the main building of the country. Construction lasted more than eight years and cost the American treasury two and a half million dollars. The first tenants moved into the White House on November 1, 1800.

History of the White House Renovation

The White House is the residence of the President of the United States in Washington DC. This is the only residence in the world of the current head of state, open to the public. The history of the construction of the residence is associated with the name of the first US President George Washington, who personally chose the place for his "presidential house" and signed an act of Congress ordering the residence of the American government to be "at a distance of no more than 10 miles from the Potomac River." In 1791, a competition was announced for the best project for the new residence of the President of the United States, in which the American architect James Hobans won. Construction of the presidential residence began in October 1792 and ended in 1800 under President John Adams.

blue room

White house old photo

In the 1920s, after a fire, the presidential administration building was rebuilt and painted white. During the reconstruction, the western and eastern terraces were added to the building, as well as the southern portico of a semicircular shape and the northern portico with a colonnade. Since then, the building remained virtually unchanged until the middle of the last century, except for the installation of electricity and telephone.

In 1948, under President Truman, the White House underwent significant reconstruction, including the construction of a two-story basement, which still serves as the headquarters for the operational management of the president's foreign policy and military actions. Currently, the White House covers an area of ​​about 7.2 hectares. The central part includes living rooms and halls for official receptions. The State Floor contains the East, Green, Blue and Red Rooms, as well as the Front and Family Dining Rooms. Family quarters - the Yellow Oval Room, East and West Drawing Rooms - as well as the Presidential Dining Room, Meeting Room, Lincoln Bedroom and King's Bedroom are located on the third floor. All presidential administrative premises"assembled" in the west wing. Including the famous Oval Office, where the president holds important meetings.

If the appearance of the presidential residence remains virtually unchanged, then the interior changes with the advent of each new president. The main family of America is allowed to remodel the interior at their discretion, however, changes in the so-called State premises must be approved by the Building Protection Committee.

Helicopter

Jacqueline Kennedy left the most significant mark on the history of the White House. It was under Jacqueline Kennedy that many of the residence's historic rooms changed color: the Red Room became dark cherry, the Green Room became the color of Chartreuse liqueur, and the oval Blue Room became white. In addition, Jacqueline Kennedy filled the residence the best examples furniture of the XVIII-XIX centuries, begged US museums to donate 150 old paintings to the White House, bought expensive curtains in France self made restored everything that could be restored. Mrs. Kennedy herself selected fabrics for draperies, furniture and wall upholstery, and lamps. An interesting fact is known: when Jacqueline Kennedy looked after the 19th-century wallpaper from the museum house in Maryland for the decoration of the White House, these wallpapers were immediately removed from the walls and sent to Washington. But at the same time, many pieces of historical White House furnishings that Jacqueline Kennedy considered bad taste were sold at auctions. Designers have been looking for them for many years to restore historical justice.

In the 1990s, under President Bill Clinton, rearrangements were made in the East and Blue Rooms, as well as in the State Reception Hall and Lincoln's Drawing Room. The refurbishment of the Lincoln bedroom was also begun, which was completed after George W. Bush came to power. In addition, it was under Hillary Clinton that the Blue Room of the White House regained its deep sapphire color.

The first changes that President George W. Bush made to the White House furnishings were made in the Oval Office, which is the main office American President. So, for example, instead of Bill Clinton's favorite bright blue oval wool carpet with the presidential seal in the middle, Bush ordered a similar carpet, but light cream in color, to be placed on the floor in his office. The yellow silk "Clinton" sofas with a thin cherry stripe are replaced by the same ones, but upholstered in a simple cream brocade with an inconspicuous pattern. George W. Bush decided to keep the famous oak desk that was JFK's favorite desk and used by Clinton. This table, made from the wood of the English sailboat Resolut, was presented to the President of the United States in 1880 by the British Queen Victoria and is considered a historical relic. The table was also used by Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and, for several months, George W. Bush. In addition, George W. Bush hung on the walls near desk two paintings he brought from Texas. One depicts a boy fisherman, the other depicts a rider on a horse.

white house night

Drawing of the white house

It is also known about George W. Bush that he was constantly concerned about saving electricity in the White House. Under him, special sensors were installed in some rooms of the house, which automatically turn on the light if someone enters the room, and turn it off when no one is in the room.

Architecture and interiors of the US White House

Americans joke: if you want to see the real America, you don't have to go to Washington. And there is a lot of truth in this statement. It is probably difficult to find a city on the entire continent that would be so “un-American”. The reason lies in the very origin of the metropolis, and in its original purpose. Washington was built almost like Petersburg. Just as Peter the Great once said “the city will be founded here” and built the Northern capital of Russia, so a stick was once stuck in the soil of the state of Columbia. And on this site one of the most beautiful and most unusual cities in America was built.

White House

Facade

The history of the building began with George Washington, who personally chose the site for his "presidential house" and signed an act of Congress requiring the residence of the American government to be "not more than 10 miles from the Potomac River."

columns

As mentioned above, in 1791 a competition was announced for the best project for the new residence of the President of the United States, in which the American architect of Irish origin James Hobans won, and construction began in October 1792. And although George Washington did a lot to build one of the most famous buildings in the world, he never managed to live there.

Main office

Fireplace in the room

Construction dragged on until 1800, when John Adams was already in the presidential chair. It was he, along with his wife Abigail, who became the first occupant of the White House.

The corridor

Reception

By the way, this house began to be called white, albeit unofficially, right away - thanks to the light sandstone from which it was built. But only at the end of the 20s of the last century, when, after a fire, the oldest administrative building America, under the direction of the architect of the house, Hobans, was rebuilt and painted white, President Theodore Roosevelt officially approved this name.

Conference hall

During the reconstruction, Hobans added to the building the western and eastern terraces, as well as the south portico of a semicircular shape and the north portico with a colonnade. Since then, the building remained practically unchanged, until the middle of the last century, except for the installation of electricity and telephone.

Scene

Currently, the White House covers an area of ​​about 7.2 hectares. It has 6 floors (two of them are basement), 132 rooms, 32 bathrooms, 147 windows, 412 doors, 3 elevators, 7 stairs.

Living room

Living room

The main building is still a residential area, where the apartments of the presidential family are located, the interior of which is designed in the style of the 18th and 19th centuries.

All presidential administrative offices are "assembled" in the west wing. Including the famous Oval Office, where the president, as you know, holds the most important meetings.

most beautiful room at home is considered Blue, which, however, was not always blue. The fact is that Jacqueline Kennedy, when she was her first lady of the state, tried to change internal design The White House is literally in the bud, as a result, at her request, many of the historical rooms of the palace changed color. The Red Room became dark cherry, the Green Room became the color of Chartreuse liqueur, and the oval Blue Room became white.

It wasn't until Hillary Clinton moved into the White House that the Blue Room regained its deep sapphire color.

By the way, it is here that the main Christmas tree of the country is set in winter. And although it is much inferior in size, for example, to New York, it is still considered the main one. Small models of memorials, which are symbols of each of the American states, are hung on the Christmas tree as decorations. These toys are made by artists in every state, and the right to make a Christmas model for the next holiday is being fought. the best masters countries.

Bedroom

Bedroom

Bedroom

A few more words about the interior. If the appearance of the residence on Pennsylvania Avenue has remained practically unchanged since its foundation, then the interior changes with the arrival of each new president, and especially the first lady.

The main family of America is allowed to remodel the interior at their discretion (of course, within certain limits). So the first lady of the country, like any other woman in the world, begins her housewarming with repairs and a change of scenery.

It is thanks to the first ladies that the White House is the most interesting museum country, since each presidential family left fragments of their life in it.

Here you can see Martha Washington's sugar bowl and Abigail Adams' silver coffee pot.

In one of the 132 rooms of the palace is dressing table Eleanor Roosevelt. A significant mark in the history of the White House, as we have already said, was left by Jacqueline Kennedy. She filled the mansion with the best examples of furniture of the 18th-19th centuries, begged US museums to donate 150 old paintings to the White House, and bought handmade curtains in France.

And in the State Dining Hall, everyone can read the lines engraved on the mantelpiece from a letter from President Adams to his wife Abigail, which are a kind of "prayer" of the White House: "I pray that heaven will send down all the best gifts to this house and to all who will live here. Let only honest, wise people rule under this roof.”

House scheme

The first floor, on which there are 10 rooms, connects the western wing with the eastern one. Once it was a basement where servants lived.

1. Card Room

It is used for meetings of the President and the First Lady with guests in a tête-à-tête mode. During World War II, Franklin Roosevelt used this room as an operations center.

2. Reception

This is actually the entrance to the White House. This is where ambassadors hand over their credentials to the president.

3. Bronze room

It is also sometimes called the "Golden" or "Room of the First Ladies". Here are portraits of some of the presidential wives.

4. Porcelain room

Once it was a pantry, a stoker's room and a dressing room. Since 1917, a collection of porcelain and glass has been exhibited here, which is replenished under each president. The room is used by first ladies for meetings and small receptions. Traditionally, the interior is decorated in red tones, matching the color of the dress in the portrait of First Lady Grace Coolidge.

5. Library

Until 1935, this room housed a laundry room, and then a service locker room. The room acquired its current interior under Bush Jr., earlier the library was decorated in green tones. The second floor is called the state floor, because all state receptions take place here. There are eight rooms here. This floor is on the same level as the third floor of the west and east wings of the building.

6. Formal dining room

Under Jefferson, the room served as a library and study. AT different time there was a living room, then a billiard room, and finally a dining room.

7. Red room

Under Madison, Lincoln, Grant and Kennedy, the room was used as a music room - in memory of this, there is a music stand in front of the fireplace.

8. Blue room

Under Carter there was game room his daughter Emmy, and Ronald Reagan set up a small gym here. George Bush Sr. returned the room to its original appearance, and now this room is intended for guests.

9. Green room

Used for meetings and receptions. Traditionally decorated in green tones. In 2007, the interior was renovated under the leadership of First Lady Laura Bush: the walls were covered with silk, as under Jacqueline Kennedy, the brick upholstery of the chairs was replaced with scarlet. The Turkish carpet laid under Nixon was replaced with a new one in the style of the French savonari.

10. East room

The largest room in the White House. It is used for press conferences, ceremonies. The third floor houses the living rooms of members of the presidential family, as well as several guest bedrooms. On the fourth floor there are bedrooms, a solarium, a music room, a billiard room, offices and service rooms.

11. Oval Office

According to tradition, with the advent of the new administration, the interior is updated, the curtains, the oval carpet with the seal of the head of state and some furniture are changed. Presidents can also take art from the storerooms. Under Clinton, Rodin's sculpture The Thinker stood in his office. Bush Jr. traded the statue for paintings depicting Texas landscapes. The mantel chairs in Bush's office were at first reddish. But since reporters began to call them pink, Bush ordered that the upholstery be changed to blue.

12 facts about the White House

Throughout the world, the White House is known as the residence of the President of the United States and one of the symbols of American power. But, like the nation of which it is a symbol, the White House is fraught with mysteries and unexpected surprises.

1. The exact counterpart of the White House is in Ireland The architect of the White House was James Hoban, an Irish-American educated in Dublin. He was one of nine architects - applicants for drafting the project. According to historians, Hoban took Leinster House, one of Dublin's palaces, as the basis for the project, which today houses the Irish Parliament.

2. Another double of the White House is located in France. The White House has been rebuilt several times. AT early XIX century, President Thomas Jefferson, together with the architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe, developed a project for a number of annexes to the White House. In 1824, the architect James Hoban, on the basis of this project, carried out the addition of some architectural elements, including colonnades. Thus, the semicircular southern colonnade of the White House repeats the shape of the Chateau de Rastignac colonnade, an elegant French mansion built in 1817.

3. Slave labor was used to build the White House The land on which Washington was later built was purchased from the states of Virginia and Columbia, where slave labor was still used. According to historical documents, the construction of the White House involved big number black workers, most of whom were slaves. Black workers worked alongside whites: they quarried sandstone at a field in Virginia, dug a foundation pit for the foundations of the White House, laid foundations and fired bricks to build interior walls.

4. Europeans took part in the construction of the White House The construction of the White House would not have been possible without the participation of European craftsmen and immigrant workers. So, the Scots masons built sandstone walls. Scottish artisans also carved the rose and garland ornaments that today adorn the western entrance. Immigrants from Ireland and Italy did the laying work. Besides, Italian masters also carved decorative stone elements that adorn the columns of the White House. Construction lasted more than eight years and cost the American treasury two and a half million dollars.

5. George Washington never lived in the White House James Hoban's co-author can be considered the first US President George Washington. It was he who approved the project of the Irish architect, but considered it not large enough and grandiose, so he made his own adjustments to the project of the future residence. Thanks to Washington, the White House has increased the area by almost a third compared to the first option and has become more solemn. However, President Washington never lived in the White House. In 1800, when the construction of the residence of the American presidents was almost completed, the first tenant moved into it - the second US president, John Adams. His wife Abigail subsequently repeatedly complained that the president's house was unfinished. Adams lived in the house for only about a year, after which he was succeeded by Thomas Jefferson.

6. White House for a long time remained the most big house America New capital countries - Washington - was built according to a pre-designed plan by the French architect Pierre Charles Lanfant, and the White House was conceived by him in the image and likeness of huge majestic buildings ancient rome. However, Langfan's project was not accepted - he was preferred much less grandiose project Hoban and Latrobe. Nevertheless, the White House was simply huge by the standards of that time. It remained the largest house in America until the end of the Civil War, when active construction began in the country.

7. The White House almost burned down due to the fault of the British Army During the War of 1814, the White House was almost completely burned down - only external walls. Washington was set on fire by the British army in retaliation for the Ontario Parliament building fire american soldiers two years earlier, in 1812. Of the artifacts stolen after the fire by marauders, the American state managed to save only two: a painting by George Washington and a jewelry box. The latter was returned in 1939 to then US President Roosevelt by a Canadian citizen. He reported that the jewels had been taken from Washington by his grandfather. After the fire, the White House was rebuilt almost from scratch, and President James Madison at that time lived in Octagon House, which later became the headquarters of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). President Monroe moved into the partially reconstructed White House only in October 1817.

8. The West Wing of the White House was destroyed by fire In 1929, shortly after the start of the Great Depression, a fire broke out in the West Wing of the White House short circuit. Almost all the rooms on the first two floors of the West Wing had to be rebuilt after the fire.

9. Under President Roosevelt, the White House was refurbished to accommodate the needs of the disabled The original builders of the White House could not have foreseen that one day a disabled president would become its owner. Moving around the White House in a wheelchair became possible only in 1933, when Franklin Delano Roosevelt took over as president. Because President Roosevelt was paralyzed by polio and unable to move freely, the White House was rebuilt to be wheelchair accessible. In addition, under Roosevelt, an indoor heated swimming pool appeared in the White House - this was necessary for his treatment.

10 President Truman Saved The White House From Demolition One Hundred and Fifty Years After Construction bearing walls The White House has been greatly weakened. Engineers sounded the alarm, declaring the building emergency and requiring major immediate repairs. In 1948, President Truman ordered the reconstruction and installation of new steel supporting structures. While the reconstruction lasted, the president's family lived in a nearby mansion, Blair House.

11. The White House used to be called differently During its two-hundred-year history, the White House has changed several names: it was called the “presidential castle”, the “presidential palace”, and the “house of the president”. Officially, the White House began to be called that only in 1901, when the name was introduced by President Theodore Roosevelt.

12. The White House Wasn't Always White The White House was built from gray sandstone quarried in Virginia. The sandstone walls were painted white only after the reconstruction of the White House after the fire of 1814. It took about 570 gallons of white paint to paint the building. The original wall coverings were made from rice paste, casein and lead.

The White House (USA) is a symbol of democracy and freedom in the country. He has interesting story construction and development. Each subsequent US president had the right to make new buildings and reconstruct this building.

Construction history

The White House (USA) began to be built later than the country's independence was declared. George Washington did not have his own residence when he took office as America's first president.

Officially, construction began in 1792 and completed in 1800 under the government of John Adams. Today, almost everyone knows where the White House is located in the United States. The building was built at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. By the author architectural project was James Hoban. The mansion cost $2.8 million to build. modern course. The house was built according to the principle of classicism and is very reminiscent of the ancient buildings of Rome and Greece. Previously, the facade was sand-colored, and the building was called the President's House.

Building reconstruction

The mansion has been rebuilt many times. So, in 1814, as a result of the attack of the British troops, the President's House was almost completely destroyed. Only the walls remained. All property was stolen. After some time, a picture was found and returned, which George Washington personally painted, and some precious things. Architect James Hoban undertook to rebuild the building according to old projects. Only this time the walls were painted white. Under President T. Roosevelt, the official name appeared - the White House (USA).

Subsequently, various reconstructions were made:

• the eastern and western colonnades were completed;
• the construction of galleries in 1824 and 1829;
• installation of plumbing and heating in 1835;
• construction of the western wing;
• electrification in 1901;
• oval office decor.

In 1929, a fire destroyed almost all the rooms in the west wing, and they had to be rebuilt. When F. Roosevelt came to power, the building inside had to be thoroughly redone, because it was not convenient for the life and work of a person in a wheelchair. At the same time, a swimming pool was built for Roosevelt to undergo procedures to restore his health.

In 1948, a huge basement was built under the building, where very important meetings on the military side were held. Such a reconstruction took place under the presidency of G. Truman, who reacted in time to the destruction of the wooden supports in the building, and they were replaced with steel ones. The style inside was created by the wife of J. Kennedy. Jacqueline gradually decorated all the rooms with valuable historical pieces of furniture and decor. It was she who furnished the mansion with exquisite sets of the 18th and 19th centuries.

White House of the President of the United States today

Currently, the territory of the administration occupies 7.2 hectares of land. The building has 6 floors and there are:

• 132 rooms;
• 35 bathrooms;
• 28 fireplaces and 3 elevators;
• more than 140 windows and 8 stairs.

There is a tennis court on site and Treadmill. Built modern field for golf. The building houses a bowling alley and a large cinema. The head of the White House has a personal space for him and his children to live. In this part of the building there are several bedrooms, children's rooms and guest rooms.

The building has 3 large rooms oval shape. All of them are located on different floors:

• Blue is intended for receptions and dinners of a small number of guests.
• Yellow for meetings of presidents different countries before the official dinner.
• Diplomatic reception, where the head of the White House (USA) holds meetings with foreign ambassadors.

The most beautiful is the Blue Room. Once, under the leadership of Jackie Kennedy, it was redesigned in white. And only under Hillary Clinton, the original blue tint was returned to the room.

During the first construction of the building, the physical strength of slaves was used. Designed the external and interior decoration immigrants. Construction took place for a long 8 years, and more than one hundred masters changed for this. Highly long time The White House (USA) was considered the largest in the country. In the east wing, several spacious premises have been allocated for the office of the first lady of the country. Here, the wives of presidents host receptions and charity events.

The building has a Sun Room, in which many presidential families liked to relax. This room is almost invisible and is located on sunny side. Often, during family gatherings, US leaders set up a grill on the terrace and had a small picnic. Under the building, a huge bunker was dug with tunnels that lead into the city and out of it. Journalists have never set foot in this place. The moves are completely classified, and their scheme is not subject to publicity.

The mansion houses 5 of the best chefs in the country around the clock. They are ready to serve more than 1000 appetizers and other dishes at any time. These masters can reproduce almost any dish from different cuisines peace.

Unusual facts

It is difficult to find an American who does not know where the White House is located in the USA. But many have never heard of unusual facts associated with this building. Here is some of them:

• several presidents kept small crocodiles in their bathrooms;
• in Lincoln's bedroom, guests often see his ghost, one of these witnesses was Churchill;
• in Ireland there is a smaller twin building of the White House;
• under the mansion there is a bunker at a depth of 6 floors;
• on the territory there is a garden and a vegetable garden for growing fruits and vegetables without treatment with chemical fertilizers.

Everyone knows that the security system in this building and on its territory is equipped with all the latest technology. Snipers are constantly on duty on the roofs. The windows are made of bulletproof glass. But not everyone knows that the security service can repel even an air attack. There are special rocket launchers on the territory.

Celebrations at the White House

Before the biggest holidays in the USA, big events are being prepared in the main building of the country. Installing a Christmas tree in the White House is a whole tradition that has not been violated for more than two centuries.

Thanksgiving is obligatory celebrated with "turkey pardons" by the president and free meals for the poor near the building. On Halloween, kids are invited to the White House, who receive treats personally from the president and his wife. The administration of the US White House usually participates in all these events and thus tries to be closer to the common people of their country.