14 FUN FACTS ABOUT
THE WHITE HOUSE
by Caitlind L. Alexander
A LearningIsland.com
15-Minute book
Editor: Jennifer Robinson
Smashwords Edition
(c) Copyright 2011 Caitlind L. Alexander. All rights reserved.
Published by LearningIsland.com.
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14 Fun Facts About the White House / Caitlind L. Alexander
Summary: A brief look at some interesting facts about The White House.
1. White House. Juvenile Literature. 2. Presidents. Juvenile Literature. 3. Washington, D.C. Juvenile Literature.
Created in USA
RL: 4.9
W: 1790
Ages 7 and up.
(Harshlight)
Fact 1: The site for the White House was chosen by George Washington.
In December of 1790, George Washington signed an act of congress. This Act stated that the nation would be run from an area of not more than 10 square miles (16 kilometers) which sat on the banks of the Potomac River. Pierre L’Enfant, a Frenchman, was the man chosen to plan what the city would look like. L’Enfant and Washington met together in the new capitol and George Washington chose the site for the “President’s House”.
President Washington watched over the building of the White House.
White House, 1846 Dagerotype. This is the first known picture of the White House. It was taken by John Plumbe
Fact 2: The original name for the building was not the “White House”.
Originally the building was named the Presidential Palace. This was the name given it by George Washington. In the early days it was called the Presidential Palace, or just “the President’s House”.
The outside of the house is covered with a light colored sandstone. However, it has always been painted white. Sandstone will soak up water. It also washes away over time. To protect the building, it has always been painted, and the color has always been white.
Many people often called it the White House. In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt officially named it the White House.