White House saw more than forty first ladies within its walls. TASS found out how they influenced appearance and interior of the residence of the head of state
A presidential residence, a museum, a symbol, the oldest building in the United States - all this is the White House, located in Washington at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. On Tuesday, March 7, it opens its doors again for tours and visits after a nearly two-month break due to with a change of head of state. Over the 240 years of the existence of the United States, interior decoration and the appearance of the White House was greatly influenced by the first ladies - wives of US presidents. TASS tells how they changed the appearance of the country's most recognizable landmark.
Women rule the house
Despite the high status and great influence that the first lady has on the White House and the public life of the country, there is no such position in the US government system as “the president’s wife.” As a rule, she accompanies her husband at official and special events, including trips abroad, but she does not have any formal responsibilities (as well as a salary), and in fact she has only one job assigned to her - to be the hostess of the White House and organize various events and ceremonies. Of course, this cannot be done by one person, which is why the White House has the Office of the First Lady, which is a branch of the Executive Office of the President. The president's wife has her own staff at her disposal, including the White House public secretary, press secretary, head of staff, chief florist and chef.
© Carol M. Highsmith/Buyenlarge/Getty Images
Every four years, Congress allocates $100,000 from the budget for the decoration and maintenance of the White House with its 132 rooms in proper condition. The living part, located on the top two floors of the mansion, is almost entirely at the disposal of the first lady - there she can repaint the walls, change the furniture, hang paintings or tapestries to her liking. However, if the Presidential couple decides to make changes to the guest suites (such as the Queen's Bedroom or the Lincoln Bedroom) or any other historical and public area of the mansion (Green Room, Family Dining Room, etc.), the Committee will need to be consulted to preserve the White House. The "state floors" of the presidential residence are renovated approximately every ten years, often with funds from the White House Historical Association.
Sometimes a new presidential couple makes very significant changes to the life of the White House: the Kennedys dug new gardens, the Nixons reinstalled the bowling alley (it originally appeared under President Harry Truman), the Carters installed solar panels, the Reagans dismantled these batteries. Former President Barack Obama converted the tennis court so it could be used for basketball.
New President Donald Trump's first move is to rename the Office of the First Lady to the Office of the First Family, since his wife Melania does not want to move to Washington, and the de facto role of First Lady will likely be played by the billionaire's daughter from a previous marriage, Ivanka. How it will affect the appearance and decor of the White House is still unknown. The new presidential couple will be able to select furniture and other home furnishings from a special storage facility that contains antiques. As usual, famous designers are invited to decorate the interiors of the White House, who must coordinate their ideas with the Chief Curator of the Residence.
US President Donald Trump and Vice President Michael Pence swear in businessman Steven Mnuchin as head of the Treasury Department (360°). © Alex Wong/Getty Images
Red Room on Christmas Eve (360°). © Alex Wong/Getty Images
Journalists called the apartment of the billionaire himself in New York's Trump Tower "a mirror ball in the spirit of kitschy rococo," so it is possible that under the 45th president the White House will have more gold and marble - the favorite decorative elements of the new presidential couple. It is known that Trump is not interested in art (except for “The Art of the Deal”), while his daughter Ivanka is a collector and especially respects contemporary American art. Some photos on Instagram show that the walls of her house are decorated with paintings by Dan Colen and Alex Israel. Perhaps something from Ivanka’s collection will appear in the White House. After all, each of her predecessors left their mark on the presidential residence, with the influence of some first ladies still being felt there today.
He will install electricity and enter the burning hut.
All of the White House's original furnishings were destroyed in 1814 when British troops under the command of Major General Robert Ross occupied Washington and burned the mansion. The only thing that was saved was a portrait of George Washington, which still hangs in one of the living rooms. The canvas was saved thanks to Dolley Madison, the wife of the fourth US President James Madison. The First Lady cut the portrait out of the frame (she did not have time to remove the painting), and ordered servants and slaves to load and remove silver, vases and other small items. After the end of the occupation of Washington, the Madisons returned to the White House; renovation of the mansion began in 1815 and was completed in time for the inauguration of President James Monroe in 1817. Since then, it has become a custom that each new presidential couple brings their own furniture, paintings and household utensils to the White House.
In subsequent years, the companions of the heads of state were also involved in more serious economic matters. Caroline Garrison, wife of the 23rd US President Benjamin Garrison, installed electricity in the residence in 1891. At the same time, the first lady and her husband were afraid to use the switches themselves, so specially assigned servants did this. Mrs. Garrison also had new flooring installed in the house, added a couple of closets, updated the plumbing, and repainted and wallpapered several rooms.
Edith Roosevelt, the second wife of Theodore Roosevelt and the first lady of the United States during his presidency from 1901 to 1909, went even further. Under her, the White House acquired the famous West Wing, where the Oval Office and other presidential offices are located. Before that workplace the president's apartment was adjacent to residential premises, which caused some inconvenience.
Edith Roosevelt also initiated renovations inside the White House, replacing dark decor with lighter colors. In addition, on the ground floor there was a gallery with portraits of all previous first ladies, as well as a collection of presidential porcelain (almost every new president, starting with James Monroe, produced his own signature porcelain service).
Like all women, first ladies made sure their husbands were comfortable in their " family nest"So, Grace Coolidge - the wife of President Calvin Coolidge and the First Lady of the United States from 1923 to 1929 - installed a solarium for her husband on the roof of the White House - the so-called Sky Parlor. The president preferred to sleep there during the hot summers nights.
Grace Coolidge also made changes to the landscape of the residence - according to her decree, a pond with lilies was dug not far from the White House. Ten years earlier, Helen Taft, wife of President William Howard Taft and First Lady of the United States from 1909 to 1913, ordered the planting of 3,000 Japanese cherry trees in Washington. They decorate the surroundings of the presidential mansion to this day.
Study agriculture near the White House, as you know, Michelle Obama’s favorite place was with her famous vegetable garden, where she grew vegetables. But long before her, Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of US President (and her distant relative) Franklin Roosevelt, was doing the same thing. And a few years earlier, sheep grazed on the lawns of the White House - they were bred by First Lady Edith Wilson, the second wife of President Woodrow Wilson. The wool from these sheep was auctioned during the First World War for the benefit of the Red Cross. By the way, many call Edith Wilson the first “female president” of the United States, since in 1919, after her husband’s stroke, she actually ruled the country for less than two years.
Finally, we owe it to two presidential wives that the White House will remain as we know it today: Bess Truman (wife of the 33rd President Harry Truman) and Jacqueline Kennedy (wife of the 35th President John F. Kennedy). The first, in 1948, did not allow the deconstruction of the mansion and extracted $5.4 million from Congress for its restoration and strengthening. The second restored the historical decor of the building, returning antiques, paintings, antique furniture to the White House - in general, the historical atmosphere. Under Jackie Kennedy, the presidential residence essentially turned into a museum; The first guide to the White House was published, the proceeds from the sale of which went to finance restoration work. In addition, the First Lady initiated a congressional bill that transferred the White House property to the Smithsonian Institution rather than former presidents, who could hypothetically lay claim to property from the mansion.
Contemporary art and hip-hop
The “cultivation” of the White House was continued by Hillary Clinton, who was the First Lady of the United States from 1993 to 2001. The residence exhibited paintings by a number of prominent American artists(for example, Henry Ossawa Tanner and Georgia O'Keeffe), restoration work continued. The Blue Room was restored to its original appearance from the time of President James Monroe, and the Map Room was decorated as it looked during World War II. Clinton also decorated the residence's tables and mantels with porcelain, ceramics and glass, and mounted an exhibition of contemporary American sculpture outside the White House. Subsequently, all exhibits were donated to the residence fund and are now part of its permanent collection.
Laura Bush, wife of the 43rd US President George W. Bush, returned the Lincoln Bedroom to its Victorian decor and carried out restoration work in a number of other rooms. During her tenure, the White House acquired decorations and decorations in the style of rich houses in the southern states (Laura and George Bush were natives of Texas).
Leaving the White House in 2008, Bush advised the future first lady Michelle not to be afraid to introduce elements of her own taste and style, and the wife of the 44th president took this advice seriously: the conservative, “Southern” decor of the Bushes was replaced by modern and elegant the interior, which was designed for the new presidential couple by the popular Hollywood designer Michael Es Smith.
After moving to the White House, the Obamas refused to accept government money or donations to renovate the residence - all work was paid for from the pockets of the president and first lady. Michelle Obama's main merit is considered to be the renovation of the Family Dining Room, which in 2015 opened to the public for the first time in the history of the mansion. Several abstract works by contemporary American artists were also exhibited there, including Alma Thomas, the first African-American artist whose painting ended up in the presidential residence. Barack and Michelle Obama generally paid great attention to ensure that African Americans have as much representation as possible in the White House. They also welcomed Black hip-hop artists such as Kendrick Lamar and Chance The Rapper to the residency for the first time.
Of course, Michelle's most famous contribution in the context of the White House is her vegetable beds, which the first lady, together with American schoolchildren, set up in 2009 on the South Lawn of the residence. Then the international organization Kitchen Gardeners International, which promotes organic food, approached her with a request to revive the previously existing vegetable garden. Michelle took charge of the garden and for eight years grew vegetables, herbs and herbs: sweet potatoes, salads, broccoli, spinach, mint, beets, onions, dill, rhubarb, peas and pumpkins. Annual flowers grew in beds along the paths. Later she even organized a small apiary in the garden. The permanent residents of the White House and their guests were treated to these vegetables from the garden and fresh honey.
The vegetable garden has become the centerpiece of the Let’s Move! ("Let's Move!"), which Michelle Obama launched to support healthy eating for children and adolescents, including to combat obesity. The first lady gave educational tours to schoolchildren in the White House garden, and children helped her harvest crops in the fall. Melania Trump has already promised that the tradition will continue and the garden will continue to be monitored and cared for. This is good news for fans of Barack and Michelle: at least this legacy of the former presidential couple will not be erased under the new owners of the White House.
Photo frames before and after Donald Trump moved into the White House. © EPA/JIM LO SCALZO, AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais
The White House in Washington is the main building of the country where the president's residence is located. The beautiful building was built from unique white stone on Capitol Hill in Washington, the capital of the United States. Near the White House there are two beautiful parks - Kennedy Park and White House Rose Park, where tourists can stroll and enjoy majestic view America's main building.
The White House parks contain monuments to great people who made the greatest contribution to the development of the United States. Of great importance is the monument to George Washington, which rises 169 meters above the ground in the form of a column with four sides. Until the moment it was erected in Paris, this Washington Monument was the tallest building in the world. The Washington Monument is located directly between the White House and the Capitol.
As you continue 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 slabs representing the number of states that were part of the country in 1945. The Lincoln Memorial was erected in honor of the 16th president of the country and depicts the great man sitting in a chair. The Washington and Lincoln monuments are connected to the Capitol building, where the US Senate meets, and 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 just being built. The White House was fully erected in 1800, but in 1814 it was burned down by the British Army, which was sent to suppress the rebellious colony that was fighting for independence. However, the Americans were able to win the war and once again rebuild the residence for the presidents of their country.
The residence is luxurious mansion, which is built in accordance with the canons of the Palladian style outstanding architect James Hoban. The first president for whom the White House became a true residence was John Adams. His image is on the twenty dollar bill.
The mansion has six floors, with only four rising above the ground, and two being basements. Two ground floors are intended for public receptions, and two more for the residence of the president’s family. The facility is open to tourists, who are shown the luxurious premises of the building, which have great historical significance. For example, tourists can see with their own eyes the Eastern Room, the Blue, Green and Red Rooms, as well as the Dining Room for official receptions. All these premises bring together a large number of guests or leaders from all parts of the world for 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 government cabinet or the presidential administration.
Officially, it was called the Presidential Mansion or Presidential Palace, by analogy with similar buildings in Europe. But subsequently, the whiteness of the palace walls 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 confirmed only in 1901 by personal order of one of famous presidents United States - Theodore Roosevelt. And the consolidation of the main workplace of the country's first person in the Oval Office took place back in 1909 and has not changed since then.
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A majestic building with a classic silhouette can often be seen in feature films American made. The White House has not only cultural but also symbolic significance. The eyes of both ordinary Americans and residents of other countries are fixed on him. By chance, the lives of entire nations depend on the decisions made there. Heads of state and their families live in the Presidential Residence for the duration of the election term. The White House remains a symbol of the enduring power of democracy for the people of the country.
Source: pixabay.com
Where it all began
Laconic lines classic style have become the hallmark of the Presidential Palace, which is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and is surrounded by greenery. The beginning of construction was marked by the laying of the first stone in 1792 on October 13. The initiative to build the palace belonged to the first President of America, George Washington. He did not imagine the scale of the current building, since no more than ten square miles were allocated for construction on the banks of the Potomac River.
As a result of an announced competition, James Hoban was chosen to play the role of architect. The current President of the country was also involved in the work on the project. The idea of constructing a building in the Palladin style, where ancient Greek arches were to be in harmony with smooth symmetrical lines, won the design competition. The owners of the country did not skimp on the future palace and allocated $2.5 million for its construction.
Source: wikipedia.org Who lived in the White House first?
The official completion of construction is considered to be June 4, 1800. The architects managed to bring to life a joint project with the president. It turned out that construction dragged on for eight years. Attention was paid to every detail; not only a lot of resources were invested into the palace, but also maximum effort. The initiator of the construction, Washington, was unable to settle his brainchild.
The doors of the Presidential Palace officially opened on November 1, 1800. The first inhabitants of the luxurious apartments were: the second President of the country, John Adams, and Abigail, his wife. Above the fireplace there are still his words wishing good luck to this house and all its future inhabitants. The President sent the address to his wife, but all visitors have been reading it for more than three hundred years.
Source: biography.com The mystery of the name
During construction there were several design names that were later eliminated. There are several versions of why the palace became the White House. According to one of them, the building differed favorably from the surrounding red granite buildings. The palace was faced with Virginia sandstone and covered with a mixture of lead, casein and lime.
According to the second version, the name White House appears eleven years after settlement in 1811. Nobody says what was the reason for this. Perhaps the evidence is not strong point data from scientists.
The third version is considered the most common. In 1814, the palace was severely damaged by fire, so a global reconstruction was required. As a result of the renovations, the walls were covered with white mortar for the first time. Despite all the versions, the palace continued to be called the presidential palace. It became the White House only in 1901. It was then that Theodore Roosevelt signed an official decree.
Source: loa.org
The builders did not stop there and began making additions already in 1801, when they added two terraces on the western and eastern sides. A large-scale reconstruction was carried out in 1814 after a fire. For state needs, underground floors appeared in 1817, which housed the emergency headquarters for the commander-in-chief. The rounded portico on the south appeared in 1824, and the columns on the north side - in 1830.
The beginning of the twentieth century is also famous for its great renovations. At Roosevelt's initiative, the White House expanded into two wings: Western and Eastern. In 1927, the attic was reclaimed and acquired a residential appearance. Over the years, the building has undergone reconstruction as a result of several fires. The White House underwent fundamental changes in 1949-1952 under Harry Truman. This was caused by an urgent need. Old wooden structures were replaced with iron ones. The layout of the rooms has also changed.
The current appearance of the palace is significantly different from the original one. It has six floors and 132 rooms. In the building huge amount stairs and three elevators. The White House is open for tours. Visitors are allowed to visit the colored rooms and historically significant areas of the palace, located on two floors. The remaining levels are occupied by the residential quarters of the presidential family, and the workplace of the head of state is the Oval Office.
Excursion routes
The design of the palace includes the work of the country's first ladies: Madame Wilson laid out the Rose Garden in the western part, and Jacqueline Kennedy's garden flaunts in the east. The Presidential Park is located on an area of 7.2 hectares. The famous lawn, parks and gardens, paths and secluded corners are open to tourists.
Video: Inside the White House
The palace is located in the very center of the city. The building occupies five thousand square meters. It still has six floors, two of which are underground. The ground floor is not at the disposal of the ruling family. All contents of the rooms are in impeccable condition, as the premises are regularly visited by many tourists. Visitors have access to two floors. Tours take place regularly any day from Tuesday to Saturday. Anyone can enter the patrimony of the Presidents. Tourists are given access to:
- Blue and Green Halls, where formal and informal receptions are held;
- Red and Family dining rooms;
- Great Hall and Cross Hall;
- Dining room for official receptions large quantity guests.
The palace has 32 baths and 28 fireplaces. The decoration of the premises is worthy of the heads of a powerful state. Presidents, after the expiration of their term, are required to leave temporary housing and make way for their successor.
For more than three hundred years, the White House has had many owners. Each of the families living in it sought to make their own changes to the decoration and interior. Women's desire to create comfort is in their genes. Each first lady furnished her home according to her own taste and idea of what a home should be like.
1. History of renovation of the interiors of the US Presidential residence (White House)
2. Architecture and interiors residence of the US President (White House) USA
3. White House Locations
4. 12 facts about the White House
5. White House(Moscow)
White House 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 owner became its first owner. USA John Adams. Featured on the $20 bill.
For Americans, the White House is a symbol of power, stability and prosperity. This is one of the symbols of statehood along with the flag, coat of arms and anthem of the state. This year the White House will turn two hundred and sixteen years old.
The history of the US Presidential residence (White House) goes back centuries, 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 residence of the US President (White House) was different; it was called differently: “Presidential Palace”, “Mansion” president", "House president».
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 War of 1812 USA with England. Then the building suffered greatly, and during restoration it was repainted white- hence the name.
Other researchers believe that in official documents the current name of the residence of the US President (White House) has been mentioned 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 based on the color of the building’s walls: they are covered with a composition of lime, casein, and lead.
James Hoban, an American of Irish descent, was appointed the architect of the US Presidential residence (White House). He was one of nine architects competing to draw up the project. James Hoban's co-author 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 increased its area by almost a third compared to the first version and became more solemn.
For obvious reasons, Americans do not like to advertise that the construction of the main building countries the labor of slaves and emigrants from Scotland, Italy, and Ireland was used. Construction lasted more than eight years and cost the American treasury two and a half million dollars. The first residents moved into the White House on November 1, 1800.
History of the renovation of the US Presidential residence (White House)
The White House is the residence of the US President in Washington. This is the only residence of the current head in the world states, open to the public.
The history of the construction of the residence is connected with the name of the first US President George Washington, who personally chose the place for his “presidential home” and signed an act of Congress ordering the residence of the American government to be located “at a distance of no more than 10 miles from the Potomac River.”
In 1791 it was declared best project the new residence of the US President, 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.
In the 20s of the 19th century, after a fire, the presidential administration building was rebuilt and painted white. During the reconstruction, western and eastern terraces were added to the building, as well as a semicircular southern portico and a northern colonnaded portico. Since then, the building remained virtually unchanged until the middle of the last century, except for the provision of electricity and telephone.
In 1948, under President Truman, the White House underwent significant renovations, including the construction of a two-story basement that still serves as the headquarters for the operational management of the president's foreign policy and military activities.
Currently, the White House occupies 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 State and Family Dining Rooms. Family rooms - the Yellow Oval Room, East and West Drawing Rooms - as well as the Presidential Dining Room, Meeting Room, Lincoln Bedroom and King Bedroom are located on the third floor. All presidential administrative offices are "collected" in the west wing. Including the famous Oval Office, where the most important meetings are held.
While the exterior of the presidential residence remains virtually unchanged, the interior changes with the arrival of each new president. Main family America is allowed to remodel the interior at its discretion, but changes to the so-called State premises must be approved by the Building Preservation Committee.
The most significant mark in the history of the US Presidential residence (White House) was left by Jacqueline Kennedy. 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 with the best examples of furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries, and asked US museums to donate 150 antique paintings, bought expensive curtains in France self made, restored everything that could be restored. Mrs. Kennedy herself selected the fabrics for draperies, upholstery and walls, as well as lamps. An interesting fact is known: when Jacqueline Kennedy looked for 19th century wallpaper from a house museum in Maryland to decorate the residence of the US President (White House), this wallpaper was immediately removed from the walls and sent to Washington. But at the same time, many items from the historical furnishings of the US Presidential residence (White House), which Jacqueline Kennedy considered to be in bad taste, were sold at auction. Designers have been searching for them for many years to restore historical justice.
In the 1990s, under President Bill Clinton, changes were made to the East and Blue Rooms, as well as to the State Reception Hall and the Lincoln Drawing Room. Refurbishment of Lincoln's bedroom was also started, which was completed after his arrival. authorities George Bush. In addition, it was under Hilary Clinton that the Blue Room of the US Presidential Residence (White House) regained its deep sapphire color.
The first changes made by current President George W. Bush to the furnishings of the US presidential residence (White House) were carried out in the Oval Office, which is the main office of the 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 color, to be placed on the floor in his office. Yellow silk "Clinton" sofas with pinstripes of cherry are replaced by the same ones, but upholstered in simple cream brocade with a subtle pattern. George W. Bush decided to keep the famous oak desk that was John Kennedy's favorite desk and that Clinton used. This table, made from the wood of the English sailing ship "Resolute", was presented to the US President in 1880 by the British Queen Victoria and is considered a historical relic. The table was also used by Presidents Jimmy Carter, and for several months by the current president's father, George H. W. Bush. In addition, George Bush hung two paintings that he brought from Texas on the walls near his desk. One depicts a fisherman boy, the other a rider on a horse.
It is also known about George Bush that he is constantly concerned about saving electricity at the White House. During his time, special sensors were installed in some rooms of the house that automatically turn on the lights if someone enters the room, and turn them off when no one is in the room.
Architecture and interiors of the US Presidential residence (White House) USA
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 would probably be 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 St. Petersburg. How Peter the Great once said “here a city will be founded” and built the Northern capital Russian Federation, in the same way, a stick was stuck into the soil of the state of the Colombian Republic at one time. And on this site one of the most beautiful and most unusual cities in America was built.
The history of the building began with George Washington, who personally chose the site for his “presidential home” and signed an act of Congress ordering the seat of the American government to be “not more than 10 miles from the Potomac River.”
In 1791 it was announced Contest for the best design of the new residence of the US President, in which the Irish-born American architect 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 got to live there.
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 occupants of the US Presidential residence (White House). In general, since the time of the first president, 40 American presidents have lived in the White House, whose memorials are located on National Mall Boulevard, stretching from the Capitol.
By the way, this house was immediately called white, albeit unofficially, thanks to the light sandstone from which it was built. But it was only in the late 20s of the last century, when after a fire the oldest administrative building in America was rebuilt and painted white under the leadership of the house's architect, Hobans, that President Theodore Roosevelt officially approved this name.
During the reconstruction, Hobans added western and eastern terraces to the building, as well as a semicircular southern portico and a colonnaded northern portico. Since then, the building remained virtually unchanged until the middle of the last century, except for the electricity and telephone.
But in 1948, under President Truman, a significant reconstruction was carried out at the White House, 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 occupies an area of about 7.2 hectares.
It has 6 floors (two of them are basements), 132 rooms, 32 bathrooms, 147 windows, 412 doors, 3 elevators, 7 stairs.
The main building still remains a residential building, where the apartments of the presidential family are located, the interior of which is designed in XVIII style and XIX centuries.
All presidential administrative offices are “collected” in the west wing. Including the famous Oval Office, where the president is known to hold his most important meetings.
The most beautiful room in the house is considered to be the Blue Room, which, however, was not always blue. The fact is that Jacqueline Kennedy, when she was the first lady of the state, tried to change the interior design of the US Presidential residence (White House) literally from scratch, 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 was only when Hillary Clinton moved into the White House that the Blue Room regained its deep sapphire color.
By the way, this is where the main Christmas tree of the country is installed in winter. And although it is much smaller in size, for example, than New York, it is still considered the main one. As decorations, small models of memorials are hung on the tree, which are symbols of each of the American states. These toys are made by artists in each state, and the best craftsmen in the country compete for the right to make a Christmas model for the next holiday.
A few more words about the interior. If the appearance of the residence on Pennsylvania Avenue has remained virtually unchanged since its founding, the interior changes with the arrival of each new president, and especially the first lady.
America's leading family is allowed to redecorate the interior as they see fit (within certain boundaries, of course). So the first lady of the country, like any other woman in the world, begins her housewarming with renovations and a change of scenery.
It is thanks to the first ladies that the White House is the most interesting museum in the country, since each presidential family left fragments of their life in it.
Martha Washington's sugar bowl and Abigail Adams' silver coffee pot can be seen here.
In one of the 132 rooms of the palace there is dressing table Eleanor Roosevelt. Jacqueline Kennedy, as we have already said, left a significant mark on the history of the US Presidential residence (White House). She filled the mansion with the best examples of furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries, asked US museums to donate 150 antique paintings to the White House, and purchased France handmade curtains.
And in the State Dining Hall, everyone can read the lines from President Adams’ letter to his wife Abigail, engraved on the mantelpiece, which are a kind of “prayer” of the US President’s residence (White House):
“I pray that heaven will send all the best gifts to this house and to all who will subsequently live here. Let only honest, wise people rule under this roof.”
Locations in the White House
The first floor, on which there are 10 rooms, connects the west wing with the east. Once upon a time it was a semi-basement room in which servants lived.
1. Map room
Used for one-on-one meetings between the President and First Lady and guests. During World War II wars Franklin Roosevelt used this room as an operations room.
2. Reception
This is actually the entrance to the White House. This is where ambassadors present their credentials to the president.
3. Bronze room
It is also sometimes called the “Golden Room” or the “First Ladies Room.” Here are portraits of some of the presidential wives.
4. Porcelain room
It was once a storage room, a fireman's room and a dressing room. Since 1917, a collection of porcelain and glass has been exhibited here, which is replenished with 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., previously the library was decorated in green tones.
The second floor is called the state floor, since all state receptions take place here. There are eight rooms here. This floor is on the same level as the third floor of the western and eastern wings of the building.
6. Formal dining room
Under Jefferson, the room served as a library and study. At various times there was a living room here, 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 opposite the fireplace.
8. Blue room
Under Carter, it was his daughter Emmy's playroom, and Reagan I built a small gym here. George Bush Sr. restored the room to its original appearance, and this room is now intended for guests.
9. Green room
Used for meetings and receptions. Traditionally decorated in green tones. In 2007, the interior was updated under the leadership of First Lady Laura Bush: the walls were covered with silk, as under Jacqueline Kennedy, and the brick upholstery of the chairs was replaced with scarlet. The Turkish carpet laid under Nixon was replaced with a new one in the French Savonari style.
10. East room
The largest room in the White House. It is used for press conferences and ceremonies.
On the third floor there are living rooms for 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 office space.
11. Oval Office
According to tradition, with the arrival of a 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 borrow art from the vaults. Under Clinton, Rodin’s sculpture “The Thinker” stood in his office. Bush Jr. replaced the statue with paintings of Texas landscapes. The fireplace chairs in Bush's office were initially reddish. But because reporters started calling them pink, Bush ordered the upholstery changed to blue.
12 facts about the White House
Throughout the world, the White House is known as the residence of the US President and one of the symbols of the American authorities. But, like the nation of which it is a symbol, the White House is fraught with mysteries and unexpected surprises.
1. An exact duplicate of the US Presidential residence (White House) is located in Ireland
James Hoban, an Irish-American educated in Dublin, was appointed the architect of the US Presidential residence (White House). He was one of nine architects competing to draw up the project. According to historians, Hoban took as the basis for the project one of the palaces in Dublin, Leinster House, where the Irish parliament sits today.
2. Another double of the US Presidential residence (White House) is located in France
The White House has been rebuilt several times. IN early XIX century, President Thomas Jefferson, together with architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe, developed a design for a number of additions to the White House. In 1824, architect James Hoban, based on this project, carried out the addition of some architectural elements, including colonnades. Thus, the semicircular southern colonnade of the US Presidential residence (White House) repeats the shape of the colonnade of Chateau de Rastignac, an elegant French mansion built in 1817.
3. Slave labor was used in the construction of the US Presidential residence (White House)
The land on which Washington was later built was purchased from the states of Virginia and Republic of Colombia, where slave labor was still used. According to historical documents, the construction of the US Presidential residence (White House) involved large number black workers, most of whom were slaves. Black workers worked alongside white workers: they mined sandstone in a field in Virginia, dug a foundation pit for the White House, laid the foundation and fired bricks to build interior walls.
4. Europeans took part in the construction of the US Presidential residence (White House)
The construction of the US Presidential residence (White House) would have been impossible without the participation of European craftsmen and immigrant workers. So, Scottish masons built sandstone walls. Scottish craftsmen also carved the stone into the rose and garland design that today adorns the west entrance. Irish immigrants and Italy carried out installation work. Besides, Italian masters They also carved decorative stone elements decorating the columns of the US Presidential residence (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-scale and grandiose enough, so he made his own adjustments to the project of the future residence. Thanks to Washington, the White House increased its area by almost a third compared to the first version and became more solemn. However, President Washington never lived in the White House. In 1800, when the construction of the residence of American presidents was almost completed, the first tenant, the second US President John Adams, moved in. 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. The White House has long remained the largest house in America
The new capital of the country - Washington - was built according to a pre-developed plan by the French architect Pierre Charles Lanfant, and he conceived the White House in the image and likeness of the huge majestic buildings of Ancient Rome. However, Lanfan's project was not accepted - the much less grandiose project of Hoban and Latrobe was preferred to him. However, the White House was simply huge by the standards of the time. It remained the largest house in America until the end of the class struggle, when active construction began in the country.
7. The White House almost burned down due to the fault of the British army
During wars In 1814, the White House almost completely burned down - only the outer walls remained. Washington was set on fire by the British army - in retaliation for the arson of the Parliament building in Ontario, which was set by American soldiers two years earlier, in 1812. Of the artifacts stolen by looters after the fire, the American state managed to save only two: a painting painted by George Washington and a box with jewelry. The latter was returned in 1939 to then US President Roosevelt by a certain Canadian citizen. He said that the jewelry was taken from Washington by his grandfather. After the fire, the White House was rebuilt almost anew, and President James Madison at that time lived in Octagon House, which later became the headquarters of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Monroe moved into the partially reconstructed White House only in October 1817.
8. The West Wing of the US Presidential Residence (White House) was destroyed by fire
In 1929, shortly after the start of the Great Depression, a fire caused by a short circuit broke out in the West Wing of the White House. 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 redesigned to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities.
The original builders of the White House could not have foreseen that one day it would be occupied by a disabled president. It became possible to move around the White House in a wheelchair only in 1933, when Franklin Delano Roosevelt assumed the presidency. Because President Roosevelt was paralyzed by polio and could not move freely, the White House was rebuilt to be accessible by a wheelchair. 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 destruction
One hundred and fifty years after its construction, the wooden supports and external load-bearing walls of the White House have weakened significantly. Engineers sounded the alarm, declaring the building unsafe and requiring immediate major repairs. In 1948, President Truman ordered reconstruction and installation of new steel support 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
Over its two-hundred-year history, the White House has changed several names: it has been called the “presidential castle”, the “presidential palace”, and the “presidential house”. Officially, the White House began to be called that only in 1901, when President Theodore Roosevelt introduced this name into use.
12. The White House wasn't always white
The White House is built from gray sandstone mined from a mine in Virginia. The sandstone walls were painted white only after the White House was reconstructed after a fire in 1814. It took about 570 gallons of white paint to paint the building. The original wall covering was made from rice paste, casein and lead.
White House (Moscow)
The White House (officially since 1994 - the House of the Government of the Russian Federation) - government building RF in Moscow. Located on the banks of the Moscow River, on the other side it faces Svobodnaya Square Russian Federation. The building is located at the address: Krasnopresnenskaya embankment, 2.
The “White House” in the Russian media is sometimes called the Government of the Russian Federation: the Chairman of the Government of Russia, his deputies with their secretariats; Government Apparatus; government commissions and councils.
It was built from 1965 to 1979 according to the design of architects D. Chechulin, P. Steller with a team of authors as the House of Soviets of the RSFSR. When designing the residence of the US President (White House), earlier designs by D. Chechulin (the “Aeroflot House” project) were used; the building itself became latest project Soviet architect.
In 1981-1993, the White House housed the Committee of People's Control and the Supreme Council of the RSFSR, the Supreme Council of Russia, and since 1994 - the House of the Government of Russia.
During the events of the August 1991 coup, it became a center of resistance to the actions of the State Emergency Committee and gained all-Russian fame. For several days, numerous supporters of the President of the RSFSR B.N. Yeltsin gathered at the residence of the US President (White House), and B.N. Yeltsin himself and other representatives of the Russian authorities repeatedly spoke to the people (the most famous speech of B.N. Yeltsin on August 19 from an armored personnel carrier in front of the White House).
The White House was heavily damaged during the October events of 1993, when troops called by B.N. Yeltsin opened fire from tanks at the building, which was defended by supporters of the dissolved Supreme Council of the Russian Federation. After these events, the White House underwent large-scale reconstruction. For the work, which was carried out over several months and ended in 1994, workers from Turkey were also involved.
After the events of 1993, the White House was fenced with a high figured grille, which made it almost impossible to hold mass rallies in the immediate vicinity, however, protests and pickets have since been repeatedly held on the Hunchback Bridge. Not far from the residence of the US President (White House) in the park (formerly named after Pavlik Morozov) and near the stadium there are places where supporters of the rebel Supreme Council (communists, representatives of various opposition organizations of a communist and nationalist orientation) gather to honor the memory of the victims, distribute propaganda literature. There is also a memorial to the fallen defenders of the Supreme Council and several amateurishly erected memorial signs.
America's most famous home, located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, DC. The names of its rooms can form a whole palette. All American presidents live in this house, starting with the second, John Adams. All this is the White House in Washington. Ekaterina Astafieva will talk about the history of the official residence of US presidents.
Who-who lives in the White House?
Contrary to popular belief, not all American presidents have lived in the White House. The first head of state, George Washington, still did without his own residence, and the famous building was built only in 1800, when Washington was already replaced in office by John Adams. “I pray for the blessing of this house, all its future residents, and that only honest and wise people rule under this roof,” these were the words the first owner of the White House wrote to his wife. This saying can be found on the fireplace in the building's State Dining Room.
The first owner of the White House was the second US President John Adams
Famous White House
Whose hands are they doing?
Construction of the White House began in 1792. The design of the residence was entrusted to the architect James Hoban. Washington first met him during his Southern Tour in 1791. Hoban was working on the creation of a courthouse in Charleston at the time. The President even organized a small architectural competition, which Hoban quickly won. By 1800, the building was completed - it took 8 years and 2.5 million dollars. Interestingly, slave labor was used at the construction site. European craftsmen and immigrant workers from different countries also had a hand in decorating the White House.
Building design from 1793
Anglo-American War
But the White House did not have the chance to stand in its original form for long. In 1801, the Western and Eastern colonnades were added to the building. And in 1812, war broke out between England and America, which became fatal for the presidential residence. On August 24, 1814, British troops entered Washington and set fire to most of the buildings in the city, including the Capitol, the Treasury and the White House. The capital of America was plundered; the British took a huge amount of valuables from the White House as military booty. Later, they managed to return some jewelry and a painting that George Washington himself painted.
In 1814, British troops burned down the White House.
White House in August 1814
And your whole house is white!
James Hoban had to restore the building in accordance with the original design, and by 1817 the construction had already been completed. So the White House we know today is very similar, but not original. The building was built in the style of early classicism or, as is sometimes said, in the Palladian style. The principles of strict symmetry are inherited from Ancient Greece. Historians have noted the similarities between the White House and Leinster House in Dublin, where Parliament now sits. Perhaps this is not surprising, since the architect Hoban had Irish roots. During the reconstruction, the original sand color of the building was replaced with white, and it was then that the presidential residence received its famous name. But officially only Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, began to call his home the White House.
Built to last
At different times, some other parts were added to the White House. For example, the south and north porticos were added in the 1820s. At the very beginning of the 20th century, the presidential residence was no longer able to accommodate all the people living in it, so it was decided to increase the number of premises. Thanks to this, the White House acquired a Western and a small East wing. In the form in which we know it today, the East Wing was built only in 1942. In 1929, residents of the White House again became fire victims: a fire destroyed almost all the rooms on the first and second floors.
The White House was originally sand colored
Reconstruction of the White House under Truman
Many innovations came to the President's House during the administration of Franklin Roosevelt, who had been in control since the 1920s. wheelchair. Ramps were installed throughout the White House, and an indoor warm pool was built right on the premises so that the president could undergo medical procedures. In 1948, Harry Truman decided to equip his home with a special two-story basement, which he used as a headquarters for the operational management of military operations. The same basement saved the White House from complete destruction, when a little later it turned out that the wooden beams on which the building rested were rotten and were about to collapse.
Rooms of all colors of the rainbow
The White House is set up quite simply. On the ground floor of the building there is the Map Room (this is where Franklin Roosevelt worked with maps), the Diplomatic Reception Hall, the Gilded Room and the Chinese Room. The latter houses a unique collection of works chinese art. On the floor above are the State Dining Room, the Red, Blue and Green Rooms, the Family Dining Room and the East Room. By the way, the last one is the most large room in the mansion. The world famous Oval Office, where he holds his working hours President, is in the West Wing. The third floor of the building is often called the “family” floor, since this is where the rooms of the president’s family are located.
Next to the White House there is a garden named after Jacqueline Kennedy
President Obama's inauguration in the Blue Room
Work for the First Lady
It's hard to imagine the White House without the First Lady. The presidents' wives greatly influenced the appearance and atmosphere of the residence. For example, the wife of 23rd President Benjamin Harrison, Caroline, began collecting a collection for the Chinese Room.
The famous Jacqueline Kennedy thought out the interior for each individual room in the tradition Victorian era, decorated the house with antique furniture. There is even a garden adjacent to the White House named after Jacqueline.
John Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy in the Yellow Oval Room
Richard Nixon's wife Pat purchased about 600 antiques for the mansion. We can say that almost every presidential family brings something new to the appearance of the building. All changes must be approved by the special White House Preservation Committee, which is chaired by the First Lady.