Hey, News Biters, and welcome to the White House. Well, when we say welcome, what we really mean is: here are some cool facts and information about the famous presidential mansion.
Let's get started:
The White House at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C. is one of the most recognisable buildings in the world. It is where the president of the USA lives and works.
George Washington
George Washington became the first president of the USA in 1789. He decided that there should be an official house built for the president and held a competition to select an architect to design it. The winner of the competition was an Irishman named James Hoban who won a gold medal for his design.
Construction
Work began on the site in October 1792. Much of the hard work was done by African American slaves. The sandstone used in the building was quarried in Aquia, Virginia, 65km south of Washington. The building was done by Scottish stonemasons and President John Adams and his wife Abigail moved into the ‘President’s House’ in1800.
Fire and Changes
British soldiers set fire to the building in 1814 and there was another major fire in1829. Different presidents made changes to the building over the years and it is now much bigger than the one designed by James Hoban.
Click here for a Quiz (Spot the Intruder)
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