Amazing White House, An American Treasure
The White House has represented the presidency, the US government, and the American people for two centuries. In December 1790, President George Washington signed an Act of Congress stating that the federal government would be located in a territory "not exceeding ten miles square…on the river Potomac." This marked the beginning of both its history and the history of the nation's capital. The location of the new home, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, was selected by President Washington and Pierre L'Enfant, a city planner. As the new federal city was being planned, a competition was held to select a builder for the "President's House." James Hoban, an Irish-born architect, won a gold prize for his elegant and useful design out of nine submissions.
In October 1792, the first cornerstone was set, marking the start of construction. The mansion was built under President Washington's supervision, but he never occupied it. President John Adams and his wife, Abigail, did not move into the White House until 1800, when it was almost finished. Every president since then has added to and changed things in his own way. After all, the president's private residence is the White House. Additionally, it is the only head of state's private residence that is freely accessible to the general public.
The history of the White House is distinct and intriguing. While Herbert Hoover was president, it withstood two fires: one in the West Wing in 1929 and another set by the British in 1814 (during the War of 1812). While the Trumans were residing at Blair House, directly across Pennsylvania Avenue, the interior of the house—aside from the third floor—was totally gutted and renovated for a large portion of Harry S. Truman's presidency. The White House's outer stone walls, however, were initially installed when it was built two centuries ago.
Presidents can show off their own style by decorating certain areas of the house and how they interact with the public while they are in office. In 1805, Thomas Jefferson hosted the first open house. Many people who came to the U.S. Capitol for the swearing-in ceremony just followed him home, where he met them in the Blue Room. The mansion has been open for public tours since President Jefferson opened it, with the exception of times of war. He also hosted yearly events on New Year's Day and July 4th, where guests were welcomed. While aides on the lawn loaded washtubs with orange juice and whiskey to entice the crowd out of the muddy White House, President Andrew Jackson was forced to retreat to the safety of a hotel in 1829 due to a swarm of 20,000 Inaugural callers.
Following Abraham Lincoln's administration, the White House could no longer comfortably hold the inaugural throng due to their size. But this dangerous habit didn't change until Grover Cleveland's first term as president. From a flag-draped grandstand erected in front of the White House, he conducted a presidential review of the troops. This procession developed into the current official Inaugural parade. Up until the early 1930s, New Year's Day and Fourth of July receptions were still held.
A long-standing White House Inaugural tradition was revived on January 21, 1993, with President Clinton's open house. President and Mrs. Clinton and Vice President and Mrs. Gore welcomed two thousand lottery-selected residents into the Diplomatic Reception Room.The White House has represented the presidency, the US government, and the American people for two centuries. In December 1790, President George Washington signed an Act of Congress stating that the federal government would be located in a territory "not exceeding ten miles square…on the river Potomac." This marked the beginning of both its history and the history of the nation's capital. The location of the new home, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, was selected by President Washington and Pierre L'Enfant, a city planner. As the new federal city was being planned, a competition was held to select a builder for the "President's House." James Hoban, an Irish-born architect, won a gold prize for his elegant and useful design out of nine submissions.
In October 1792, the first cornerstone was set, marking the start of construction. The mansion was built under President Washington's supervision, but he never occupied it. President John Adams and his wife, Abigail, did not move into the White House until 1800, when it was almost finished. Every president since then has added to and changed things in his own way. After all, the president's private residence is the White House. Additionally, it is the only head of state's private residence that is freely accessible to the general public.
The history of the White House is distinct and intriguing. While Herbert Hoover was president, it withstood two fires: one in the West Wing in 1929 and another set by the British in 1814 (during the War of 1812). While the Trumans were residing at Blair House, directly across Pennsylvania Avenue, the interior of the house—aside from the third floor—was totally gutted and renovated for a large portion of Harry S. Truman's presidency. The White House's outer stone walls, however, were initially installed when it was built two centuries ago.
Presidents can show off their own style by decorating certain areas of the house and how they interact with the public while they are in office. In 1805, Thomas Jefferson hosted the first open house. Many people who came to the U.S. Capitol for the swearing-in ceremony just followed him home, where he met them in the Blue Room. The mansion has been open for public tours since President Jefferson opened it, with the exception of times of war. He also hosted yearly events on New Year's Day and July 4th, where guests were welcomed. While aides on the lawn loaded washtubs with orange juice and whiskey to entice the crowd out of the muddy White House, President Andrew Jackson was forced to retreat to the safety of a hotel in 1829 due to a swarm of 20,000 Inaugural callers.
Following Abraham Lincoln's administration, the White House could no longer comfortably hold the inaugural throng due to their size. But this dangerous habit didn't change until Grover Cleveland's first term as president. From a flag-draped grandstand erected in front of the White House, he conducted a presidential review of the troops. This procession developed into the current official Inaugural parade. Up until the early 1930s, New Year's Day and Fourth of July receptions were still held.
A long-standing White House Inaugural tradition was revived on January 21, 1993, with President Clinton's open house. President and Mrs. Clinton and Vice President and Mrs. Gore welcomed two thousand lottery-selected residents into the Diplomatic Reception Room.
Post a Comment for "Amazing White House, An American Treasure"