How Many Rooms Are in the White House?

White House is the official workplace and familial residence of the President of the United States. Owned by the federal government, the White House is located in the nation's capital at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW in Washington, DC. This location was selected by the founding father of the United States, George Washington, although he never got to live in it. The White House has six stories and 55,000 square feet of floor space containing 132 rooms.

History of the White House

The cornerstone of this magnificent building was set up in 1792 by James Hoban. The initial design of the White House came from a design contest. The construction of the building is said to have cost the federal government of the US approximately $232,371.83. This value is calculated as per the time when the White House was being built (1792-1800). Currently, this value can be equated to $3,350,711.

John Adams became the first president to reside in the White House after its construction was accomplished in 1800. When John Adams and his family moved into this house, the building had not been fully furnished.

During the conflict between the United States and the United Kingdom, which happened in 1812, the British army managed to burn down the White House leading to massive destruction of the interior design of the building and charring much of the exterior.

The reconstruction of the White House began almost immediately; James Hoban managed to restore the former glory of the White House. After the completion of its restoration in 1817, President James Monroe moved into the fully finished building.

Size of the White House

There are a total of 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases, and 3 working elevators in the White House. Apart from the numerous rooms in the White House, this building also contains a tennis court, a classy swimming pool, a jogging track, a movie theater, and a bowling lane among other places where the president and his/her family can have fun and spend quality time together.

The White House Complex, as it is known, includes the central Executive Residence along with the East Wing and West Wing. The East Wing serves as the office space of the First Lady and her staff while the West Wing hold the offices of the President and his staff.

The massive size of the building is estimated to consume around 300 gallons of paint at the exterior part. When this building was repainted in 1994, it took about 570 gallons of white paint to paint the whole building, both the internal and the outer sections, costing the federal government more than $283,000.

Importance of the White House

The White House has numerous significance to the American citizens. First, the building is one of the most recognized landmarks of the United States. Secondly, the White House is used as a symbol of the nation’s belief in democracy and liberty. Due to the historical significance of this building, it is a primary tourist site in the US, attracting both local and international tourists with about 6,000 individuals visit the White House every day. The White House is regarded as a museum of the United States since history is made on a daily basis in this building.