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The official street address of The White House is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20050, the same wide avenue that connects directly to [[Capitol Hill]] ([[Congress]]).  on the same wide road as the [[Capitol]]. While every president since [[John Adams]] has lived in the White House, it is not a requirement for the President to reside there. [[Harry Truman]] lived across the street in the Blair House (also owned by the government) while the White House was thoroughly renovated in 1949-52.

The official street address of The White House is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20050, the same wide avenue that connects directly to [[Capitol Hill]] ([[Congress]]).  on the same wide road as the [[Capitol]]. While every president since [[John Adams]] has lived in the White House, it is not a requirement for the President to reside there. [[Harry Truman]] lived across the street in the Blair House (also owned by the government) while the White House was thoroughly renovated in 1949-52.

 

== History ==

== History ==

Its history, and the history of the nation's capital, began when President George Washington signed an Act of Congress in December 1790 declaring that the federal government would reside in a district "not exceeding ten miles square…on the river Potomac." President Washington, together with city planner Pierre L’Enfant, chose the site for the new residence, which is now 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. As preparations began for the new federal city, a competition was held to find a builder of the "President’s House." Nine proposals were submitted, and Irish-born architect [[James Hoban]] won a gold medal for his practical and handsome design.

Its history, and the history of the nation's capital, began when President George Washington signed an Act of Congress in December 1790 declaring that the federal government would reside in a district "not exceeding ten miles square…on the river Potomac." President Washington, together with city planner Pierre L’Enfant, chose the site for the new residence, which is now 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. As preparations began for the new federal city, a competition was held to find a builder of the "President’s House." Nine proposals were submitted, and Irish-born architect [[James Hoban]] won a gold medal for his practical and handsome design.

== Facts ==

== Facts ==

[[File:Dc-2.jpg|thumb|400px]]

[[Image:Harnett Cincinnati Enquirer.jpg|thumb|William M. Harnett's "Cincinnati Enquirer," on display at the White House.]]

*  A main residence and architectural wings on the east and west sides

*  A main residence and architectural wings on the east and west sides

* 4 stories, plus a basement and sub-basement

* 4 stories, plus a basement and sub-basement

*It takes 300 gallons of white paint to cover the exterior of just the residence portion of the White House (center), excluding the West and East Wings.  

*It takes 300 gallons of white paint to cover the exterior of just the residence portion of the White House (center), excluding the West and East Wings.  

*The White House fence encloses 18 acres of land.   

*The White House fence encloses 18 acres of land.   

 

*The White House has (excluding storage rooms): 10 rooms on the Ground Floor, 1 main corridor, 6 restrooms; 8 rooms on the State Floor, 1 main corridor, 1 entrance hall; 16 rooms, 1 main corridor, 6 bathrooms, and 1 restroom on the 2nd floor; and 20 rooms, 1 main corridor, 9 bathrooms on the 3rd floor.<ref>[http://www.whitehousehistory.org/index.html White House Historical Association.]

*The White House has (excluding storage rooms): 10 rooms on the Ground Floor, 1 main corridor, 6 restrooms; 8 rooms on the State Floor, 1 main corridor, 1 entrance hall; 16 rooms, 1 main corridor, 6 bathrooms, and 1 restroom on the 2nd floor; and 20 rooms, 1 main corridor, 9 bathrooms on the 3rd floor.<ref>[http://www.whitehousehistory.org/index.html White House Historical Association.]

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