Can anyone American answer this truthfully (accurately) LOL?

Question

Just WHY is The White House WHITE?
When did it become white and why?
Be as accurate and unbiased as possible LOL (I`m English - I know the answer)

Not right answer drum LOL

Very close roman - one half lollipop coming your way

Answer 1

In 1814, during the War of 1812 (incongruous ain't it?!), the British burned the US Presidential Mansion located at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave in retaliation for the burning of the Canadian Parliament building during the battle of York. Of course, the British were ultimately defeated :) Common legend has it that the charred building was painted white to conceal the scorching at the insistence of Dolly Madison, then First Lady and wife of James Madison; 4th President of the United States - but there is some evidence to suggest that the sandstone building had been referred to as the "White House" as early as 1811. In fact, the American "Executive Mansion" has been painted white since the time of its construction in 1798.

Answer 2

It goes back to the war of 1812 when the british tried to burn Washington. They did set fire to the Executive building, and after the war, it was re-painted white. Since then, it has been called The White House.

A side note on the fire. Almost a century later, major renovations were being done to The White House. The contractor brought then president Theodore Roosevelt to the attic and showed him some beams that had been damaged in the fire and asked if he should replace them with wooden beams or the more expensive steel beams.

Roosevelt looked at the beams and said "Use steel beams and send the bill to the King of England."

Answer 3

The walls are made of sandstone, which is a soft/porous and it is easy for water to seep into it. When this moisture freezes and later thaws many times, the stone would eventually crack and crumble. To prevent the water from getting into the stone, the building was covered with a lime-based whitewash in 1798. Then, the whitewash was replaced with white paint, most likely because the paint is thicker and does not wear away like the whitewash did.

It was given the nickname "The White House" in 1812. Then, the fabulous President Teddy Roosevelt made the name official in 1901!

My college history professor was a MAJOR Teddy Roosevelt fanatic.

Answer 4

this is why

It has nothing to do with painting over burn marks after the British set the house on fire in 1814, although you may have heard that story. The answer has to do with the walls themselves, which are made of sandstone. Sandstone is soft and porous and it is easy for water to seep into it. When this moisture then freezes and later thaws — over and over — the stone will eventually crack and crumble. To prevent the water from getting into the stone, the building was covered with a lime-based whitewash in 1798, two years before the first president moved in. Later, for reasons not known, workman replaced the thin whitewash with paint. It could be that the paint was thicker and did not wear away like the whitewash did. The house was given the nickname "The White House" as early as 1812. It was Theodore Roosevelt who made the name official, which he did in 1901

Answer 5

The white house is white because in 1815 President James Madison had it painted white while restoring it from the british burning it in 1812. It was not called the White House until 1901 when President Thoedore Roosevelt had it engraved on his stationary.

Answer 6

let's see.... since you're british and seem to know a bit about this, could it have something to do with it having been burned to a crisp by the empire in "the war of 1812, so called"? when it was rebuilt: (a) white was the only color handy (b) they were misinformed that painting it white would make it virtually invisible so as to protect it from further assault (c)white is the color of "purity", and thus the noble british would not harm an obvious shrine dedicated to virtue (d)all of the above (e) none of the above :-)

Answer 7

The building was originally referred to as the Presidential Palace or Presidential Mansion. Dolley Madison called it the "President's Castle." However, by 1811 the first evidence of the public calling it the "White House" emerged, because of its white-painted stone exterior. The name Executive Mansion was often used in official context until President Theodore Roosevelt established the formal name by having "The White House" engraved on his stationery in 1901.

Answer 8

According to my husband (a high school history teacher)... when the Bristish invaded Washington, D.C. in the war of 1812, they set fire to the Executive Mansion. At some point after the invasion the Executive Mansion was whitewashed/painted white to cover the scars from the fire.

Answer 9

Because the English/Canadian army came through the Niagara Region, down through New York and burned Washington in the war of 1812. It was painted white to cover the soot.

Answer 10

George Washington's wife was named White at some point. Either was her maiden name or it was her first married name. The house she lived in at that time was referred to as the White house and when her & ole George got together, it was still called the White house, not for the color but for the name of the occupants.