Where did the white house get its name from?

Answer 1

The building was first made white with lime-based whitewash in 1798, when its walls were finished, simply as a means of protecting the porous stone from freezing. Why the house was subsequently painted is not known. Perhaps presidents objected to the dirty look as the whitewash wore away. The house acquired its nickname early on. Congressman Abijah Bigelow wrote to a colleague on March 18, 1812 (three months before the United States entered war with England): "There is much trouble at the White House, as we call it, I mean the President's" (quoted in W. B. Bryan, "The Name White House," Records of the Columbia Historical Society 34-35 [1932]: 308). The name, though in common use, remained a nickname until September 1901, when Theodore Roosevelt made it official.

Answer 2

Construction started in 1792 and completed in 1800, the idea of George Washington who saw it as a fortress for democracy. It was called the Presidential Palace but was officially known as the Executive Mansion. It was burned down by the British in the War of 1812. Reconstruction started almost immediately, some think the name came from the white sealing coat that was applied to hide the burned marks however the first official use of the term White House was by Theodore Roosevelt in 1901 who had it engraved on the Presidential stationery.

Answer 3

it really is named the white house because it is white.

i think it used to be pink and in a dif. location like when the united states was first established, though.

but im not sure where i got that from. look it up on wiki.

from wiki:
Naming conventions

The building was originally referred to variously as the "President's Palace," "Presidential Mansion," or "President's House."[10] The earliest evidence of the public calling it the "White House" was recorded in 1811.[11] A legend emerged that during the rebuilding of the structure white paint was applied to mask the burn damage it had suffered, giving the building its namesake hue; this is unfounded as the building had been painted white since its construction in 1798. The name "Executive Mansion" was used in official contexts until President Theodore Roosevelt established the formal name by having the de facto name "White House–Washington" engraved on the stationery in 1901.[12][13] The current letterhead wording and arrangement "The White House" with the word "Washington" centered beneath goes back to the administration of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.[13]

Answer 4

The original house which was the home of the first President was white and it became synonymous with the the executive branch of government. When the British invaded Washington, DC in 1812 and burned down the structure the Adamses' moved inland and away fron the capitol. When the war ended and peace was restored the home of the President was rebuilt as it was previously, painted white along with white and marble and renamed the White House.

Answer 5

It really is that simple: The house was to be painted white. Lots of other names were considered as it was being built, but "The White House" is what they went with.

Answer 6

America had a war with Canada and lost ( funny America doesn't teach that much does it)
Canada and British troops pushed the American invasion out of Canada and marched on Washington burnt the white house ( which was blue ) and to hide the burn marks and the American shame they whitewashed the walls
and it has been white since

Answer 7

I'm not for sure, but I think I recall George Washington dreamed it up...

He was the one inspired to build the giant white house for the president to live and work in, and while it was being built it was coined "the white house" and the name just stuck.

If it wasn't Washington it was whatever president that presided over its building.

Answer 8

After the British set the building on fire during the war of 1812, the president (I think it was Madison) decided to re-paint it white to cover up the charred and smoke stained portions of the house.

Answer 9

its a house for white people

Answer 10

Comedian Ron White used to live there, and before him editor Perry White of the Daily Planet occupied that residence.