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The White House is one of the most recognizable buildings in the world. And like any other building with a centuries-old history, it hides many secrets behind its facades.

website found out about 9 secrets of the White House that are known only to insiders. And at the end of the article you will find out what it is like to live in the White House.

9. Kindergarten

The kindergarten was founded in 1968 as a parting gift from President Lyndon B. Johnson and his wife at the end of their presidential term. It was then that the first bronze prints of children's hands were embedded in the stone. Since then, the path, with the prints of the presidents' grandchildren and children, has symbolized the families' connection to the home they once occupied.

8. Food and drinks

The president's family living in the White House can be compared to a hotel, because at the end of each month the president is billed for food and housekeeping services. Moreover, as former chief executive Harry Walters recalls, all presidential families complain about high prices. In addition to high prices, the president is limited in the choice of drinks - in the White House, all wine served at the table must be only American-made.

7. City in the basement

In order to shop or visit the dentist, members of the presidential family only need to go down to the basement. There, under the northern wing of the building, there were shops, a bowling alley, a dentist's office, a flower shop, a pastry shop, and office space.

6. Secret entrance to the White House

Underground passages between the Treasury and the Department arose in the 1920s to protect employees during an armed attack; during World War II, it was decided to connect them to the east wing of the White House. It is unknown whether the secret passage is currently in use, but the entrance to it is under 24-hour video surveillance and protected by a barrier.

5. Outdated technology

Until recently, the White House used outdated technologies, from organizing management to storing important documents. Slow Internet without Wi-Fi support, black-and-white printers, floppy disks and outdated telephones often caused delays in the work of the presidential administration.

4. Blue Goose Catwalk

There are two podiums in the White House briefing room, one of which is called the Blue Goose. This unique structure is used only when the president speaks and primarily ensures his safety thanks to bulletproof materials, an unusual shape and an increased height. Before each presentation, the podium is thoroughly checked and a special presidential emblem is attached to it.

3. US Government Conference Room

Only the President has the right to hold meetings in this room. This right is symbolically expressed in the presidential chair, which is 5 cm higher than the others. In addition, under the table there is a special “presidential button”, which many mistake for the button from the “nuclear suitcase”. In fact, this is a button to call the president's personal waiter.

2. Holidays

In addition to lavish wedding celebrations, the White House also hosts more unusual events. So, in 1835, President Andrew Johnson held a “cheese party”, where more than 10 thousand people were present. And in 1975, a graduation ceremony was held for the daughter of the 38th president, Susan Ford, the only one in the history of the official residence. The cost of one ticket was $1,300.

1. Secret zip code

Due to the large number of requests and multi-level checks, it is difficult for the president to obtain personal mail. Therefore, the postal service assigns the president a personal zip code, which he can pass on to loved ones. According to this index, mail, after being checked for danger, goes directly to the president’s desk in the shortest possible time.

The White House in Washington is one of the most famous places among the population not only of the United States, but of the whole world. There is probably no person in the world who has not heard of him. The White House is located in Washington, the capital of the United States, and is the residence of the President. It is located in the northwestern part of the capital in the District of Columbia. The construction of Washington was carried out in the 90s of the 18th century, and the construction of the White House itself began in October 1792. Even then, everyone knew that this building would become the residence of the President of the United States.

The White House was designed by architect James Hoban. It was made in the neoclassical style. Virginia sandstone was chosen as the material for the construction. Due to the fact that this material was porous, after construction was completed, the walls of the White House were covered with a lime mixture with the addition of rice glue, casein and lead, which determined the color of the building. The grandiose construction lasted for eight years. 233 thousand dollars were spent, and in modern terms this is approximately three million US dollars.

The first person to live in the White House was John Adams, the second President of the United States. This happened in November 1800. Adams was simply delighted with this structure. An excerpt from John Adams' letter to his wife was carved into the residence's formal dining room on the mantelpiece. It said that Adams prayed for the blessing of this house and for all its future inhabitants, so that only honest and wise people would rule and work under this roof.

Initially, this building was called the “House of the President”, “Palace of the President” or “Presidential Mansion”. But in 1811 it began to be called the White House. Officially, this name came from Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States.

Today, the White House is a six-story building with a total area of ​​five thousand square meters. It consists of 35 bathrooms and 132 rooms, there are 8 staircases, 28 fireplaces, 3 elevators, 147 windows and 421 doors. There are also entertainment options such as a jogging track, a swimming pool, a cinema, a tennis court, a bowling alley, and a whole host of office spaces.

The main US family lives in the central part of this residence. All celebrations and official events are usually held here. The White House also includes the West and East Wings. The ensemble of the house is also decorated with the South and North Lawns, the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, and the Rose Garden. White House Park has an area of ​​7.3 hectares.

The famous Rose Garden was created in 1913 by Ellen Wilson, the wife of the 28th US President Woodrow Wilson. The rose garden is quite small - only 38 by 18 meters, but often serves as a place for receiving famous guests. In addition, it was here that at one time a law was passed assigning the rose the status of the official flower of the United States of America. This law was signed by the 40th President of the United States, Ronald Reagan.

Near the East Wing of the White House there is the Jacqueline Kennedy Garden, which is named after the wife of John Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States. He rightfully deserved it, because it was she who made a huge contribution to the renovation and restoration of the White House parks.

The Office of the President of the United States operates in the Eisenhower Building, adjacent to the White House complex.

As noted above, the White House is considered one of the most popular attractions in the United States and a favorite place for tourists. But after the September 11 terrorist attacks, the number of excursions was strictly limited due to security concerns. In the list of monuments of the United States, the White House takes an honorable second place after New York's Empire State Building.

Book a hotel in Washington

To get acquainted with the sights of the United States, in particular the interesting places of Washington, you will need to stay somewhere. Especially for you, below are hotels in Washington, divided into three categories: popular hotels, luxury hotels and cheap hotels. Here you can book a hotel room in Washington in advance according to your wishes and financial capabilities. For your convenience, here is information about the location of the hotels relative to the city center, as well as the number of stars.

Simply select the hotel you like by clicking on the “View Hotel” button. Next you will find yourself on a page where you can book a hotel. There you can also find more detailed information about it, reviews, ratings, photographs, location on the map, features and, of course, prices.

If you want to look at other hotels, you can simply select the city “Washington” from above, and you will see a list of all Washington hotels available for booking.

Information about the White House, architecture and interiors of the White House

White House information, White House architecture and interiors

1. History of the renovation of the White House interiors

2. Architecture and interiors of the US White House

3. White House Locations

4. 12 facts about the White House

5. White House (Moscow)

The White house- this is the residence of the US President in Washington (English 1600, Pennsylvania Avenue - Pennsylvania Avenue, 1600). It is a mansion in the Palladian style (architect James Hoban). Construction began in 1792 and ended on November 1, 1800. On the same day, the second US President John Adams became its first owner. Featured on the $20 bill.

For Americans, the White House is a symbol of power, stability and prosperity. This is one of the symbols of statehood along with the flag, coat of arms and anthem of the state. This year the White House will turn two hundred and sixteen years old.

The history of the White House goes back centuries, symbolizing the strength and unity of the American nation. Construction of the building, located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, began on October 13, 1792. The first name of the White House was different; it was called differently: “Presidential Palace”, “President’s Mansion”, “President’s House”.

Historians disagree about the origin of the current name. Some argue that the White House began to be called that way after a fire during the 1812 War between the United States and England. Then the building suffered greatly, and during restoration it was repainted white - hence the name.

Other researchers believe that the current name of the White House has been mentioned in official documents since 1809, that is, before the fire.

In 1901, by order of President Roosevelt, the name “White House” began to be used on official papers, documents, and state seals. In any case, now the name of the presidential residence is based on the color of the building’s walls: they are covered with a composition of lime, casein, and lead.

James Hoban, an Irish-American, was appointed architect of the White House. He was one of nine architects competing to draw up the project. James Hoban's co-author can be considered the first US President George Washington. He made his own adjustments to the project of the future residence. Thanks to Washington, the White House increased its area by almost a third compared to the first version and became more solemn.

For obvious reasons, Americans do not like to advertise that the labor of slaves and emigrants from Scotland, Italy, and Ireland was used in the construction of the country’s main building. Construction lasted more than eight years and cost the American treasury two and a half million dollars. The first residents moved into the White House on November 1, 1800.

The history of the White House renovation

The White House is the residence of the US President in Washington. This is the only residence of a sitting head of state in the world that is open to the public.

The history of the construction of the residence is associated with the name of the first US President George Washington, who personally chose the location for his “presidential home” and signed an act of Congress ordering the residence of the American government to be located “at a distance of no more than 10 miles from the Potomac River.”

In 1791, a competition was announced for the best design of the new residence of the US President, which was won by the American architect James Hobans. Construction of the presidential residence began in October 1792 and ended in 1800 under President John Adams.

In the 20s of the 19th century, after a fire, the presidential administration building was rebuilt and painted white. During the reconstruction, western and eastern terraces were added to the building, as well as a semicircular southern portico and a northern colonnaded portico. Since then, the building remained virtually unchanged until the middle of the last century, except for the provision of electricity and telephone.

In 1948, under President Truman, the White House underwent significant renovations, including the construction of a two-story basement that still serves as the headquarters for the operational management of the president's foreign policy and military activities.

Currently, the White House occupies an area of ​​about 7.2 hectares. The central part includes living rooms and halls for official receptions. The State Floor contains the East, Green, Blue and Red Rooms, as well as the State and Family Dining Rooms. Family rooms—the Yellow Oval Room, East and West Drawing Rooms—as well as the Presidential Dining Room, Meeting Room, Lincoln Bedroom and King's Bedroom are located on the third floor. All presidential administrative offices are "collected" in the west wing. Including the famous Oval Office, where the president holds his most important meetings.

While the exterior of the presidential residence remains virtually unchanged, the interior changes with the arrival of each new president. America's Great Family is allowed to remodel the interior as they see fit, but changes to the so-called State Quarters must be approved by the Building Preservation Committee.

Jacqueline Kennedy left the most significant mark in the history of the White House. It was under Jacqueline Kennedy that many of the residence's historic rooms changed color: the Red Room became dark cherry, the Green Room became the color of chartreuse liqueur, and the oval Blue Room became white. In addition, Jacqueline Kennedy filled the residence with the best examples of furniture from the 18th-19th centuries, asked US museums to donate 150 antique paintings to the White House, purchased expensive handmade curtains in France, and restored everything that could be restored. Mrs. Kennedy herself selected the fabrics for draperies, upholstery and walls, as well as lamps. An interesting fact is known: when Jacqueline Kennedy looked for 19th-century wallpaper from a house museum in Maryland to decorate the White House, this wallpaper was immediately removed from the walls and sent to Washington. But at the same time, many items of the historical furnishings of the White House, which Jacqueline Kennedy considered to be in bad taste, were sold at auction. Designers have been searching for them for many years to restore historical justice.

In the 1990s, under President Bill Clinton, changes were made to the East and Blue Rooms, as well as to the State Reception Hall and the Lincoln Drawing Room. Refurbishment of the Lincoln Bedroom also began and was completed after George W. Bush came to power. In addition, it was under Hilary Clinton that the Blue Room of the White House regained its deep sapphire color.

The first changes made by current President George W. Bush to the White House environment were carried out in the Oval Office, which is the main office of the American president. So, for example, instead of Bill Clinton’s favorite bright blue oval wool carpet with the presidential seal in the middle, Bush ordered a similar carpet, but light cream color, to be placed on the floor in his office. Yellow silk "Clinton" sofas with pinstripes of cherry are replaced by the same ones, but upholstered in simple cream brocade with a subtle pattern. George W. Bush decided to keep the famous oak desk that was John Kennedy's favorite desk and that Clinton used. This table, made from the wood of the English sailing ship Resolute, was presented to the US President in 1880 by Queen Victoria of Great Britain and is considered a historical relic. The table was also used by Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and, for several months, the current president's father, George H. W. Bush. In addition, George Bush hung two paintings that he brought from Texas on the walls near his desk. One depicts a fisherman boy, the other a rider on a horse.

It is also known about George Bush that he is constantly concerned about saving electricity in the White House. During his time, special sensors were installed in some rooms of the house that automatically turn on the lights if someone enters the room, and turn them off when no one is in the room.

Architecture and interiors of the US White House

Americans joke: if you want to see the real America, you don’t have to go to Washington.

And there is a lot of truth in this statement. It would probably be difficult to find a city on the entire continent that would be so “un-American.” The reason lies in the very origin of the metropolis and in its original purpose.

Washington was built almost like St. Petersburg. Just as Peter the Great once said “here a city will be founded” and built the Northern capital of Russia, so a stick was stuck into the soil of the state of Columbia at one time. And on this site one of the most beautiful and most unusual cities in America was built.

The history of the building began with George Washington, who personally chose the site for his “presidential home” and signed an act of Congress ordering the seat of the American government to be “not more than 10 miles from the Potomac River.”

In 1791, a competition was announced for the best design of the new residence of the US President, which was won by the Irish-American architect James Hobans, and construction began in October 1792. And although George Washington did a lot to build one of the most famous buildings in the world, he never got to live there.

Construction dragged on until 1800, when John Adams was already in the presidential chair. It was he, along with his wife Abigail, who became the first occupants of the White House. In general, since the time of the first president, 40 American presidents have lived in the White House, whose memorials are located on National Mall Boulevard, stretching from the Capitol.

By the way, this house was immediately called white, albeit unofficially, thanks to the light sandstone from which it was built. But only in the late 20s of the last century, when after a fire the oldest administrative building in America was rebuilt and painted white under the leadership of the house's architect, Hobans, President Theodore Roosevelt officially approved this name.

During the reconstruction, Hobans added western and eastern terraces to the building, as well as a semicircular southern portico and a colonnaded northern portico. Since then, the building remained virtually unchanged until the middle of the last century, except for the provision of electricity and telephone.

But in 1948, under President Truman, a significant reconstruction was carried out at the White House, including the construction of a two-story basement, which still serves as the headquarters for the operational management of the president’s foreign policy and military actions.

Currently, the White House occupies an area of ​​about 7.2 hectares.

It has 6 floors (two of them are basements), 132 rooms, 32 bathrooms, 147 windows, 412 doors, 3 elevators, 7 stairs.

The main building still remains a residential building, where the apartments of the presidential family are located, the interior of which is designed in the style of the 18th and 19th centuries.

All presidential administrative offices are “collected” in the west wing. Including the famous Oval Office, where the president is known to hold his most important meetings.

The most beautiful room in the house is considered to be the Blue Room, which, however, was not always blue. The fact is that Jacqueline Kennedy, when she was the first lady of the state, tried to literally change the interior design of the White House, as a result, at her request, many of the historical rooms of the palace changed color. The Red Room became dark cherry, the Green Room became the color of Chartreuse liqueur, and the oval Blue Room became white.

It was only when Hillary Clinton moved into the White House that the Blue Room regained its deep sapphire color.

By the way, this is where the main Christmas tree of the country is installed in winter. And although it is much smaller in size, for example, than New York, it is still considered the main one. As decorations, small models of memorials are hung on the tree, which are symbols of each of the American states. These toys are made by artists in each state, and the best craftsmen in the country compete for the right to make a Christmas model for the next holiday.

A few more words about the interior. If the appearance of the residence on Pennsylvania Avenue has remained virtually unchanged since its founding, the interior changes with the arrival of each new president, and especially the first lady.

America's leading family is allowed to redecorate the interior as they see fit (within certain boundaries, of course). So the first lady of the country, like every other woman in the world, begins her housewarming with renovations and a change of scenery.

It is thanks to the first ladies that the White House is the most interesting museum in the country, since each presidential family left fragments of their life in it.

Both Martha Washington's sugar bowl and Abigail Adams' silver coffee pot can be seen here.

One of the palace's 132 rooms contains Eleanor Roosevelt's dressing table. Jacqueline Kennedy, as we have already said, left a significant mark on the history of the White House. She filled the mansion with the best examples of furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries, asked US museums to donate 150 antique paintings to the White House, and purchased handmade curtains in France.

And in the State Dining Hall, everyone can read the lines from President Adams’ letter to his wife Abigail, engraved on the mantelpiece, which are a kind of “prayer” from the White House:

“I pray that heaven will send all the best gifts to this house and to all who will subsequently live here. Let only honest, wise people rule under this roof.”

Locations in the White House

The first floor, on which there are 10 rooms, connects the west wing with the east. Once upon a time it was a semi-basement room in which servants lived.

1. Map room

Used for one-on-one meetings between the President and First Lady and guests. During World War II, Franklin Roosevelt used this room as an operations room.

2. Reception

This is actually the entrance to the White House. This is where ambassadors present their credentials to the president.

3. Bronze room

It is also sometimes called the “Golden Room” or the “First Ladies Room.” Here are portraits of some of the president's wives.

4. Porcelain room

It was once a storage room, a fireman's room and a dressing room. Since 1917, a collection of porcelain and glass has been exhibited here, which is replenished with each president. The room is used by first ladies for meetings and small receptions. Traditionally, the interior is decorated in red tones, matching the color of the dress in the portrait of First Lady Grace Coolidge.

5. Library

Until 1935, this room housed a laundry room and then a service locker room. The room acquired its current interior under Bush Jr., previously the library was decorated in green tones.

The second floor is called the state floor, since all state receptions take place here. There are eight rooms here. This floor is on the same level as the third floor of the western and eastern wings of the building.

6. Formal dining room

Under Jefferson, the room served as a library and study. At various times there was a living room here, then a billiard room and, finally, a dining room

7. Red room

Under Madison, Lincoln, Grant and Kennedy, the room was used as a music room - in memory of this there is a music stand opposite the fireplace.

8. Blue room

Under Carter, it was his daughter Emmy's playroom, and Ronald Reagan set up a small gym here. George Bush Sr. restored the room to its original appearance, and this room is now intended for guests.

9. Green room

Used for meetings and receptions. Traditionally decorated in green tones. In 2007, the interior was updated under the leadership of First Lady Laura Bush: the walls were covered with silk, as under Jacqueline Kennedy, and the brick upholstery of the chairs was replaced with scarlet. The Turkish carpet laid under Nixon was replaced with a new one in the French Savonari style.

10. East room

The largest room in the White House. It is used for press conferences and ceremonies.

On the third floor there are living rooms for members of the presidential family, as well as several guest bedrooms.

On the fourth floor there are bedrooms, a solarium, a music room, a billiard room, offices and office space.

11. Oval Office

According to tradition, with the arrival of a new administration, the interior is updated, the curtains, the oval carpet with the seal of the head of state and some furniture are changed. Presidents can also borrow art from the vaults. Under Clinton, Rodin’s sculpture “The Thinker” stood in his office. Bush Jr. replaced the statue with paintings of Texas landscapes. The fireplace chairs in Bush's office were initially reddish. But because reporters started calling them pink, Bush ordered the upholstery changed to blue.

12 facts about the White House

Throughout the world, the White House is known as the residence of the US President and one of the symbols of American power. But, like the nation of which it is a symbol, the White House is fraught with mysteries and unexpected surprises.

1. An exact double of the White House is located in Ireland

James Hoban, an Irish-American educated in Dublin, was appointed architect of the White House. He was one of nine architects competing to draw up the project. According to historians, Hoban took as the basis for the project one of the palaces in Dublin, Leinster House, where the Irish parliament sits today.

2. Another White House double is in France

The White House has been rebuilt several times. At the beginning of the 19th century, President Thomas Jefferson, together with architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe, designed a series of additions to the White House. In 1824, architect James Hoban, based on this project, added some architectural elements, including colonnades. Thus, the semicircular southern colonnade of the White House repeats the shape of the colonnade of Chateau de Rastignac, an elegant French mansion built in 1817.

3. Slave labor was used to build the White House

The land on which Washington was later built was purchased from the states of Virginia and Columbia, where slave labor was still used. According to historical documents, a large number of black workers, most of whom were slaves, were involved in the construction of the White House. Black workers worked alongside white workers: they quarried sandstone in a field in Virginia, dug a foundation pit for the White House, laid foundations and fired bricks to build interior walls.

4. Europeans took part in the construction of the White House

The construction of the White House would not have been possible without the participation of European craftsmen and immigrant workers. So, Scottish masons built sandstone walls. Scottish craftsmen also carved the stone into the rose and garland design that today adorns the west entrance. Immigrants from Ireland and Italy did the laying work. In addition, Italian craftsmen also carved decorative stone elements that decorate the columns of the White House. Construction lasted more than eight years and cost the American treasury two and a half million dollars.

5. George Washington Never Lived in the White House

James Hoban's co-author can be considered the first US President George Washington. It was he who approved the project of the Irish architect, but considered it not large-scale and grandiose enough, so he made his own adjustments to the project of the future residence. Thanks to Washington, the White House increased its area by almost a third compared to the first version and became more solemn. However, President Washington never lived in the White House. In 1800, when the construction of the residence of American presidents was almost completed, the first tenant, the second US President John Adams, moved in. His wife Abigail subsequently repeatedly complained that the president's house was unfinished. Adams lived in the house for only about a year, after which he was succeeded by Thomas Jefferson.

6. The White House has long remained the largest house in America

The new capital of the country - Washington - was built according to a pre-developed plan by the French architect Pierre Charles Lanfant, and he conceived the White House in the image and likeness of the huge majestic buildings of Ancient Rome. However, Lanfant's project was not accepted - the much less grandiose project of Hoban and Latrobe was preferred to him. However, the White House was simply huge by the standards of the time. It remained the largest house in America until the end of the Civil War, when active construction began in the country.

7. The White House almost burned down due to the fault of the British army

During the War of 1814, the White House was almost completely burned down - only the outer walls remained. Washington was set on fire by the British army - in retaliation for the arson of the Parliament building in Ontario, which was set by American soldiers two years earlier, in 1812. Of the artifacts stolen by looters after the fire, the American state managed to save only two: a painting painted by George Washington and a box with jewelry. The latter was returned in 1939 to then US President Roosevelt by a certain Canadian citizen. He said that the jewelry was taken from Washington by his grandfather. After the fire, the White House was rebuilt almost anew, and President James Madison at that time lived in Octagon House, which later became the headquarters of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). President Monroe did not move into the partially reconstructed White House until October 1817.

8. The West Wing of the White House was destroyed by fire.

In 1929, shortly after the start of the Great Depression, a fire broke out in the West Wing of the White House, caused by a short circuit. Almost all the rooms on the first two floors of the West Wing had to be rebuilt after the fire.

9. Under President Roosevelt, the White House was redesigned to accommodate the needs of people with disabilities.

The original builders of the White House could not have foreseen that one day it would be occupied by a disabled president. It became possible to move around the White House in a wheelchair only in 1933, when Franklin Delano Roosevelt assumed the presidency. Because President Roosevelt was paralyzed by polio and could not move freely, the White House was rebuilt to be accessible by a wheelchair. In addition, under Roosevelt, an indoor heated swimming pool appeared in the White House - this was necessary for his treatment.

10. President Truman saved the White House from destruction

One hundred and fifty years after its construction, the wooden supports and external load-bearing walls of the White House have weakened significantly. Engineers sounded the alarm, declaring the building unsafe and requiring immediate major repairs. In 1948, President Truman ordered reconstruction and installation of new steel support structures. While the reconstruction lasted, the president's family lived in a nearby mansion, Blair House.

11. The White House used to be called differently

Over its two-hundred-year history, the White House has changed several names: it has been called the “presidential castle,” the “presidential palace,” and the “house of the president.” Officially, the White House began to be called that only in 1901, when President Theodore Roosevelt introduced this name into use.

12. The White House wasn't always white

The White House is built from gray sandstone mined from a mine in Virginia. The sandstone walls were painted white only after the White House was rebuilt after the 1814 fire. It took about 570 gallons of white paint to paint the building. The original wall covering was made from rice paste, casein and lead.

White House (Moscow)

The White House (officially since 1994 - the House of the Government of the Russian Federation) is the building of the government of the Russian Federation in Moscow. Located on the banks of the Moscow River, on the other side it faces Free Russia Square. The building is located at the address: Krasnopresnenskaya embankment, 2.

The “White House” in the Russian media is sometimes called the Government of the Russian Federation: the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation, his deputies with their secretariats; Government Apparatus; government commissions and councils.

It was built from 1965 to 1979 according to the design of architects D. Chechulin, P. Steller with a team of authors as the House of Soviets of the RSFSR. When designing the White House, D. Chechulin’s earlier designs were used (the “Aeroflot House” project); the building itself became the last project of the Soviet architect.

In 1981-1993, the White House housed the Committee of People's Control and the Supreme Council of the RSFSR, the Supreme Council of the Russian Federation, and since 1994 - the House of the Government of the Russian Federation.

During the events of the August 1991 coup, it became a center of resistance to the actions of the State Emergency Committee and gained all-Russian fame. For several days, numerous supporters of the President of the RSFSR B.N. Yeltsin gathered at the White House, and B.N. Yeltsin himself and other representatives of the Russian authorities repeatedly spoke to the people (the most famous is B.N. Yeltsin’s speech on August 19 from an armored personnel carrier in front of the White House ).

The White House was heavily damaged during the October events of 1993, when troops called by B.N. Yeltsin opened fire from tanks at the building, which was defended by supporters of the dissolved Supreme Soviet of Russia. After these events, the White House underwent large-scale reconstruction. For the work, which was carried out over several months and ended in 1994, workers from Turkey were also involved.

After the events of 1993, the White House was fenced with a high figured grille, which made it almost impossible to hold mass rallies in the immediate vicinity, however, protests and pickets have since been repeatedly held on the Hunchback Bridge. Not far from the White House in the park (formerly named after Pavlik Morozov) and near the stadium there are places where supporters of the rebel Supreme Council (communists, representatives of various opposition organizations of a communist and nationalist orientation) gather to honor the memory of the victims and distribute propaganda literature. There is also a memorial to the fallen defenders of the Supreme Council and several amateurishly erected memorial signs.

Architectural solution

The large-scale composition of the building is symmetrical, composed of three clearly defined parts: on a powerful, heavy base with granite cladding, ramps and a monumental grand staircase leading from the Moskva River embankment to the main entrance, a wide seven-story stylobate building with side wings and a tower of 20 floors with rounded corners and an upper technical floor, topped with a clock tower. On the turret there is a bronze gilded coat of arms of Russia (before the events of 1993, there was a clock there that stopped during the first tank salvo at the building and was later dismantled); At the top of the tower there is a flagpole with the state flag of the Russian Federation. The external wall cladding is made of white marble.

Multi-colored marbles and other decorative stones were used in the interior decoration of the building. The main assembly hall occupies the center of the seven-story building; all the front rooms of the building face the embankment.

The area around the White House (occupied by a park and government parking lot) is separated by a massive wrought-iron fence. Next to the White House there is a historical and architectural monument - the Humpback Bridge.

The total area of ​​the buildings of the Government House of the Russian Federation is 172.7 thousand square meters. m: work rooms and 27 halls for events and receptions. There is (according to some information) an underground shelter with access to the metro and an evacuation tunnel to the underground complex in Ramenki.

Sources

http://ru.wikipedia.org/ Wikipedia - the free encyclopedia

http://www.washingtown.ru Washington RU

http://www.rian.ru/ Ria news

http://www.luxemag.ru/ World of luxury

http://focus.ua/foreign/34000 Focus Magazine

The White House (USA) is a symbol of democracy and freedom in the country. It has an interesting history of construction and development. Each subsequent US President had the right to introduce new buildings and reconstruct this building.

History of construction

The White House (USA) began to be built later than the country’s independence was declared. George Washington did not have his own residence when he took office as America's first president.

Construction officially began in 1792 and was completed in 1800 under the administration of John Adams. Today, almost everyone knows where the White House is located in the United States. The building was built at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The author of the architectural design was James Hoban. Construction of the mansion cost $2.8 million at today's exchange rates. The house was built according to the principle of classicism and is very reminiscent of the ancient buildings of Rome and Greece. Previously the façade was sand color, and called the building the President's House.

Building reconstruction

The mansion was rebuilt many times. Thus, in 1814, as a result of an attack by British troops, the President's House was almost completely destroyed. Only the walls remained. All property was stolen. After some time, a painting that George Washington personally painted, along with some precious things, was found and returned. Architect James Hoban undertook to rebuild the building according to old designs. Only this time the walls were painted white. Under President T. Roosevelt, the official name appeared - the White House (USA).

Subsequently, various reconstructions were carried out:

• the eastern and western colonnades were completed;
• construction of galleries in 1824 and 1829;
• installation of plumbing and heating in 1835;
• construction of the west wing;
• electrification in 1901;
• decoration of the oval office.

In 1929, a fire destroyed almost all the rooms in the west wing, and they had to be rebuilt. When F. Roosevelt came to power, the inside of the building had to be thoroughly remodeled because it was not convenient for the life and work of a person in a wheelchair. At the same time, a swimming pool was built for Roosevelt to undergo procedures to restore his health.

In 1948, a huge basement was built under the building, where very important military meetings were held. Such a reconstruction took place under the presidency of G. Truman, who reacted in time to the destruction of the wooden supports in the building, and they were replaced with steel ones. The style inside was created by J. Kennedy's wife. Jacqueline gradually decorated all the rooms with valuable historical elements of furniture and decor. It was she who furnished the mansion with exquisite furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries.

White House of the US President today

Currently, the administration territory occupies 7.2 hectares of land. The building has 6 floors and contains:

• 132 rooms;
• 35 bathrooms;
• 28 fireplaces and 3 elevators;
• more than 140 windows and 8 staircases.

There is a tennis court and jogging track on site. A modern golf course has been built. The building houses a bowling alley and a large cinema. The head of the White House has a personal space for him and his children to live. This part of the building contains several bedrooms, children's rooms and guest rooms.

The building has 3 large oval-shaped rooms. All of them are located on different floors:

• Blue is intended for receptions and dinners of a small number of guests.
• Yellow for holding meetings of presidents of different countries before the official dinner.
• Diplomatic reception room, where the head of the White House (USA) holds meetings with foreign ambassadors.

The Blue Room is considered the most beautiful. Once upon a time, under the leadership of Jackie Kennedy, it was redesigned in white. It was only under Hilary Clinton that the original blue hue of the room was returned.

During the first construction of the building, the physical strength of slaves was used. Immigrants decorated the exterior and interior decoration. Construction took 8 long years, and hundreds of craftsmen changed during this process. For a very long time, the White House (USA) was considered the largest in the country. In the eastern wing, several spacious rooms have been allocated for the office of the first lady of the country. Here, the wives of presidents host receptions and charity events.

The building has a Sun Room, in which many presidential families loved to relax. This room is practically invisible and is located on the sunny side. Often during family gatherings, the heads of the United States set up a grill on the terrace and had a small picnic. Under the building there is a huge bunker with tunnels that lead into and out of the city. Journalists have never set foot in this place. The moves are completely secret, and their scheme is not subject to publicity.

The mansion houses 5 of the best chefs in the country 24/7. They are ready to serve more than 1,000 appetizers and other dishes at any time. These masters can reproduce almost any dish from different cuisines of the world.

Unusual facts

It is difficult to find an American who does not know where the White House is located in the United States. But many have never heard of the unusual facts associated with this building. Here are some of them:

• several presidents kept small crocodiles in their baths;
• in Lincoln's bedroom, guests often see his ghost; Churchill became one of these witnesses;
• in Ireland there is a twin building of the White House on a smaller scale;
• under the mansion there is a bunker at a depth of 6 floors;
• There is a garden and vegetable garden on the territory for growing fruits and vegetables without treatment with chemical fertilizers.

Everyone knows that the security system in this building and on its territory is equipped with all the latest technology. Snipers are constantly on duty on the roofs. The windows are made of bulletproof glass. But not everyone knows that the security service can even repel an attack from the air. There are special rocket launchers on the territory.

Celebrations at the White House

Before the biggest holidays in the United States, big events are being prepared in the main building of the country. The installation of a Christmas tree in the White House is a whole tradition that has not been broken for more than two centuries.

Thanksgiving Day necessarily celebrated with a "turkey pardon" by the president and free lunches for the poor outside the building. On Halloween, kids are invited to the White House and receive treats personally from the president and his wife. The US White House administration usually participates in all these events and thus tries to be closer to the common people of their country.