An Important Symbol

What do the White House, the Statue of Liberty, and the U.S. flag all have in common? They are all symbols of the United States. A symbol is a person, place, or thing that has a special meaning.

The White House is no ordinary house! It stands for freedom and democracy. It is also a symbol of our President, our country’s history, and the American people.

A Central Place

More than 200 years ago, the United States was a brand new country. The White House did not exist. George and Martha Washington lived in New York City. Many people thought it might be a good idea to have a central place where the President would live and work.

The Founders, including George Washington, decided to build a city for our government. They named this city Washington, District of Columbia. It was named after George Washington and Christopher Columbus.

Washington, D.C. became the nation’s capital. It is not only the home of the President and his family, it is also the place where the leaders of our country meet and work. The White House sits on one end of the city. The Capitol Building, where Congress makes laws, is on the other end of the city.

Every year millions of people visit Washington, D.C. Like the White House, the city belongs to the people. Visitors come from all over the world to see the White House, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and other symbols of American history.

Map of Washington, D.C.

(Click on map to enlarge)

A Famous Address

The White House has a famous address:
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500

People have been writing letters to the President since the White House was first built. Over the years, there were so many letters to the President that a mailroom was built in the White House. Can you guess which President has received the most letters?

President Franklin Roosevelt: 60,000 letters a year (First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt received half that amount.)
President Bill Clinton: 300,000 letters a year
President George W. Bush: 5 million letters a year and over 1 million emails

White House Fun Facts

The White House was originally gray. During the War of 1812, British troops set the house on fire. After the war, it was painted white to hide the smoke stains.
Abraham Lincoln used to play a game like baseball on the White House lawn. He made a baseball field behind the house called the "White Lot."
President Benjamin Harrison’s son had a goat named Old Whiskers. One day, Whiskers decided to run away. The President had to run down Pennsylvania Avenue to catch him.
The only baby born in the White House was Esther Cleveland, daughter of Cleveland.
Teddy Roosevelt’s six children were called the "White House Gang." They used to slide down the stairs on large trays. They once tried to put a pony in the elevator, so they could take it to the children’s bedroom.
The White House has a bowling alley, an indoor swimming pool, and a movie theater. It also has a running track, a tennis court, a helicopter pad, and 32 bathrooms!