22 Nov White House Trivia & Sightseeing Outings
First Class provides transportation to sightseeing outings all the time, and although most Texans aren’t looking to take a group trip to the White House, here is some fun White House trivia for you!
In D.C., 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is the home of The White House, the brainchild of George Washington. When the idea of a house for the president was first conceived, however, our country was just in its infancy. Everything about the process of building a nation was new, including coming up with a design for the home that would be the residence and working space of the president of the United States.
In order to brainstorm architectural ideas, Thomas Jefferson suggested an open forum for people to submit potential house designs. Ultimately, Washington met with an Irishman by the name of James Hoban, and his design ended up being the one that Washington chose. And although Washington was the impetus behind the house project itself, he never lived in it. Construction began on October 13, 1792, but wasn’t finished for eight more years. Ultimately, John Adams was actually the first president to sleep in the house on November 1, 1800.
The following day, he penned a letter to his wife, Abigail, which included these words: “I pray heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this house, and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.” Interestingly, years later, Franklin Roosevelt had Adams’ words memorialized in the state dining room on the mantle.
Even though it stands strong today, the house was burned by British troops in 1814, and the whole interior was damaged. All that remained were the exterior walls that make up the iconic facade that every American recognizes instantly. Reconstruction began on the house immediately thereafter, and James Monroe was the first president to move back into the house when that project was finished. During the Truman administration, it became obvious that the house was structurally compromised and unsafe. Accordingly, the Trumans moved out, and an extensive renovation began. The interior was essentially demolished, and the structure was reinforced by steel beams. Once that framework was installed, the rooms were put back together essentially as they were before, and the timber from the demolished beams was sawn into paneling that was then installed in the house. During the Kennedy administration, Jackie Kennedy decorated the house in a style designed to reflect its marvelous story and history.
Additionally, even though the White House was the original structure, today, the complex encompasses several buildings that have been added to accommodate its purposes and the business that goes on there. The property sits on 18 acres, a sprawling, picturesque plot of land and gardens, and some of the oldest trees on the site are magnolias that were planted by Andrew Jackson.
Some other interesting facts?
The first public protest there was for the women’s suffrage movement on January 10, 1917.
Things changed shortly after the beginning of the 1900s, but up until then, all the staff at the White House were hired by the president himself, and they were paid by him personally.
And, for some numbers? As it stands today, the White House has 35 bathrooms, 28 fireplaces, and 5 full-time chefs.
But what does any of this have to do with a modern motorcoach company? Well, just this. One of the things we do is provide quality group transportation to people who are interested in sightseeing. We love being the wheels behind adventure, knowledge, and discovery, and seeing famous locations is just one of the ways we facilitate this. Maybe you’re not headed to check out the White House for the first time with a tour or sightseeing group, but you might want to see something else. And if that’s the case, we will cater a sightseeing outing that’s specific to the interests of your group. So, next time you’re up for an adventure, let us make it a reality! Learn more about our sightseeing outings here: https://www.firstclasstours.net/services-in-use/sightseeing/