White House

The White House is the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States, located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. Construction began in 1792 and was completed in 1800, making it one of the earliest major construction projects undertaken by the new federal government. The residence was named the 'White House' due to its distinctive white-painted exterior walls, which were applied after the building's initial construction to cover the gray-painted stone. The neoclassical mansion was designed by Irish-born architect James Hoban and has served as the home of every U.S. president since John Adams. The building contains 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, and occupies 170,000 square feet of floor space, situated on 18 acres of grounds. Beyond its residential function, the White House contains offices, meeting rooms, and facilities for the executive branch operations. The building has been expanded, renovated, and updated numerous times while maintaining its iconic architectural character. It serves as one of the most recognizable buildings in the world and a symbol of the American presidency and democratic governance. The White House grounds and public rooms attract millions of visitors annually, representing American history and cultural heritage.