The White House is one of the most famous homes in the United States. That's because it's where the President and his staff work. The President even lives there! In fact it has been the home to every U.S. President since John Adams!!
The White House was built between 1792 and 1800, but it looks very different then it did when it was first finished. Over the last 200 years there's been a lot of changes. Like, the additional wings that have been added. The first construction took 8 years, and cost 232,371.83 dollars. Which would be over 3 million dollars today. Wow!! That's a ton of money!!!
During the war of 1812 the White House was set on fire by British troops in 1884. The only walls left were the exterior walls, and those had to be reconstructed, too. It was rebuilt, but wasn't taken very good care of after so many years of use. By 1948, the house was declared to be in imminent danger of collapse, which forced President Truman to commission a reconstruction and move across the street to Blair House from 1949 to 1951. The White House was rebuilt bigger and better, and modernized with air conditioning. Even elevators and a bomb shelter.
In 1961, President Kennedy and his wife Jackie renovated the White House and made it a place worthy to entertain heads of state and foreign dignitaries. A lot of the decoration and artwork you see there today is because of their efforts. It has paintings of former presidents and historic furniture that's been carefully maintained and kept up so that everyone can enjoy it. The White House is amazing. You really should visit the White House.
Quack Report:
My quack was loud!!! The echo was even louder, and it echoed all over the place!!!
Bomb shelter? Oooh, that means I can drop a bomb on it and everyone will be just fine? Heheheheheh....
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