I just finished a guided tour of the White House today, where it was explained that the exterior walls were constructed of sandstone quarried from Aquia Creek quarry in Stafford VA.
The presidential structure was painted white in 1798, (16 years before the White House was burned) in order to protect the sandstone from damage caused by water and winter freezes.
The name "White House" did not become official until Theodore Roosevelt issued an executive order in 1901, although there are many references to "the White House" that predate the war of 1812.
The British did not burn the White house until 1814 in retaliation for some buildings burned by American troops in Canada during the war of 1812.
Although it was not completed until a few years after the presidency of George Washington, it has been speculated that the "President's Palace", "President's Mansion", or "President's House" as it was originally referred to was named after Martha Washington's father's home "White House Plantation" where the first president and Martha had courted.
It is called the white house because it is painted white.
Because you painted it white?
As it is painted white...:-P LOL...
james hoban
Painted it white
The White House
In 1812 the British burned the white house in the War of 1812. When it was repaired it was painted white. Paint was very expensive in the 1800's so to have a whole house painted white was very unusual and soon when asked about where the president lived they would refer to the "white house". The name stuck and now it is tradition to call it the White House.
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the white house was destroyed it was rebuilt then it was painted white to cover up burn stains.
Because it was painted white to cover the burn marks.
After it was burned by the British in 1812 and to cover the burns it was painted white. In the 1800's very few houses were painted because paint was expensive, so to have a whole house painted white was very unusual.
1817 when it was fixed after the fire in 1812 when the British burned the house.