white house

[heslc]

how did the white house get its name?

[Jocelyn]

I *believe* it was after the walls were painted white to cover smoke damage from the Civil War. Or possibly a different war. Sorry I can't be more specific - I only have a vague memory of this!

[xyzzyplugh]

White House = Casa Blanca, maybe they saw that film. - Good job they weren't watching Animal House!

[Quizmonster]

There are several theories. Jocelyn's one is almost correct, except that the war was the War of 1812 rather than the Civil War. During that war, we Brits burned down the original building and, when it was rebuilt, it was painted white. Another theory is that George Washington named it after his wife's home in Virginia, although he is the only President never to have lived in it!

It has had various names over the years, including President's House, President's Mansion and even President's Palace. The name 'White House' was officially sanctioned by Theodore Roosevelt in 1902.