The White House Reconstruction, also known as the Truman Reconstruction, was a comprehensive dismantling and rebuilding of the interior of the White House from 1949 to 1952.

When was the White House refurbished?

1952

1952 marks the completion of the Harry S. Truman Renovation (1948-1952), which completely gutted and rebuilt the White House from the inside.

When was the White House burned and rebuilt?

August 24, 1814

On August 24, 1814, British forces marched into Washington, D.C. and set fire to the White House, the Capitol, and other government buildings.

How much of the original White House is left?

It is a wonder there is any original part of it left. However, the original exterior stone walls on the original part of the building (not later additions) are part of the original White House. In fact, these walls are the only original part of the building left.

Who rebuilt the White House in 1817?

James Hoban

After eight years of construction, President John Adams and his wife Abigail moved into the still-unfinished residence. During the War of 1812, the British set fire to the President’s House, and James Hoban was appointed to rebuild it.

Was the White House gutted and rebuilt?

For over three years, the White House was gutted, expanded, and rebuilt. Although the scope, costs, and historical authenticity of the work were criticized by some at the time, the reconstructed mansion has proved a safe, stable, well-functioning residence for First Families ever since.

What color was the White House before it was white?

It Wasn’t Always White
The White House is made of gray-colored sandstone from a quarry in Aquia, Virginia. The north and south porticos are constructed with red Seneca sandstone from Maryland. The sandstone walls weren’t painted white until the White House was reconstructed after the British fires.

Is there a swimming pool in the White House?

The White House has had two different pools since the 1930s. The indoor swimming pool opened on June 2, 1933, after a campaign led by the New York Daily News to raise money for building a pool for President Franklin D.

Why did Truman renovate the White House?

Some argued to simply tear down the White House and build a new executive mansion, but the Trumans fought to preserve the historic building in every way they could. The renovation plan was designed to maintain the outer walls but rebuild the interior to make it safe for generations to come.

How many bathrooms are in the White House?

The Answer:
According to the official White House web page, there are 35 bathrooms in the White House, none of which are public bathrooms. Here are some other interesting White House statistics: it has 132 rooms, 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases, and 3 elevators.

Which president was living in the White House when it burned down?

Herbert Hoover and the West Wing Fire of 1929
This fire was caused by faulty electric circuitry. Besides being only the second fire in the history of the White House, it is also notable for having happened on Christmas Eve, one week after the stock market crash.

Do the president and First Lady sleep in the same room?

Prior to the Ford Administration it was common for the President and First Lady to have separate bedrooms. Until then, this room was used mostly as the First Lady’s bedroom; however, it was the sleeping quarters for President Lincoln.

Does the White House have a basement?

Today, the basement includes multipurpose rooms including the Map Room, Library, China Room, Vermeil Room, and the Diplomatic Reception Room. The basement also has the main White House Kitchen, pantry, chocolate shop, and cold storage. There’s also a doctor’s office and housekeeper’s office.

Are there secret rooms in the White House?

Today a whole complex of underground rooms stretches out from that areaway, containing the florist shop, bowling alley, and many other functions. None of it is secret.

Is there a kitchen in the White House residence?

The White House features three kitchens: the main kitchen, a pastry kitchen, and a family kitchen in the Executive Residence. The main White House kitchen is located on the ground floor.

What is the largest room in the White House?

the East Room

Off the landing to the right is the East Room. The largest of the state rooms, it was designed by James Hoban and George Washington to be a “Public Audience Room.”

How many cooks are in the White House?

Duties and staff
The Executive Chef supervises a staff of five, and a part-time staff of 20 to 25 assistant chefs and kitchen helpers. The Executive Chef is formally hired by the First Lady, and reports to the White House Chief Usher.

How much does a White House chef make?

Salary Ranges for White House Chefs
The middle 57% of White House Chefs makes between $86,563 and $215,717, with the top 86% making $474,068.

How many bedrooms and bathrooms are in the White House?

The White House has 16 guest bedrooms. To ensure all their guests have the comfort of their own bathroom, it also has a staggering 35 bathrooms. Most of the bedrooms remain empty save for when the First Family has guests visiting. Those guests can include family and friends but also foreign dignitaries and ambassadors.

Who was the smallest president?

James Madison, the shortest president, was 5 ft 4 in (163 cm).

Which president never went to school?

George Washington

George Washington (1789-1797)
George Washington is another answer to the question “who was the only president who never went to school?” He never went to college and received no education past the age of 11. He spent his childhood in Virginia, learning from several tutors.

Who was the fattest president?

Taft was the most obese president. He was 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall and his weight was between 325 pounds (147 kg) and 350 pounds (160 kg) toward the end of his presidency. He had difficulty getting out of the White House bathtub, so he had a 7-foot (2.1 m) long, 41-inch (1.0 m) wide tub installed.

Which president had two wives?

Presidents John Tyler and Woodrow Wilson had two official first ladies; both remarried during their presidential tenures.

What is the husband of a female president called?

While there has never been a male spouse of a U.S. president, “first gentleman” is used in the United States for the male spouse of a mayor or governor. First spouse and first partner, both rare variations of the title, can be used in either case where the spouse of a political leader is of any gender.

Who is the youngest First Lady?

Frances Clara Cleveland Preston (born Frank Clara Folsom; July 21, 1864 – October 29, 1947) was first lady of the United States from 1886 to 1889 and again from 1893 to 1897 as the wife of President Grover Cleveland. Becoming first lady at age 21, she remains the youngest wife of a sitting president.

Has there ever been a president with a tattoo?

Theodore Roosevelt, however, is the only American president ever documented to have had tattoos on his body, in real life, although from gunpowder.

Can presidents have beards?

Between 1861 and 1913, all but two presidents (Andrew Johnson and William McKinley) wore either beards or mustaches during their tenure in office. Since 1913 all presidents have been clean-shaven except for Harry Truman for a brief period of time in 1948.

Which president had a pitbull?

He was one of many presidential pets during Roosevelt’s presidency. He was reported to be a bull terrier, though other reports have said he was a Boston bull terrier or bulldog.
Pete (Theodore Roosevelt’s dog)