Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

Bluenorthwest

(45,319 posts)
7. It's pretty easy to find referrences to the building as the White House long before Teddy. Try 1812
Sat Feb 13, 2016, 08:45 AM
Feb 2016

From the White House website:
Why is the White House white?

"White paint has nothing to do with covering the burning of the house by the British in 1814, although every schoolchild is likely to have heard the story that way. The building was first made white with lime-based whitewash in 1798, when its walls were finished, simply as a means of protecting the porous stone from freezing. Congressman Abijah Bigelow wrote to a colleague on March 18, 1812 (three months before the United States entered war with England):

"There is much trouble at the White House, as we call it, I mean the President's" (quoted in W. B. Bryan, "The Name White House," Records of the Columbia Historical Society 34-35 [1932]: 308)."
https://www.whitehousehistory.org/questions/why-is-the-white-house-white

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Why is it called the 'Whi...»Reply #7