The White House Trivia Quiz

Answer: George Washington

George Washington selected the site for the White House in 1791. Construction began in 1792 after James Hoban, an Irish-American architect, submitted its design after being named the winner of the design competition for the White House.

Answer: John Adams

President John Adams and his wife, Abigail, moved into the White House after eight years of construction in the year 1800. Even then, the newly-constructed house was not completed until Thomas Jefferson's term. First Lady Abigail Adams called the White House "the great castle".

Answer: 35

The White House covers approximately 55,000 square feet on 18 acres of land and has 132 rooms on its 6 floors. This includes 8 staircases, 3 elevators, 28 fireplaces, 412 doors, and 147 windows. There is also a tennis court, a single-lane bowling alley, a beauty salon, a physician's office, a florist's shop, a movie theater, a swimming pool, a jogging track, and a putting green.

Answer: President Theodore Roosevelt

The White House has also been known as the "President's Palace", "President's House", and "Executive Mansion". It was given the name of the "White House" by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1901.

Answer: War of 1812

This event occurred during the "Burning of Washington" on August 24, 1814, when General Robert Ross led a British force to capture and occupy Washington. It was at this time that the First Lady, Dolley Madison, rescued a portrait of George Washington from destruction by cutting it from its frame before escaping from the White House.

A second fire broke out in 1929, at which time most of the rooms, except those on the third floor, had to be gutted and renovated.

Answer: West Wing

Besides the Oval Office, the West Wing also houses the Cabinet Room, the Situation Room, and the Roosevelt Room. The West Wing was ordered to be constructed in 1902 by President Theodore Roosevelt who found that with the accommodations needed for his wife and family of five children, the offices which existed in the White House were insufficient.

Answer: Rose Garden

First Lady Ellen Wilson, wife of President Woodrow Wilson, established the White House Rose Garden in 1913. Originally, this garden was the site of a colonial garden which had been established by First Lady Edith Roosevelt, wife of President Theodore Roosevelt in 1902.

The Rose Garden is often the setting for special ceremonies and speeches, as well as the place for greeting distinguished guests and visitors.

Answer: 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW

Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. is called "America's Main Street", and George Washington referred to it as a "Grand Avenue".

Answer: Jacqueline Kennedy

Jacqueline Kennedy took on the restoration of the White House as her first major project as First Lady. To accomplish this task, she established a fine arts committee to oversee and fund the restoration of the White House. She gave her historic television tour of the White House on February 14, 1962.

Answer: Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul II visited the White House during the Carter presidency in October of 1979. The Pontiff and President Carter met for an hour in the Oval Office, and according to a statement released by the White House "the Pope and the President agreed that efforts to advance human rights constitute the compelling idea of our times".