1

The numbers behind it

Image: Melo Liu

One could say the White House is a home, but a more accurate description would be "small city." With 132 rooms, 32 bathrooms, and six levels, it accommodates everyone from the First Family to visiting dignitaries.

As if that wasn’t enough in terms of numbers, add 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, seven staircases, and three elevators, and you’ve got a place that’s as grand as it is functional. The only number left to wonder about is how many people it takes to clean it! With so much going on, it’s safe to say the White House is always buzzing.

2

From "President’s House" to "The White House"

Image: Saul Rodriguez

Did you know the White House wasn’t always called that? Over the years, it’s been referred to as the "President’s Palace," the "President’s House," and the "Executive Mansion."

But it wasn’t until 1901 that President Theodore Roosevelt made "The White House" the official name. The change reflected a more democratic image, distancing the building from European-style palaces.

3

6,000 visitors a day: A popular destination

Image: Saul Rodriguez

You have probably toured the White House at least once, haven’t you? Well, on any given day, the White House welcomes around 6,000 visitors.

From local and foreign tourists on a guided tour, diplomats, to school groups, the building sees a steady stream of guests. That’s a lot of handshakes, selfies, and security checks! More than power and politics, the charm of the White House lies in the national history it holds.

4

Presidential firsts: Planes, photos, and more

Image: Jainam Sheth

Every president brings something new to the White House, but some have achieved truly historic "firsts."

For example, John Tyler was the first to have his photograph taken. Theodore Roosevelt rode in the first presidential car and became the first president to travel abroad, to Panama. Franklin Roosevelt added air travel to the mix as the first president to fly.

You may be wondering who the first president to live there was, but we’ll cover that fact later in this article!

5

A kitchen built for a crowd

Image: Odiseo Castrejon

We may not know about the cleaning crew, but we do have some facts about the chefs!

There are five full-time chefs in the White House, so the kitchen is ready for any occasion. It can serve dinner to 140 guests or hors d’oeuvres to more than 1,000 people at a time. From state dinners to casual family meals, the kitchen staff handles it all with finesse. Five stars for them, please!

6

Painting the town (or the House) White

Image: Steve Johnson

Keeping the White House pristine is no small task: Can you guess how much paint it takes to cover it? Here’s the answer: It takes a whopping 570 gallons of paint to cover its iconic exterior. This monumental paint job ensures the building remains the picture of elegance and charm. Over the years, this white coat has become a symbol of the presidency itself. Who knew painting could carry so much historical weight? Fun fact: ours is not the only presidential home with a trademark color!

7

Fun and games at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue

Image: Jay Wennington

When you think of the Executive Mansion, you probably picture people in suits going from one point to another, solving national and international matters, right? Well, that may be true, but the White House isn’t all business; there are some recreational rooms, too.

Residents (which range from the presidential family to diplomats to staff) enjoy a tennis court, jogging track, swimming pool, movie theater, billiard room, and even a bowling lane. Talk about a house with some serious amenities, huh?

8

George Washington never slept here

Image: Kenny Eliason

While George Washington oversaw the creation of the White House, he never got to live in it. The mansion wasn’t completed until 1800, a year after Washington’s death.

So, to answer the question from the "presidential firsts" section, John Adams became the first president to move in, and it’s been the home of every president since. Washington’s influence is still felt, but don’t expect to see his ghost wandering the halls.

9

The White House has survived two fires

Image: Cullan Smith

Well, the title pretty much covers it, right? The White House has faced fire twice in its history.

In 1814, British forces burned it during the War of 1812, though some exterior walls and the famous Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington were saved. Then, on Christmas Eve in 1929, a chimney flue sparked a blaze that gutted parts of the West Wing. President Herbert Hoover even directed firefighting efforts during the chaos. Now, this is proof of its true Americanness: It only came back stronger and taller!

10

Teddy Roosevelt built the West Wing

Image: Srikanta H. U

Teddy Roosevelt is the man behind the West Wing. In 1902, he expanded the White House by adding this now-famous section to house presidential offices.

The project replaced some old conservatories and introduced the colonnaded gallery that connects it to the main residence. Later presidents, like Taft and Franklin Roosevelt, expanded the West Wing further, but it all started with Teddy’s vision. Today, the West Wing is the spinal cord of the presidency as it holds the Oval Office.

1

The Cardiff Giant

Image: Anton Ivanov

In 1869, workers digging a well in Cardiff, New York, uncovered what appeared to be a 10-foot-tall petrified man. Locals rushed to see the "giant," paying admission to witness history in the soil.

But, as it turned out, it wasn’t ancient at all. A man named George Hull had buried the statue as a prank and made some quick money from the curious crowd.

2

War of the Worlds Broadcast

Image: Michal Balog

This very famous hoax took place on the eve of Halloween 1938. Orson Welles’s radio adaptation of The War of the Worlds aired as if it were breaking news . Many listeners tuning in late thought Martians had really landed in New Jersey.

Some packed up their cars or called the police in panic. Though no invasion occurred, the broadcast became a legend in media history.

3

The Balloon Boy

Image: Ankush Minda

In 2009, Americans watched live TV coverage of a silver balloon drifting across the skies of Colorado , fearing that a six-year-old boy was trapped inside . The story gripped the nation for hours.

When the balloon finally landed empty, police discovered the child hiding safely at home. His parents later admitted it was a publicity stunt gone wrong.

4

The Feejee Mermaid

Image: Nsey Benajah

In 1842, showman P. T. Barnum unveiled a marvel: a preserved "mermaid" supposedly from the South Seas . Crowds lined up to see the half-fish, half-woman curiosity.

The truth was stranger still. It was the upper body of a monkey sewn onto a fish tail and covered in papier-mâché.

5

The Great Moon Hoax

Image: Ganapathy Kumar

6

Readers of The New York Sun in 1835 were astonished by reports claiming that scientists had spotted bat-like people and crystal palaces on the Moon through a powerful new telescope.

The story was pure invention, but circulation went up. By the time the truth came out, the paper’s readership had reportedly increased dramatically.

7

The Crop Circles Craze

Image: Agent J

When perfect circles began appearing overnight in wheat fields , people talked about UFO landings. The shapes seemed too precise to have been made by human hands.

But, in 1991, two Englishmen confessed they’d used boards and ropes to flatten the crops. While this revelation explained many of the formations, the mystery lives on in popular imagination.

8

Alien Autopsy Film

Image: Leo_Visions

In 1995, a grainy black-and-white video surfaced, showing doctors dissecting what seemed to be an alien recovered from the 1947 Roswell crash. The footage spread quickly worldwide.

Years later, the filmmaker admitted that the film was staged, using latex models and fake organs.

9

The Manti Te’o girlfriend hoax

Image: Kaleb Becker

 Notre Dame football star Manti Te’o captured hearts when he revealed that his girlfriend had died of leukemia . Sports fans wept over the tragic love story.

But reporters later learned that the woman never existed. It was an elaborate online catfishing scheme.

10

The Patterson–Gimlin Bigfoot film

Image: Jon Sailer

In 1967, a short film shot in California showed a large, hairy creature striding through the woods . Many viewers thought this was real proof of Bigfoot´s existence.

Decades later, one participant claimed it was a man in a gorilla suit, but that claim failed to convince many people who prefer to believe in the existence of this creature.

11

The Drake’s Plate of Brass

Image: David Dibert

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In 1936, a shiny brass plate found in California seemed to confirm that explorer Sir Francis Drake had landed there in 1579. Historians called it a priceless relic.

For decades, the plate was displayed proudly, until metallurgical tests in 1977 proved it was modern . It had been made as a practical joke among historians that went too far.

13

Paul Is Dead

Image: Jiamin Huang

The final entry on our list might not be American per se, but it drew much attention on these shores. In 1969, rumors spread that Beatle Paul McCartney had died and been secretly replaced by a double . Fans scoured album covers for "clues" like hidden messages and backward songs.

Paul, very much alive, later joked about it. The bizarre theory became a lasting pop-culture phenomenon.

1

Florida – Meter feeding for elephants

Image: AJ Robbie

Florida’s traffic code once required that if you tied your elephant, goat, or alligator to a parking meter, you had to pay the fee, just as you would for a car. It sounds wild today, but it’s rooted in a time when people actually rode animals into town.

Though it’s not actively enforced (we checked), the law technically still lingers on the books. So, you'd better leave your pet elephant behind from now on!

2

Idaho – Seniors and motorcycles don’t mix

Image: Harley-Davidson

In Idaho Falls, it’s long been rumored that a local ordinance makes it illegal for anyone over 88 to ride a motorcycle. That sounds oddly specific—and a bit ageist. Whether it was meant to encourage safety, misinterpreted, or inspired by one daredevil granny, no one’s quite sure.

While there's no sign of active enforcement (or even proof it still exists), the message seems clear: once you’re nearing 90, it might be time to stick to the golf cart.

3

Arizona – Don’t even think about driving in reverse

Image: Jerry Kavan

Arizona doesn't mess around when it comes to driving in reverse. On public roads, moving backward is a big no-no. While it’s unlikely you’ll get arrested for backing out of a driveway, pulling a full-speed reverse cruise down Main Street might land you in hot water. Arizona wants you to move forward in life—literally.

4

Illinois – You need a steering wheel to drive

Image: Zach Wiley

Well, isn’t that obvious? Apparently not—because Illinois actually has a law stating that you can’t drive a car without a steering wheel.

Even if it seems like common sense, laws like this were created during the early days of car modifications, when people got creative (and sometimes reckless). So, if you were planning to steer your car using a rope-and-pulley system… maybe don’t.

5

Maine – No Sunday car shopping

Image: Hilbert Hill

In Maine, it’s illegal to buy a car on Sunday. Dealerships are closed by law, making it impossible to seal the deal on the most relaxing day of the weekend. Why? The rule has roots in so-called "blue laws," which were designed to preserve Sunday as a day of rest. So in Maine, if you get a wild urge to car shop after church, you’ll have to wait until Monday.

6

Michigan – Streets are not for reading

Image: bruce mars

Michigan has a law that says you can’t sit in the middle of the road and read a newspaper. Yeah, no joke!

We know—it’s hard to imagine someone actually doing this (unless it was a very juicy headline), but the law’s goal is clearly about safety. Still, you have to admit the mental image is pretty great—just don’t try it unless you want to make the evening news.

7

New Hampshire – Bus fumes are not a high

Image: Lizgrin F

New Hampshire takes a hard stance on inhaling bus fumes "with intent to cause euphoria." That’s a legal phrase, not a band name. It’s part of the state’s broader anti-huffing laws, aimed at curbing substance abuse.

Well, that’s odd!

8

Vermont – Backfiring is a no-go in Rutland

Image: RoonZ nl

In Rutland, Vermont, letting your car backfire could technically get you in trouble. This law was probably put in place to cut down on noise or prevent panic during quieter times in history.

Today, it’s unlikely to get you arrested, but a surprise backfire might still earn you some serious side-eye from the locals. If you ask us, this should be a law everywhere!

9

Wisconsin – Hands off the handlebars? Not allowed

Image: Darko Pribeg

In Wisconsin, you’re not allowed to ride a bicycle with no hands. Even if you’re showing off your balance skills from the 1970s, the law says at least one hand must stay on the handlebars.

It’s all about safety—but if you’re feeling rebellious, maybe show off at the park. Just don’t do it on public roads. Keep it hands-on!

10

South Carolina – No trash hoarding in Hilton Head

Image: Alireza Mirzabegi

In Hilton Head, it’s illegal to store trash in your car. That’s right—your vehicle can’t double as a mobile garbage can. The law aims to keep the area clean and tourist-friendly, but it also sounds like a not-so-subtle jab at anyone using their backseat as a trash bin. Hilton Head wants pristine beaches and clean cars!