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 criminal Veep

America never lacked politicians who were suspected criminals —vice presidents included— but not every day is the second most important person in the nation formally accused of murder. It is a known fact that Aaron Burr, America’s third vice president, fatally shot founding father Alexander Hamilton in a duel in 1804. What many don’t know is that he was formally indicted for that murder in New York and New Jersey , but he fled to South Carolina and never stood trial, and the charge was eventually dropped. He was also accused of treason, but we can’t say that he was unique among politicians in that sense.

2

The first Veep that was actually elected

Did you know that, in the beginning, vice presidents were not elected as running mates of a presidential candidate? For the first three presidencies, the position was filled by the runner-up, which created endless conflicts. After all, who wants to work with the guy who beat you? After Thomas Jefferson struggled to govern with Aaron Burr as his second, he pushed for the 12th Amendment, which allowed vice presidents to be elected on their own . For his next term, Jefferson chose George Clinton as running mate —not only because he was popular, but also because his age (65 years old) made it unlikely that he would challenge Jefferson’s successor, James Madison, for the presidency. In the end, Jefferson didn’t have to worry about it because Clinton was the first vice president to die while in office in 1812.

3

The unelected Veep

In 1973, Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned under accusations of corruption. The newly ratified 25th Amendment stated that the president, Richard Nixon, had to nominate someone for the position, to be later ratified by Congress. He chose Gerald Ford, at the time the House Minority Leader , and widely respected by his peers. Less than a year later, Nixon was forced to resign due to the Watergate scandal, and Ford assumed the presidency, making him the only vice president and president who was not elected.

4

The first Veep to have a ‘Second Gentleman’

We’ve had many memorable First Ladies in our history, but, seeing that we never had a female President, we don’t know what that role would look like in a reversed situation. But what about a Second Gentleman? In 2021, Kamala Harris was the first woman to serve as Vice President, and her husband, Doug Emhoff, became the first ‘Second Gentleman’ of the nation , which meant that the acronym for the position (SLOTUS) had to be updated to SGOTUS.

5

The first Veep to be a proper Veep

Where does the use of "Veep" for vice president come from? In 1949, Alben W. Barkley was elected as VP under President Harry S. Truman. Barkley thought that ‘Mr. Vice President’ was a mouthful, and it sounded too formal. His grandson suggested the term Veep (after the VP initialism) , which became popular when Barkley told the story to the press. Although the following vice president, Richard Nixon, refused to use the term out of respect for Barkley, it has become the common phrase used to informally refer to vice presidents.

6

The shortest Veep-to-President pipeline

Out of the fifteen vice presidents to later become president, nine of them did so due to the president dying or resigning. The 10th Vice President, John Tyler, was not only the first Veep to assume the role after the President’s death, but also the Veep with the shortest tenure in American history. After only 31 days in office, in 1841, he became president due to the passing of William Henry Harrison , setting the precedent that vice presidents who assumed the presidency were official and not just acting presidents.

7

The first Veep to live at Number One Observatory Circle

Unlike presidents, vice presidents didn’t always have an official residence. Up until 1974, when Congress designated Number One Observatory Circle as the official residence of the vice president , Veeps lived in their own houses. At the time, Vice President Nelson Rockefeller refused to move in and only used the house for entertaining guests. Walter Mondale was the first vice president to officially move in with his family in 1977.

8

The Veeps that had to step down

Only two out of the 50 vice presidents in American history resigned their position. In 1832, Andrew Jackson’s vice president, John C. Calhoun, resigned during his second term to accept a seat in the Senate after a series of political differences with Jackson. In 1973, Spiro Agnew was accused of corruption and bribery , and charged with tax evasion. He resigned and pleaded no contest to the charges. His President, Richard Nixon, would also resign less than a year later.

9

The Nobel Veeps

Only two vice presidents were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize: Charles G. Dawes received the prize in 1925 for the "Dawes Plan", an initiative to stabilize the German economy after WWI , while Al Gore received it in 2007 —jointly with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change— for his efforts towards the conscientization of man-made climate change . Some also include Theodore Roosevelt in this list on account of his having served as vice president, but at the moment of receiving the prize in 1906, he was serving his second term as president.

10

The youngest and oldest Veeps

According to the Constitution, the minimum age requirement for the vice president is 35 years old. The youngest ever vice president in office was John C. Breckinridge at 36 years old , serving under James Buchanan in 1857, followed by Richard Nixon and J.D. Vance, who both assumed the role at 40 years old. The oldest vice president to take office was Alben Barkley, who in 1949 served under Harry S. Truman at 71 years old , followed by Charles Curtis at 69 years old, and Hubert Humphrey at 67 years old.

1

Lucy Ricardo ( I Love Lucy )

Image: TV Guide, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Despite being a series from the 1950s, I Love Lucy made such a strong impact on American culture that it’s still remembered and referenced today. And it’s impossible to forget Lucy Ricardo, the lovable protagonist who was always chasing "a little more" out of life through daring and hilarious adventures with her husband and neighbors. The familiarity of the characters and the way they connected with viewers turned the show into a success that totally transcended its time.

2

Spock ( Star Trek )

Image: NBC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

This pair of pointed ears is really hard to forget. Mr. Spock, played by Leonard Nimoy in Star Trek , is easily one of the most memorable characters on TV, and we get why. His particular appearance and his calm, controlled demeanor made him irresistible to almost everyone in the audience. Alongside his discipline, strong values, and quiet reserve, his warm and empathetic human side would occasionally shine through, making him one of our favorites.

3

Fonzie "The Fonz" ( Happy Days )

Image: ABC, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Fonzarelli, Fonzie, the Fonz: three names for everyone’s favorite character from Happy Days . Fonzie wasn’t just the epitome of cool; he also had a loyal, charismatic, and genuinely warm personality that made him impossible not to love.

4

Samantha Stephens ( Bewitched )

Image: ABC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

If you had magical powers, your life would probably resemble that of Samantha Stephens, the lovable star of Bewitched , and that's probably what made this series such a success. Samantha’s warm personality and intelligence (along with her powers, of course) allowed her to balance her magical world and her human life. And along the way, she gives us some really funny adventures!

5

Michael Scott ( The Office )

Image: Steve_Carell_with_wife_Nancy_Walls_@_2010_Academy_Awards.jpg: Photo by Sgt. Michael Connorsderivative work: RanZag, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Michael Scott may not seem like the nicest character ever, but it’s precisely his quirkiness and his desperate need to be liked that make us end up loving him so much. Well-intentioned but socially awkward, this character is so funny that no matter what he does, we can’t help but adore him.

6

Kermit the Frog ( Sesame Street/The Muppet Show )

Image: Pattie, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Who said all the characters on this list had to be human? No one would have guessed that a puppet could become a total celebrity, right? Well, that’s exactly what happened with Kermit, the most famous frog of all. The best part is that you don’t have to be a child to appreciate the optimism, warmth, and humor that make us all love dear Kermit.

7

Chandler Bing ( Friends )

Image: Tracie Hall from Orange County, us, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Each one of the six main characters of Friends has a strong fan base, but one stands out: Chandler Bing. Undoubtedly one of the most beloved, Chandler won us over with his humble heart, his awkwardness in understanding and managing emotions, and, of course, his silly jokes that came out even at the most inappropriate moments.

8

Mulder & Scully ( The X-Files )

Image: Marcin Wichary from San Francisco, U.S.A., CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

We had to pick one, but we just couldn’t: Mulder and Scully are inseparable. Though very different, the two main characters of The X-Files won over audiences equally. Mulder, the believer and passionate investigator, and Scully, the skeptical but determined scientist, come together to complement each other in the most perfect way.

9

Sheriff Andy Taylor ( The Andy Griffith Show )

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That kind face was enough to win our hearts, but Sheriff Andy Taylor offers so much more: kindness, good intentions, and a calm demeanor, along with humor and intelligence. Often serving as the moral compass in The Andy Griffith Show , he became a familiar and trusted presence for audiences of all ages.

10

Sheldon Cooper ( The Big Bang Theory )

Image: MelodyJSandoval, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

His enormous intelligence and sharp logic make him stand out in the academic world, but his struggles with social connections complicate his personal life. This is Sheldon Cooper, one of TV’s most beloved "brainiacs." Despite his difficulty with sarcasm, his cold and distant demeanor, and his unbearably pragmatic nature, Sheldon has a certain charm that makes him impossible not to love.