Just In case you didn't know what the outside looked like... here it is! We looked out the windows you see in this picture from the Blue Room.
We were only allowed to tour certain parts of the house. Our tour included the State Dining Room where many important dinners have been served over the years. The guide said it takes two people several days to completely clean the chandeliers.
The Red Room. Not sure why it's called this but it was very fancy. In the early years it served as the Presidents Anti-Chamber to the Library next door. Recent Presidents have used it for small dinner parties.
Guess what the name of this room is? You guessed it... The Blue Room. It is also one of three oval rooms in the white house. The room directly above this one (which we didn't get to see) is the Yellow Room and is also Oval. The third oval room?... Hmmm. I think it's over in the West Wing and I'm not sure of it's use??? A bowling alley or something like that.
The Blue room also hosts the White House Christmas tree and overlooks the Washington Monument. We enjoyed looking out the windows of this room and seeing all the people taking pictures of us. We felt famous! The President and his family often watch the National Fireworks show from a balcony just beyond this room.
The East room. What do you think of that Piano Gran? The East Room is often used for large gatherings, such as bill-signing ceremonies, press conferences and after-dinner entertainment venues. Given to the White House in 1938 by the manufacturer, the Steinway grand piano features gilt American eagle supports and gilt stenciling. We could just hear the music and picture people dancing in this room
The Green room. President Jefferson used this room as his personal dining room. It is used today for meals sometimes but is used more often as a meeting room for special guests.
We also got to peek into the Vermeil Room, the Library (which Shayna liked) and the China room. If you would like to read more about those rooms or others follow this link:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/whtour/photoessay/china.html
Use the search tool in the upper right to search for other rooms.
Leave it to our boys to find something that ties in to baseball! One of the first pictures we saw when we entered the White House was of kids playing baseball on the South Lawn. It turns out that President Bush being the baseball fan that he is, initiated "Tee-Ball on the South Lawn" in 2000. They have been playing Tee-Ball at the White House every since.
We just missed this year's opening day on the South Lawn. Yesterday! Too bad our tour wasn't yesterday! The picture above is President Bush, the First Lady, a handful of Hall of Fame Major Leaguers and four All-Star teams from around the country. There was one representative from each of the 50 States. 
President Bush and Hall of Famer Frank Robinson receive the honorary first ball from a Challenger Division Tee-Baller! Time to "Play Ball!"
Any country Music fans out there? That guy in the blue with the ugly hat... Kenny Chesney. G.W. Bush and Frank Robinson in the background. You can't help but smile when you watch a tee-ball game.
Chesney and the President sang "Take me out to the ball game" and unveiled a postage stamp commemorating the centennial of the the song.
Our boys are hoping they can be a representative for the West in next years game!
- There are 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, and 6 levels in the Residence. There are also 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases, and 3 elevators.
- At various times in history, the White House has been known as the "President's Palace," the "President's House," and the "Executive Mansion." President Theodore Roosevelt officially gave the White House its current name in 1901.
- Presidential Firsts while in office... President James Polk (1845-49) was the first President to have his photograph taken... President Theodore Roosevelt (1901-09) was not only the first President to ride in an automobile, but also the first President to travel outside the country when he visited Panama... President Franklin Roosevelt (1933-45) was the first President to ride in an airplane.
- With five full-time chefs, the White House kitchen is able to serve dinner to as many as 140 guests and hors d'oeuvres to more than 1,000.
-The White House requires 570 gallons of paint to cover its outside surface.
- For recreation, the White House has a variety of facilities available to its residents, including a tennis court, jogging track, swimming pool, movie theater, and bowling lane.
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1 comment:
isnt that a mariner hat that Kenny is wearing? it kinda looks like it to me? If it is... why is it ugly and have you completely snubbed us out here and turned into and east coast snob?(: i will always love you. i cant wait to hear about the amish.
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