Building the White House

The White House is one of the most iconic buildings in the world. In honour of the anniversary of the commencement of its construction, here are 7 awesome facts about building the residency of the President of the United States:

1. First Cornerstone

   224 years ago (October 13, 1792)- the first cornerstone is laid by George Washington for the construction of the White House

2. Bids

   9 bids were submitted for the project to construct the White House. James Hoban’s proposal was the winner.

3. Time Elapsed

   It took 8 years to complete the construction of the White House, for a grand total cost of $232,272.00.

4. Bathrooms

   The first two water closets were added to the White House by Thomas Jefferson.

5. Rebuild

   After the fire of 1814, the original architect, James Hoban, was hired to rebuild the home.

6. Oval Office

   The Oval Office was including in the expansion of the executive wing in 1909, designed by architect Nathan Wyeth.

7. Concrete Foundation

   A new concrete foundation was poured in 1945.