WASHINGTON, D.C. (KTIV) -
The White House may be the best-known, and best-protected home in the world. But, it may also be one of the most historic having housed nearly every president for more than 200-years.
Bill Allman, White House Curator, says "This is the East Room. It's the largest room in the house." For 36-years, White House curator Bill Allman has catalogued the collection of art, furniture and decorations used to furnish the White House. He says the East Room was designed for entertaining, and ceremonies... some more unique than others. Bill Allman, White House Curator, says "This has been the location for weddings, funerals, swearing-in ceremony for President Ford, Susan Ford had her high school prom in this room."
The East Room also houses the greatest art object in the house... the portrait of George Washington, painted in 1797. Bill Allman, White House Curator, says "It has hung here continuously since the house opened, except for those periods of construction, and the rather momentous period in 1814 when the British marched into the city of Washington and set fire to the public buildings, including the president's house." First lady Dolly Madison saved it, famously saying... Bill Allman, White House Curator, says "'General Washington wasn't captured in the American Revolution, and he wasn't about to be captured now.'"
Next door... Bill Allman, White House Curator, says "This is the green room." It's the first of three colored parlors on the first floor. Bill Allman, White House Curator, says "They received their names in the early 19th century for the colors of materials in the room, but not the walls."
President Thomas Jefferson ate dinner in the green room, and put a green cloth on the floor to make clean-up easy.
Bill Allman, White House Curator, says "This is the blue room." Painting of past presidents hang on the walls, including that of James Monroe painted by Samuel Morse... Bill Allman, White House Curator, says "...who far preferred to be known as a great portrait painter, rather than the investor of the telegraph and the Morse Code."
But, something else sets it apart. The blue room has bowed walls Bill Allman, White House Curator, says "During events, you stood the bow, and people sort of followed the curve and kept on moving, and you were never backed into a corner." An important feature for any politician.
Bill Allman, White House Curator, says "The red room is the third, and last, of the parlors." The red room sits next to the state dining room, and was often used by first ladies for entertaining. Bill Allman, White House Curator, says "After dinner the ladies would come into this room, and the gentlemen would move onto the green room in an era when it was segregated by sex when it came to where you talked politics, and where you were supposed to have polite conversation."
On the west end of the White House sits the state dining room, which hasn't always looked like this. Bill Allman, White House Curator, says "This room, when President Theodore Roosevelt got done with it, had natural wood paneling... it was very dark. To top it off, Theodore Roosevelt had animal heads hanging around the room. The press said it looked like a German hunting lodge."
On the west wall, above the fireplace hangs a portrait of President Abraham Lincoln done in 1869, after he died. Bill Allman, White House Curator, says "And, by 1939, when Mrs. Robert Todd Lincoln left it to the White House in her will, because the family says this was the best likeness ever done of father."
Five rooms, one floor... and thousands of square feet of American history.
In all, the White House has 132 rooms and 35 bathrooms spread out over six levels. There are also 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases, and 3 elevators.
