A quick Google search reveals tons of people are asking, “Is the White House in Maryland?” The White House is a special place. It’s the office and residence of the president of the United States of America.
George Washington laid the cornerstone of the White House foundation. Unfortunately, he wasn’t privileged to use it. Why? The White House was still under construction. It took the builders eight years to build the White House.
In this post, we will discuss the White House’s location, and more. Keep reading for more details.
Is The White House In Maryland?
The White House isn’t in Maryland. Besides, it would be unfair to other states to have it in a state for that matter. Building the White House in Maryland would give the state some advantages over others.
The U.S. Capitol’s previous location offers a clear example of how establishing a critical federal government building in a state can give it a massive advantage. The Capitol was previously in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and gave both states a huge advantage over others.
Why Is The White House Situated?
The White House is at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest, Washington, District of Columbia.
Washington, D.C., isn’t part of any state. It is also not a state but a territory. In addition, Washington doesn’t have a state governor, nor will it become a state in the future.
Washington became the nation’s capital shortly after George Washington’s inauguration as the first president of the United States of America. The government at the time wanted a centralized city to make traveling much easier.
Before Washington, Philadelphia, and New York had served as the country’s capital. But Washington D.C. was considered a better choice by the then government.
Washington, D.C., was purpose-built. The plan was to make it a capital city, not one with factories or other commercial industries. The idea was to make it a seat of government, where all activities would be to make the government effective.
Why Do People Think The White House Is In Maryland?
The White House isn’t in Maryland, but there are reasons many believe it is. Firstly, the District of Columbia was formed from portions of two states: Maryland and Virginia. In other words, the District of Columbia’s original boundary included land from the two states.
Arlington Country, Virginia, was part of the D.C. until 1846, when the residents urged the lawmakers to reclaim the land. Thus, the land ceded from Virginia was returned.
Since the land ceded from Virginia was returned, the White House is now on the portion ceded from Maryland.
The debate on the White House’s location and possibly being part of Maryland has been a hot topic for many years. The fact that the District of Columbia doesn’t even have a representative in Congress has been one of the things fueling this debate.
Who Owns The White House
The United States President and family live in the White House. The president’s office is also in the White House. But the thing is, the president doesn’t own the White House.
The White House belongs to the federal government of the United States of America. It is a National Heritage Site owned by the National Park Service. It’s also part of the President’s Park.
Another name for the White House is “The People’s House.” This name indicates the actual owners of the White House, the people of the United States of America.
The president resides in the White House with his family because the people decided so. They can also choose to make the president leave the White House.
How Much Is The White House?
The White House is one of the most expensive properties in the United States and worldwide. It is one of the most iconic and historic buildings in the world.
The White House is quite expensive. According to a 2017 estimate by Zillow, a real-estate firm, the White House is estimated to cost $397.9 million.
Given the uniqueness of the White House, the US-based listing firm may not be too far from the official cost. We’re talking about a property with 35 bathrooms and 132 rooms spread across 6 levels.
Where Did The White House Get Its Name?
The “White House” wasn’t the first name of the United States president’s residence. The names were the Presidential Mansion, President’s House, Presidential Palace, and Executive Mansion.
The White House was also called “The People’s House,” confirming that the people were the most powerful in the land.
Many claim the White House was first painted with white paint. They claim the reason for the painting was to cover the scorch the British soldiers left behind in 1814, which isn’t the case.
It was in 1798 that the White House had its first lime wash. The aim was to ensure the sandstone exterior receives optimal moisture protection and doesn’t crack during the winter freezes.
The White House was a popular name back in the nineteenth century. It was used popularly in periodicals and newspapers throughout the century. But then, most journalists still called it the Executive Mansion, or President’s House.
In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt directed his secretary, George B. Cortelyou, to notify the Secretary of State, John Hay, to change all official documents and others from the “President’s House” to the “White House.”
How Big Is The White House?
The “White House” isn’t just a historic building; it’s the most essential property in the United States of America.
So, how massive is the White House? It features 35 bathrooms spread across 6 different levels. In addition, there are 132 bedrooms.
The White House boasts 412 doors, three elevators, and 6 staircases. It also has 28 fireplaces and dozens of wall paintings.
A popular fun fact about the White House is that it would require as many as 570 paints. Plus, it will take weeks and probably months to paint, depending on the number of people doing the work.
The White House has 16 family and guest rooms and is built on 18 acres of land. The floor area is around 55,000 square feet.
Does The President Live In The White House Alone?
The White House is the official residence of the United States president. The president’s office is also in the White House.
The president and the first lady live in the White House. However, note that the president can decide where he or she wants to live. In other words, the president can decide he or she doesn’t want to live in the White House. There’s nothing anyone can do about it.
The Constitution doesn’t make it mandatory for the United States president to live in the White House. But it recognizes it as the official residence of the president, the first lady, and their family.
A Handy Tip: The United States vice president is a second citizen. However, the vice president doesn’t live in the White House. The official residence of is the Naval Observatory.
How Safe Is The White House?
The White House is one of the world’s most protected government property. And like other highly-secured places, much about the White House’s security protocols isn’t online.
The Security Service understands the gravity of exposing the White House security protocols. That’s why you won’t find much when you Google White House security.
So, how secure is the White House?
Here is a quick rundown:
- There is a White House Secret Service protection division, dubbed the most significant single unit in the Service.
- Snipers on the rooftop of the White House remain there 24/7. The snipers can also hit targets from 1000 yards away.
- Secret Service agents roam the ground of the White House consistently. And there is a special emergency response unit team dedicated to this.
- The Security agency in charge of the White House recently upgraded the fence. The top has spikes, a process developed to deter unmotivated fence jumpers.
- White House security doesn’t speak about the property’s interior security. They instead remain tight-lipped.
Conclusion
Is the White House in Maryland? No, it’s not in Maryland. Maryland is a state. Thus, the White House can’t be in a state. The reason is that it would give the state a massive advantage over others.
The White House is in the District of Columbia, a territory, not a state. The reason most people claim the White House is in Maryland is that it was built on a portion of land ceded from Maryland.
