Random Things You Didn't Know About the White House (14 items)

(#12) The White House Has Its Own Resident Calligraphers

The White House hosts a large number of events each year, ranging from formal state dinners to informal parties on the lawn. To help prepare for these events, the White House relies on a staff of calligraphers, a tradition that dates back to the Lincoln administration. Their sole job is to produce the lettering for items like invitations and hand-written menus.

Due to the secretive nature of some of the information they handle, the lead calligrapher actually has a higher security clearance than other White House staff.
(#11) It Was Once The Largest House In The Nation

When the White House was move-in ready in 1800, it cost $232,372 to build and became the biggest home in the country. The White House would hold onto this title until the middle of the 19th century, when increasingly grander and more opulent private residences were constructed, financed by industrial wealth.

Thomas Jefferson never got accustomed to the size of the building. He once grumbled that the White House was "big enough for two emperors, one pope and the grand lama."
(#2) It Didn't Have Running Water Until 1833

The White House didn't get running water until 1833. At first, it supplied drinking water and pools that could be used to put out fires. The White House sourced its water from the Potomac, and this would become a health issue: Abraham Lincoln's 11-year-old son Willie succumbed to typhoid, likely after drinking contaminated water from the river. Similarly, William Henry Harrison may have passed after consuming unclean water.

Running water seems to have been limited to the first floor of the building at first. The White House had to wait another 20 years for its second floor to get running water. Thanks to Franklin Pierce, these additions included hot water.
(#4) Barack Obama Became The First Brewer-In-Chief

Barack Obama apparently became the first brewer-president when he and his team created White House Honey Ale and Honey Porter. To produce the beer, Obama's brewers used honey that was sourced from White House grounds.

No other president may have brewed beer at the White House before Obama, but that doesn't mean he's the only Commander-in-Chief who likes creating his own alcohol. George Washington's enslaved workers brewed beer for him at Mount Vernon, as did Thomas Jefferson's at Monticello.
(#3) Presidential Ghosts Are Said To Haunt The Place

The White House has stood for more than two centuries and has seen more than its fair share of tragedies. So it's not surprising that the building is said to be haunted by a variety of ghosts.

Among the specters that supposedly haunt the White House are presidential ghosts. Illustrious residents and guests like First Lady Grace Coolidge and Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands all claimed that they encountered Abraham Lincoln's ghost. The ghosts of Harry Truman and Andrew Jackson are also believed to haunt the White House.
(#14) Andrew Jackson Once Hosted A Snowball Fight Inside The White House

Andrew Jackson may be remembered for his fiery temper and troubling beliefs, but he was also the host of a legendary party at the White House. For Christmas 1835, he hosted the so-called "children's frolic," which was a chance for young people to celebrate the holiday.

The party didn't just feature the standard dances and games. Children at the party were also treated to an indoor snowball fight, with giant cotton balls replacing actual snow.