the white house

[bonsaimaster]

why is it called the white house apart from it being white

[Clanad]

Wikipedia says: The building was originally referred to as the Presidential Palace or Presidential Mansion. Dolley Madison called it the "President's Castle." However, by 1811 the first evidence of the public calling it the "White House" emerged, because of its white-painted stone exterior. The name Executive Mansion was often used in official context until President Theodore Roosevelt established the formal name by having "The White House" engraved on his stationery in 1901...

[SeaJayPea]

I believe it was first painted white to cover up the damage done when British troops set fire to it in the war of 1812.

[Booldawg]

to recap: its called the white house because its white.

[shammydodger]

The White House was whitewashed by stonemasons in 1798 to protect the walls. British troops set fire to it on August 25th 1814, burning it to a charred ruin. It is likely, therefore, that it was colloquially known as the White House prior to the war of 1812 and that more than a mere paint job was required after the British infidel did their nasty deed.