7 THINGS YOU (PROBABLY) DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE
BBC History Revealed|Christmas 2023
Presidential historian Dr Lindsay M Chervinsky reveals some of the most surprising facts about the world-famous US residence
Dr Lindsay M Chervinsky
7 THINGS YOU (PROBABLY) DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE

1 THE WHITE HOUSE WAS PARTIALLY BUILT BY ENSLAVED WORKERS

Construction on the White House began in 1792 on a site in Washington DC selected by the first US president, George Washington. Over the next eight years, a mix of free African-American and white wage labourers, enslaved workers and skilled craftsmen toiled on the project, undertaking duties such as carpentry, stonemasonry and bricklaying.

Some of the enslaved workers were owned by the city commissioners charged with overseeing the project, as well as the building's architect, James Hoban. The vast majority, however, were hired from their owners in Washington DC, Virginia and Maryland, who then pocketed the enslaved people's wages.

Interestingly, many of the construction crews were shuttled back and forth between the White House and the nearby United States Capitol (built between 1793 and 1800), depending on which building site needed labour or had the most available materials at the time.

2 THE BUILDING WAS SET ON FIRE BY BRITISH FORCES

In August 1814, two years into the War of 1812, British forces marched into Washington DC and torched nearly all of the city's public buildings in retaliation for the damage that they had inflicted on York (now Toronto), Canada, the previous year.

Urban legend suggests that a rainstorm arrived and saved the White House from complete destruction. The truth, however, is that the rain actually made the damage worse. While the wet weather saved the surrounding buildings from catching fire, it nearly destroyed the walls of the White House altogether. The stone walls were incredibly hot from the fire and the cold rain caused them to shrink and crack.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der Christmas 2023-Ausgabe von BBC History Revealed.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der Christmas 2023-Ausgabe von BBC History Revealed.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS BBC HISTORY REVEALEDAlle anzeigen
'Dickens's evocation of the fears, excitement and confusion of childhood is peerless'
BBC History Revealed

'Dickens's evocation of the fears, excitement and confusion of childhood is peerless'

DR LEE JACKSON ON WHY CHARLES DICKENS REMAINS RELEVANT TODAY

time-read
2 Minuten  |
Christmas 2023
THE AUTHOR GOES ABROAD
BBC History Revealed

THE AUTHOR GOES ABROAD

Dickens expanded his horizons and boosted his fan-base by venturing overseas - but global fame came with a cost

time-read
4 Minuten  |
Christmas 2023
REVIVING THE FESTIVE SPIRIT
BBC History Revealed

REVIVING THE FESTIVE SPIRIT

A Christmas Carol wasn't just a bestseller - it changed the way that Britons chose to mark the festive season

time-read
3 Minuten  |
Christmas 2023
GIVING THE POOR A VOICE
BBC History Revealed

GIVING THE POOR A VOICE

From Hard Times to Oliver Twist, Charles Dickens used his pen to help illuminate the lives of the less fortunate

time-read
3 Minuten  |
Christmas 2023
A JOURNEY THROUGH DICKENS'S LONDON
BBC History Revealed

A JOURNEY THROUGH DICKENS'S LONDON

The works of Charles Dickens are synonymous with visions of Victorian London. We talk to Dr Lee Jackson about the author's love of the capital, and the locations that most inspired him

time-read
10+ Minuten  |
Christmas 2023
EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS
BBC History Revealed

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS

Dr Lee Jackson chronicles Charles Dickens's journey from down-at-luck teenager to titan of Victorian literature

time-read
6 Minuten  |
Christmas 2023
GIFTS, TREES & FEASTING
BBC History Revealed

GIFTS, TREES & FEASTING

We take a journey through the photo archives to reveal how Christmas and its many traditions have been celebrated over the years - and around the world

time-read
3 Minuten  |
Christmas 2023
WHAT GREAT PAINTINGS SAY
BBC History Revealed

WHAT GREAT PAINTINGS SAY

We explore the story behind an allegorical painting that celebrates the triumph of love over hate, peace over war

time-read
3 Minuten  |
Christmas 2023
HELLISH NELL
BBC History Revealed

HELLISH NELL

Malcolm Gaskill delves into the life of Helen Duncan - the fraudulent Scottish medium whose ectoplasm-filled seances saw her ending up on the wrong side of the law

time-read
6 Minuten  |
Christmas 2023
7 THINGS YOU (PROBABLY) DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE
BBC History Revealed

7 THINGS YOU (PROBABLY) DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE WHITE HOUSE

Presidential historian Dr Lindsay M Chervinsky reveals some of the most surprising facts about the world-famous US residence

time-read
5 Minuten  |
Christmas 2023