The Rising Sun Fall Edition | Page 8

page 5 By Annabel Rackers & JD Robertson 1923 Walt Disney company was founded by Waltz Disney. 1950 The comic strip Peanuts was published. 1983 The first cell phone network was launched in Chicago. 1775 The United States Navy was established. 1792 Construction began on the Whitehouse. 1789 George Washington proclaims the first Thanksgiving Day holiday. Did you know that: • George Washington selected the site for the White House in 1791, but he never lived there. John Adams was the first president to live there because it took seven years to build. • Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson created a contest to see who would design the "President's Palace", an Irish-born architect named James Hoban won. • During the War of 1812, the British set the White house on fire and James Hoban rebuilt it. • There are 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, and 6 levels in the Residence. There are also 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases, and 3 elevators. • At various times in history, the White House has been known as the "President's Palace," the "President's House," and the "Executive Mansion." President Theodore Roosevelt officially gave the White House its current name in 1901. • The White House was originally gray in color, which is the color of the sandstone used to build it. It takes 570 gallons of paint to cover it up.