White House is the official residence of the president of the United States. The president lives and works in the world-famous mansion in Washington, D.C. The White House contains the living quarters for the chief executive's family and the offices in which the president and staff members conduct official business of the United States. Some of the most important decisions in history have been made there.
The 132-room White House stands in the middle of a beautifully landscaped 18-acre (7.3-hectare) plot at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The building was popularly known as the White House in the 1800's. However, its official name was first the President's House and then the Executive Mansion until 1901. That year, President Theodore Roosevelt authorized White House as the official title.
The White House is a popular tourist attraction, and millions of people have enjoyed tours of the parts of the mansion open to the public. Tickets for tours are available through members of Congress.
