Wayne Branch, age 10, of Dendron, Va., for his question:

HOW DID THE WHITE HOUSE GET ITS NAME?

In the original plans, the White House in Washington, D.C., was called the palace. It is Washington's oldest public building and it was built of gray Virginia freestone.

The building was restored in 1814 after being burned by the British and the smoke stained walls were painted white. But contrary to the popular myth, the nickname "White House" had been applied to the president's official home some time before it was painted white. The name was given because people thought it sounded dignified and proper and auspicious.

When a person is elected president of the United States and he/she  moves into the 132 room White House that was at first officially called the President's House and then the Executive Mansion. In 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt authorized White House as the official title.