Discover the Top 10 Secrets That Few People Know About the White House
Are you curious to know more about the secrets and unknown aspects of the White House in Washington, D.C.? As one of the most impressive and significant landmarks of the United States, the White House holds a wealth of hidden facts and mysteries that only a few people are aware of. From hidden rooms to paranormal activities, here are the top 10 secrets that you didn’t know about the White House:
A Secret Tunnel
It may come as a surprise, but the White House has a top-secret underground tunnel connecting it to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. The tunnel goes through a narrow and dimly lit maze of offices, however, no one except top White House officials are allowed to use it.
The Lincoln Bedroom
Probably the most famous room in the White House, the Lincoln Bedroom, which is located on the second floor, is steeped in history and mystery. It is said to be one of the most haunted rooms in the building, with people reporting ghostly visitations from Abraham Lincoln himself!
A Boeing 747 in the Garden
On September 12, 2001, right after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, a Boeing 747 aircraft landed on the south lawn of the White House without a warning. The plane contained senior personnel and members of the administration, reports say.
A Silent Helper
Congratulating Presidents, talking to foreign dignitaries or communicating every news that pops, it is the White House phone operator who connects them. The phone operator has served every president since FDR, knows every White House secret and purveys the news–good or bad–from around the world.
A Haunted Oval
The Oval Office, where the President works, is said to be haunted by some eerie sounds. Harry Truman was the first President to hear the sounds, and since then every President has reportedly heard strange and unaccountable sounds inside the room!
Reporting Departures and Arrivals
When the President travels by airplane, the operator sits in a special room in the Map room and reports the movement of Air Force One every ten seconds. In contrast, when the President’s helicopter arrives and departs from the south lawn, a special manhole cover is secretly opened for the copter’s exhaust
A Personal Chef
Every First Family in the history of the White House has had its own personal chef to create home cooked goodness. Mostly wanting simplicity, family personal chefs prepare healthy and child-friendly meals, keeping everyone in shape.
White House Bowling Alley
The North Portico carried some weight prior to Truman’s eight-year term. In 1947 Truman let go of old the old and spooky entrance’s six white columns, but pleased bowling enthusiasts nationwide with the addition of two lanes underneath the West Wing where President Nixon is often found tackling strikes and spares.
A Valued Family Pet
Especially popular during the World War I era, when soldiers often brought over bulldogs, White Houses welcomed Spot, the Bush family’s pet Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Most popular White house, Barns’ pet Longhorn cattle, or Franklin D. Roosevelt and Truman’s dog, Fala.
The Nixon Tapes
Starting in February of 1971, former President Richard Nixon installed a telephone recording system in his office that would monitor all conversations. Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon wielded great authority over the invasion and ultimately went on display to interested guests after became an activity in history.
Now you can explore and marvel more at the White House’s unique history features. It’s no doubt home of many country-born leaders and their administrations, but above all else it rests with mysteries far too elegant to list. Trust us when we tell you that a search of questions asked far and wide would feel show you very little of the valuable insights the White House is home to.