Ahhh…to be a kid in the
WHITE HOUSE
We don’t know Malia and Sasha Obama, plus we really wouldn’t want to bug them right now. But, we do wonder what it would be like to be a kid moving into the most famous house in the United States. So we turned to the trusty old Internet to find out.
My dad is in a boring meeting, and I want to go outside. Where should I go?
Head straight to the South Lawn, shown here http://www.whitehousemuseum.org/model/presidents-park.htm and here http://www.1observatorycircle.com/grounds/south-lawn.htm. You can spalsh in a goldfish pond, climb into a treehouse build by President Carter for his 10-year-old daughter, Amy, or see if your hands are bigger or smaller than Jenna and Barbara Bush, who left their handprints by the pond.
Is the Oval Office really oval?
Yep! You could run around in circles all day, unless you started to bug your dad. Here’s proof: http://www.whitehouse.gov/slideshows/OvalOffice/.
I need to go to the bathroom. Is it easy to find one?
It should be. At http://www.whitehousehistory.org/06/subs/06_b.html you learn that the White House has 132 rooms, including 16 guest rooms and three kitchens. That means that you’ll have your pick from 35 bathrooms. See if you can find one inthis White House virtual tour: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/whitehouse/virtual.html.
I need help with my homework! Do I get special help?
Sorry, you’re probably on your own. Once though, as a 10-year-old White House First Kid, Amy Carter got more than she bargained for when her dad’s Secret Service tried to help. Visit http://sjeds.com/blog/tech_connect/2009/01/21/children-living-in-the-white-house/.
What other cool stuff can I do?
You have a lot of choices. You can take up a new sport, like bowling in the bowling alley or swimming in a pool; or you can play tennis or basketball outside. There’s also a small, private movie theatre with nice, squishy seats. See http://www.1observatorycircle.com/floor0/bowling-alley.htm.
My dad said I could get a dog, but I think he’s changing his mind.
Remind him that Caroline Kennedy got her won pony, plus there have been all kinds of family pets in the White House over the years, including dogs, cats, goats, alligators, snakes and birds. See the list at http://www.presidentialpetmuseum.com/whitehousepets-1.htm.
I’m taking piano lessons and need to practice. Is there a piano?
You’re in luck! There are many pianos to try, including a black grand piano upstairs, played by richard Nixon, plus a 938 Stienway, downstairs in the East Room with FANCY carved wooden legs. Have a closer look, here: http://www.whitehousemuseum.org/furnishings/piano.htm.
