The building was originally variously referred to as the "President 's Palace '', "Presidential Mansion '', or "President 's House ''. The earliest evidence of the public calling it the "White House '' was recorded in 1811. A myth emerged that during the rebuilding of the structure after the Burning of Washington, white paint was applied to mask the burn damage it had suffered, giving the building its namesake hue. The name "Executive Mansion '' was used in official contexts until President Theodore Roosevelt established the formal name by having "White House -- Washington '' engraved on the stationery in 1901. The current letterhead wording and arrangement "The White House '' with the word "Washington '' centered beneath goes back to the administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt.
when was the white house called the white house
1901