Officially known as the Naval Support Facility Thurmont as it is technically a military installation, Camp David is also the retreat place for U.S. presidents. Its construction lasted from 1935 until 1938 and was originally intended to be a camp for federal government agents and their families. In 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt declared it a presidential retreat spot and even renamed it “Shangri-La” (after the fictional Himalayan paradise in the novel Lost Horizon by James Hilton). Camp David later received its present name from Dwight D. Eisenhower, who renamed the camp after his father and grandson, both named David. The country home is fully equipped with a swimming pool, gym, and even an aircraft hanger.
While people know that Camp David is “somewhere within Catoctin Mountain Park in Maryland,” maps are not allowed to show the camp’s exact location for safety reasons. Similar to Area 51 where only authorized personnel are allowed on the premises. Camp David is widely known to be the place where you can find the President’s when the pressures of running the free world become too burdensome, yet conspiracy theorists have other theories about what really goes on there.
An Obligation to Preserve History
You could say that living in the White House is kind of like living in a museum. Especially with all of the "do not touch" stuff everywhere. When the First Families move in they are encouraged to make their new living space feel like home but at the same time, they are obligated to preserve the special collections inside the White House...such as the famous grand piano, sculptures and various signature artworks that decorate its walls.
There are even certain rooms that the first family is not allowed entry. There’s also a White House curator that's in charge of making sure each first family cares for the house's treasures, and the younger the first children are, the more that they are watched but most importantly they are taught very early on that they need to respect the history.
Utilities are on the House
While living in the white house, the first family isn't responsible for paying the utility bills but they are; however; unlike what most people believe, they don’t just live off the taxpayer’s dollars. They are responsible for financing their food, toiletries, dry cleaning, and other personal items and services like the average American.
So as the old saying goes, "there’s no such things as a free lunch", not even for the First Family. Fun fact: the White House kitchen staff has its own official Instagram page, just in case you're curious about what they’re cooking for the White House staff and the First Family.
Air Force One
Air Force One is the official air traffic control name for the United States Air Force aircraft that is carrying the President and his family. The idea of designating specific military aircraft to transport the First Family arose in 1943 when officials became concerned about using commercial airlines for presidential travel. Since the 90s, the presidential fleet has consisted of two Boeing VC-25As and Boeing 747-200B aircraft and the Air Force plans to buy two Boeing 747-8s to become the next Air Force Ones.
The Air Force One's 4,000 square feet of space is fully equipped with a medical operating room, private quarters, and the capacity to feed 100 people at a time. it has been reported that it costs around $200,000 an hour to operate this iconic aircraft. Every president since Roosevelt has flown on dedicated presidential airplanes, except for John F. Kennedy who was the first president to fly in a jet he preferred.
Marine One
Marine One is the code name for any United States Marine Corps aircraft, usually a helicopter, carrying the President. Today the Marine One is either the rather large Sikorsky VH-3D Sea King or the newer and smaller VH-60N or "White Hawk".
The first use of helicopters for transporting the Commander in Cheif was in 1957 when President Eisenhower traveled on a Bell UH-13J Sioux. He needed a quick way to get to his summer home in Pennsylvania and using the Air Force One would have been extremely impractical considering the short distance. Not to mention there was also no airfield nearby with a paved runway to support fixed-wing aircraft. So, Eisenhower requested an alternative mode of transportation and thus, Marine One was born. Of course it the earlier aircraft lacked all of the "creature comforts" found on its more modern successors, like air conditioning and toilets for in-flight use. It is also equipped with anti-missile systems and ballistic armor. Fun fact: Any Marine Corps aircraft carrying the Vice President has the code name Marine Two, clever, right?