• Scars from the Fire of 1814 on Stonework
    Erik Kvalsvik
    White House
    east view
    renovation
    War of 1812
    This photograph of burn marks on the White House stonework was taken by Erik Kvalsvik in 1990, during the George H. W. Bush administration. Following a two year report, the White House underwent a renovation that included the removal of approximately 30 layers of paint and took place over 25 years, from 1980 to 1996. This process revealed scarring beneath the paint, sustained when the British burned the White House during the War of 1812.
  • Stone Swag Surrounding the North Entrance
    Erik Kvalsvik
    White House
    north view
    This black and white photograph by Erik Kvalsvik shows the north entrance during a maintenance project. The North Door surround, carved in high relief around the window, is surmounted by a detailed swag carved into two giant stones, a total of twelve feet in length. The carving above the door includes roses and a stylized garland of American white oak leaves and acorns, a theme repeated in the transom, along with more conventional acanthus leaves, griffins, and classical flowers. The photograph was taken during Ronald Reagan's presidency (1981-1989).
  • North Portico Ionic Column Carved by Italian Francisco Jardella and Stripped of Paint
    Richard Cheek
    North Portico
    This color photograph by Richard Creek shows the North Portico without paint while undergoing maintenance. It was taken during Ronald Reagan's presidency (1981-1989).
  • Window Ornament, Detail
    Bruce White
    North Portico
    This detail photograph by Bruce White shows a portion of the window ornament on the North Portico. Carved acanthus leaves support the ledge and a portion of the Grecian chain is visible. The bottom of the foremost window is unpainted showing the Aquia Creek sandstone underneath.
  • Windows, Detail
    Bruce White
    north view
    North Portico
    This photograph is of the exterior windows on the North facade of the White House. The windows have alternating triangular or arched pediments and ornamental features such as guillouche or braiding and acanthus leaves. The bottom of the foremost window is unpainted showing the Aquia Creek sandstone underneath.
  • Window Ornament, North Portico
    Bruce White
    North Portico
    This photograph by Bruce White shows the ornamental details beneath a window on the North Portico. Between supports of carved acanthus leaves there is a Grecian chain, also known as a guilloche border. The bottom of the foremost window is unpainted showing the Aquia Creek sandstone underneath.
  • Preserved Sycamore Roots
    Unknown
    south grounds
    This photograph of preserved roots from a sycamore tree was taken in 1950. The roots were spared from a newly dug utility ditch. The White House Grounds are an arboretum, and the trees are exceptionally well cared for. These roots can be used as grafts to grow a new, identical sycamore tree.
  • Seneca Quarry
    Martin Radigan
    quarry
    This photograph by Martin Radigan shows what remains of the Seneca Quarry, from which early stone for the White House was sourced. It was located in Maryland near the Potomac River where the stone could be easily transported back to the capital.
  • Seneca Quarry
    Martin Radigan
    quarry
    This photograph by Martin Radigan shows what remains of the Seneca Quarry, from which early stone for the White House was sourced. It was located in Maryland near the Potomac River where the stone could be easily transported back to the capital.
  • Split Outcroppings in Aquia Quarry
    Martin Radigan
    quarry 
    This photograph shows where craftsmen split and harvested the stone from the natural outcroppings in Aquia quarry on Government Island for building materials. After splitting the stones the craftsmen would evaluate their quality deciding whether to discard the stones or send them to the building site. In 1791, the federal government purchased Wiggington’s Island, now Government Island, to provide stone to build the President’s House and the United States Capitol. From 1791 through the 1820s extensive quantities of freestone were extracted from this site.
  • Split Outcroppings in Aquia Quarry
    Martin Radigan
    quarry 
    This photograph shows where craftsmen split and harvested the stone from the natural outcroppings in Aquia quarry on Government Island for building materials. After splitting the stones the craftsmen would evaluate their quality deciding whether to discard the stones or send them to the building site. In 1791, the federal government purchased Wiggington’s Island, now Government Island, to provide stone to build the President’s House and the United States Capitol. From 1791 through the 1820s extensive quantities of freestone were extracted from this site.
  • Discarded Stone at Aquia Quarry
    Martin Radigan
    quarry 
    This photograph is of the unused stone at Aquia quarry. The stones bear the chisel marks from splitting and smoothing indicating they were being prepared for transport, but ultimately abandoned for some physical defect. In 1791, the federal government purchased Wiggington’s Island, now Government Island, to provide stone to build the President’s House and the United States Capitol. From 1791 through the 1820s extensive quantities of freestone were extracted from this site.
  • Discarded Stone at Aquia Quarry
    Martin Radigan
    quarry 
    This photograph is of the unused stone at Aquia quarry. The stones bear the chisel marks from splitting and smoothing indicating they were being prepared for transport, but ultimately abandoned for some physical defect. In 1791, the federal government purchased Wiggington’s Island, now Government Island, to provide stone to build the President’s House and the United States Capitol. From 1791 through the 1820s extensive quantities of freestone were extracted from this site.
  • Lichen-Covered Stone, Government Island
    Martin Radigan
    quarry
    This photograph was taken on Government Island in Stafford, Virginia. The federal government purchased the island, then known as Wiggington's Island, in 1791. The island served as a quarry for the freestone that was used to build the President's House and the United States Capitol Building. Extensive amounts of freestone were extracted from 1791 to the 1820s. In this photograph is natural stone that had been successfully split by the quarrymen but left behind, likely due to physical imperfections. Bright green lichen has covered the stone over the years.
  • Quarry-Face Stone, Government Island
    Martin Radigan
    quarry
    This photograph was taken on Government Island in Stafford, Virginia. The federal government purchased the island, then known as Wiggington's Island, in 1791. The island served as a quarry for the freestone that was used to build the President's House and the United States Capitol Building. Extensive amounts of freestone were extracted from 1791 to the 1820s. This photograph captures a "quarry-face," or the trimming of a stone with a chisel. Stonemasons would trim each of the six faces of a stone before the stone was cut into even smaller blocks. The forward facing side of the block would then be smoothed while the remaining five faces, unexposed and unseen in the walls of the building, were left rough.
  • Quarry Outcropping, Government Island
    Martin Radigan
    quarry
    This photograph was taken on Government Island in Stafford, Virginia. The federal government purchased the island, then known as Wiggington's Island, in 1791. The island served as a quarry for the freestone that was used to build the President's House and the United States Capitol Building. Extensive amounts of freestone were extracted from 1791 to the 1820s. This photograph captures the remnants of an outcropping overtaken by growth and invasive tree roots. Quarrymen likely split off the better stone from this outcropping and left the remaining due to the recesses and holes, which meant the stone was too weak for construction. The stone also shows visible signs of chisel and tool marks.
  • Aquia Creek, Government Island
    Martin Radigan
    quarry
    This photograph is of Aquia Creek near Government Island in Stafford, Virginia. The federal government purchased the island, then known as Wiggington's Island, in 1791. The island served as a quarry for the freestone that was used to build the President's House and the United States Capitol Building. Extensive amounts of freestone were extracted from 1791 to the 1820s. Stone extracted was then transported to Washington, D.C. via Aquia Creek and the Potomac River.
  • Aquia Quarry on Government Island
    Martin Radigan
    quarry 
    This photograph is of the stone quarry on the shores of Aquia Creek. In 1791, the federal government purchased Wiggington’s Island, now Government Island, to provide stone to build the President’s House and the United States Capitol Building. From 1791 through the 1820s extensive quantities of freestone were extracted from this site.
  • Robert Steuart Boundary Marker, Government Island
    Martin Radigan
    quarry
    This photograph was taken on Government Island in Stafford, Virginia. The federal government acquired all but one acre of the island, then known as Wiggington's Island, in 1791. The island served as a quarry for the freestone that was used to build the President's House and the United States Capitol Building. Extensive amounts of freestone were extracted from 1791 to the 1820s. In this photograph, the mark of stonemason Robert Steuart of Baltimore, Maryland, who purchased the remaining one acre in 1786, is seen on this boundary marker with the initials, "R.S."
  • Discarded Stone at Aquia Quarry
    Martin Radigan
    quarry 
    This photograph is of one of the unused stones at Aquia quarry on Government Island. The stones bear the chisel marks from splitting and smoothing indicating they were being prepared for transport, but ultimately abandoned because of some physical defect. In 1791, the federal government purchased Wiggington’s Island, now Government Island, to provide stone to build the President’s House and the United States Capitol Building. From 1791 through the 1820s extensive quantities of freestone were extracted from this site.
  • South Portico, Wrapped for Paint Removal
    Jack E. Boucher
    renovation
    south view
    This photograph taken by Jack E. Boucher shows the South Portico of the White House protectively wrapped as 40 layers of paint are removed. The paint had become so thick as to obscure the craftsmanship of the original stone carvers. The entrance to the house remains open for continued use.
  • Cleaning the South Portico
    Erik Kvalsvik
    South Portico
    south view
    This photograph by Erik Kvalsvik shows the stone of the South Portico stripped of paint during a conservation endeavor. The reddish stone comes from the Seneca quarry, which James Hoban deemed acceptable for base of the South Portico instead of the whiter stone from the Aquia quarry that was used for the columns.
  • East Wing & South Portico, Truman Renovation
    Abbie Rowe
    renovation
    east view
    This photograph by Abbie Rowe was taken during the Truman renovation of the White House. Between 1948 and 1952, the White House was gutted and the interior was completely reconstructed. The facade remained intact during construction.
  • White House Stonemasons' Bankers-Marks
    Jack E. Boucher
    renovation
    Ground Floor
    This photograph captures bankers-marks found engraved on the sandstones of the White House walls. Bankers-marks were a stonemason tradition with origins in Scotland and England. The first stonemason hired for White House construction, Collen Williamson, was a Scot who likely continued to enforce this tradition while working on the Executive Mansion. Historically, the marks represented apprentices upon the completion of their training and were derived from the marks of their teachers. The marks also indicated that a stonemasons' work was paid for by "measurement," not wages. The marks on the White House stones were uncovered during President Harry S. Truman's renovation of the Executive Mansion from 1948-1952. President Truman gave a number of the stones to Masonic Lodges across the country while some remained in the White House. Several of these marks were displayed in two reconstructed fireplaces on the Ground Floor.
  • Truman Renovation Souvenirs
    Abbie Rowe
    renovation
    This photograph by Abbie Rowe of the National Park Service shows eight selections of souvenirs created from remnants of the White House renovation ordered by President Harry S. Truman. This display was illustrated in the official Report of the Commission on the Renovation of the Executive Mansion. These souvenirs included paperweights made of nails and small fragments embedded in plastic, which were available to members of Congress. After the program for distributing mementos was approved, a full 13-kit display was prepared for exhibit to Congress.