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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.