Historic buildings

A bulldozer removing debris from the inside of the White House, during the renovation of the building. The bulldozer had to be taken apart and moved into the White House in pieces, as President Harry S. Truman would not allow a hole large enough to fit the bulldozer to be cut into the walls of the White House.

Members of the American Institute of Architects, meeting in Washington, D. C., on visit to the White House, photographed on the North Portico. Renovation work is going on.

West wall from small Bedroom NO. 17 during White House renovation. The wooden joists date from 1815-1818.

View of south front of the White House and the storage building housing special exhibits during visit of members of the Institute of Architects, in convention in Washington, D.C. The renovation work is going on.

View of North Hall of 3rd Floor Corridor from the steps of the Sun Parlor on the south, taken during the renovation of the White House. From the temporary steel beams in the foreground, across the steel beams of the 3rd Floor, tie-rods were installed to hold up the 2nd Floor below.

View of east wall taken from the lobby showing progress in excavating below basement by the Allis Chalmers Cletrac Diesel-powered shovel. This was taken during the renovation of the White House.

Photograph taken from window of Room G-28 on the east side of the White House, during renovation, looking west and showing progress in removing interior walls and floors.

View from first floor corridor to west wall of the State Dining Room. The painted steel beams are permanent while the unpainted ones temporarily support the roof and third floor during the renovation work at the White House.

Closeup of iron wedge driven into the pier west of the main stairs on the second floor to support the weakened brickwork. This was taken during the renovation of the White House.

View of third floor looking east from west end of corridor, during the renovation of the White House. The walls of the rooms on each side of the corridor have been removed leaving only the tile ceiling and structural steel framework.