White House Brick - Authentic Truman Renovation Fragment

A White House Brick From the Truman Reconstruction

This White House brick is a hand-cut fragment recovered when the mansion was rebuilt.

Product Details

• Specimen: Hand-cut brick fragment
• Source: Brick recovered from the 1948-1952 reconstruction
• Size: About 1 x 0.5 x 0.5 cm
• Display: Acrylic jar in glass-topped riker box, 4.5 in x 3.5 in
• Includes: Information card that serves as the certificate of authenticity
• Note: Size and shape vary. Offered again after its debut in the Fourth Edition Mini Museum.

A House Near Collapse

The building was close to collapse, so the Trumans moved to Blair House.

The Truman renovation was really a 1948-1952 reconstruction. Workers gutted the inside and added a steel frame. They dug 22-foot foundations beneath the walls.

Salvage and Souvenirs

Salvage from the project went to a public souvenir program. Salvaged longleaf pine beams from the 1817 construction were reused as interior paneling.

A White House brick fragment is one of those pieces. Browse more history in our Authentic Historical Artifacts.

Display and Care

Keep the brick in its jar and case. Old brick can crumble, so avoid touching the fragment.

About the Executive Mansion

The White House has been home to every U.S. President since John Adams. The reconstruction kept its famous outer walls while replacing its insides. This White House brick fragment holds a piece of that rescue.

For More Reading from the Web

• Read the story of the Truman reconstruction and why it was needed. The Hidden White House: The Truman Renovation - White House Historical Association
• Read the supplier's page on this specimen. Hand-Cut Brick Fragment - Mini Museum