Culture Imagery

The ghostly photographs of President Truman’s White House renovation

As reported on The Verge.

By Amar Toor

white house renovation

In the late 1940s, then-President Harry S. Truman called for a massive renovation of the White House, which, at 150-years-old, was in dire need of an upgrade. The result was a comprehensive overhaul, as workers completely gutted the interior, leaving only the mansion’s exterior intact. National Journal has compiled some of the most stunning photographs from the project, providing a rare glimpse at one of America’s most iconic buildings in a state of ghostly upheaval. For more images and background information, visit the Truman Library website.