White House Under Repair: Upgrades Small Compared To Past Renovations

WASHINGTON, DC — As one of the most iconic buildings in the world and the epicenter of American politics, the White House has gone through its fair share of wear and tear over the decades. President Trump has left the nation's capital this week to spend time in Bedminster, New Jersey, at his Trump National Golf Club as the building undergoes necessary renovations, but the present upgrades pale in comparison to the major overhauls in the White House's past.

John Adams was the first president to occupy the White House in 1800, but it wasn't long before it was under construction again. During the War of 1812, British forces set fire to the building, nearly leveling the mansion and leaving it in dire need of repairs. President Theodore Roosevelt added the West Wing in 1902 to accommodate his large family living in the residence. President Harry Truman had the building's interior torn up and entirely rebuilt from scratch; the picture above from 1952 shows Truman and his wife entering the newly refurbished White House. (For more information on this and other political stories, subscribe to the White House Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts.)

Today's repairs are much simpler than many past efforts. They include an upgrade of the building's heating system, patching up a leaky ceiling, repainting and fixes to the steps on the south lawn. These repairs were approved under the Obama administration.

For more about the history of the building, watch the video below:

Photo credit: Abbie Rowe, 1905-1967