The building that is home to the Presidents has gone through tremendous changes over the 221 years of its history. The burning by the British in 1814 resulted in the first complete rebuilding of its interior. In 1902 Teddy Roosevelt remodeled the whole ground level to update and "modernize" it. President Coolidge replaced the roof and added to the third floor in 1927. Harry Truman, in the early 1950s, completely gutted and rebuilt the White House because of major structural safety issues.
As a result, very little of the original material, except for the exterior walls, remains in this historic residence. Fortunately, over the years, collectors have preserved and cherished little pieces of history that were once a small part of the President's House and witnessed events
that shaped our nation. Gavels, canes, bricks, nails and other amazing souvenirs made with this material survived and now proudly reside in collections and museums around the country.
Hundreds of photographs and stories document this collection of treasures made from the most recognizable and historic building in this country, if not the entire world.....The White House.
Smith, Wayne: - Wayne Smith is a lifelong collector with a passion for research. He holds a bachelor's degree in U.S. History from the University of Maryland and is the author of White House Renovation Souvenirs. Wayne has spent decades collecting, documenting and writing articles in antiques and collector publications. He is a co-founder of a national collectors group, the Ice Screamers, dedicated to preserving the history of the Soda Fountain. His first book, Ice Cream Dippers, on the historical evolution of the ice cream scoop, is still considered by many collectors to be the standard in the field. Wayne spends way too much time searching for bits and pieces of information that add to the story of a piece in a collection. Preserving the history is his goal. This book has been a work in progress for many, many years and he hopes that it will be informative and useful to anyone who appreciates the history of the White House and its renovation souvenirs.With over 40 years' experience collecting, buying and selling antiques, Wayne has developed a solid sense of the marketplace and is familiar with the venues that offer these types of items. He has tracked their exchanges for many years. He holds memberships in the White House Historical Association, National Trust for Historic Preservation and the American Political Items Collectors (APIC) organizations. He believes that everyone, especially the younger generation, would have a deeper appreciation of history if they had an opportunity to own or be able to hold a small piece of history in their hands.Wayne enjoys and lives life to the fullest because he knows that every day is a treasured gift. Wayne and his family live just outside of Washington, D.C. For more information, please check his website: WhiteHouseRelics.com.
