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Burned White House Painting

Burned White House Painting

Creator: George Munger, c.1814-1815.

The best picture of the burned White House is this watercolor of the North Front. Black soot darkens the exterior, and holes appear where windows were destroyed by the heat. The s-shaped rod on the top of the White House is a metallic conductor that circled around the roof for protection from lightning strikes.

Credit
White House Historical Association (White House Collection)