Snapshots of the Past

One of the automatic fire escapes on the roof of the White House – Antique Wall Art

One of the automatic fire escapes on the roof of the White House, [between 1909 and 1932] — historic photograph
One of the automatic fire escapes on the roof of the White House, [between 1909 and 1932]. Historic photograph from the Automobiles collection.

(Originally scanned by the Library of Congress. Each image is professionally and digitally cleaned of artifacts such as color bars and extra borders prior to printing.)

Description

This rare historic photograph captures One of the automatic fire escapes on the roof of the White House in remarkable detail. An authentic image from the Library of Congress, it carries the weight of the real historical record.

Choose the framed print, ready to hang the day it arrives, or the unframed print for a frame of your own. It makes a striking addition to a living room, study or office, and a thoughtful gift. Free shipping in the lower 48 states. Snapshots of the Past, founded in 2001, has served tens of thousands of customers worldwide.

One of the automatic fire escapes on the roof of the White House

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The roof of the White House, not its familiar façades, is the focus here: this view shows one of the automatic fire escapes installed there in the early twentieth century, a metal chute that could be released to carry people safely down from the upper floors. Fire safety was a serious concern for government buildings of that era, when many structures were built largely of wood and fires could spread quickly. The National Photo Company produced large numbers of views of Washington landmarks, and this print gives a rare look at the practical, unglamorous equipment that stood behind the mansion's public image.

Created / published[between 1909 and 1932]
Medium1 photographic print.
GenrePhotographic prints 1900-1940.
NotesNo. 25376. Forms part of: National Photo Company Collection (Library of Congress).
SubjectsWhite House (Washington, D.C.)--1900-1940. Fire escapes--Washington (D.C.)--1900-1940.
SourceLibrary of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Original scan4,096 × 3,284 px · prints to 14 × 11 in at 300 dpi
ReferenceAMZ-SOTP-HPA-207264

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