As part of the recent restoration of the Memorial Continental Hall Banquet Hall at DAR Headquarters, we undertook a complete rebuilding of the roof terrace stairs. The roof terrace stairs have been part of the original design since Memorial Continental Hall opened in 1910. DAR members used the terrace to host tea parties and other functions. The original roof terrace stairs can be seen in this 1911 photo of the room. Made from cast and wrought iron, they featured a central landing with steps on either side. These stairs were removed in the 1960s.
In the 1990s, carpenters installed a new wooden staircase based on the original configuration. Time took its toll on the replacement staircase which had begun to fall apart. Treads split, the railing became loose and various decorative elements started to come off. Also, the railing’s height did not comply with building code. The National Board decided to have a new set of stairs constructed.