1. The reconstructed 16-sided treading barn was built on an area of land that in the 18th century was primarily a swamp. George Washington once referred to the area as hell hole. The land was filled in the early 20th century. Here you see the site of the barn prior to construction in early 1995.

2. In January-February of 1995 construction began. To start, 49 hollow steel piles were driven approximately 40 feet into the ground in order to anchor the barn's foundation.

3. The heads of the pilings were embedded in reinforced concrete in order to provide a strong foundation. Unlike Washington, who did not use concrete, it was necessary to use this 20th-century innovation to stabilize a structure that was being built on what is essentially land fill.

4. Using hand-made brick, some of which were manufactured at Mount Vernon, the first floor walls were constructed. Like Washington's design, the bricks were laid in English bond style.

5. Next the frame for the 2nd floor, which included the treading area, was added. Craftsman used 18th-century techniques and tools to accurately shape the timbers to Washington's specifications.

6. Here the frame walls for the 2nd floor are being constructed.

7. Next, 20-foot posts for the inner octagon, which was designed to support the roof, were constructed.

8. One of the last steps was the construction of the framework for the roof. Here you see nailers, or strips of wood, on which the cypress shingles were laid. The roof holds 10,000 3-foot shingles.

9. The reconstruction of George Washington's innovative 16-sided treading barn was completed in September, 1996 and is now open daily for visitors to enjoy.