Ohio Valley business creates miniature replicas for White House Historical Association

WHEELING, W.Va. (WTRF) — One Wheeling business, Unique Miniatures, produces resin-cut architectural items, mostly for doll houses.

In the spring, they got an order for replicas of items from a particular house.

They soon learned that house was the White House!

The client was the White House Historical Association.

So they made 47 pieces, and they’re all part of a replica of the White House.

“Our pieces will live within a permanent exhibit of The People’s House, which is a gallery a block down from the White House, 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue. And it will teach the public about the history of the White house and its inhabitants and folks who have worked there.”

Wendy Barbeau, Owner, Unique Miniatures

Each of the pieces that were made were for backdrops for telling the larger story throughout the history of the White House through LED screens and like holograms that will show historical conversations that will relate events like when there was a fire in the White House.”

Kate Marshall, Executive Director Mother Jones Center

This project was over several months from the cool days until the hot days of summer. The heat affects the resin, causing it to warp or bend. We had to deal with it. It took time but we learned the process as we went through.”

Amanda Donaldson, General Manager, Unique Miniatures

Unique Miniatures is a second-chance employer.

Many of the artists on this project were hired through the Mother Jones Center in Wheeling.

The finished project is up and running in Washington.

To see it, search online for White House 360 Virtual Tour.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTRF.