The Portico underwent a major renovation in ca. 1848 when the columns were sculpted down to the ground and the deck was replaced.  The revised Portico  featured a much narrower set of central steps which replaced a set that spanned the entire length of the Portico in Madison’s time.  The duPonts did not change the apperance of the Portico during their ca. 1901 renovations and so its ca. 1848 appearance survived until the beginning of the 2004 restoration.