Page 114 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Washington, DC

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Exploring the White House
The Blue Room
The rooms in the White House are beautifully decorated President James Monroe
in period styles and filled with valuable antique furniture, chose the French Empire-style
china, and silverware. Hanging on their walls are some of decor for this magnificent,
America’s most treasured paintings, including portraits oval-shaped room in 1817.
The Classically inspired furniture
of past presidents and first ladies. Those not lucky enough and accompanying motifs, such
to be granted permission to tour the White House can as urns, acanthus leaves, and
experience a virtual tour at the White House Visitor Center. imperial eagles, typify the
style. The settee and seven
chairs were created by
crafted by English Regency Parisian cabinetmaker,
The Library
silver smith Paul Storr (1771– Pierre-Antoine Bellangé.
Originally used as a laundry 1836) and French Empire A portrait of Thomas Jefferson
area, this room was turned into silversmith Jean-Baptist by Rembrandt Peale, dating
a “gentleman’s ante-room” at the Claude Odiot (1763–1850). from 1800, hangs in this elegant
request of President Theodore The collection was bequeathed room, along with a portrait of
Roosevelt in 1902. In 1935 it to the White House in 1958 by President John Adams, painted
was remodeled into a library. Margaret Thompson Biddle. in 1793 by artist John Trumball.
Furnished in 1962 in the style Several portraits of first ladies The Blue Room has always been
of the late Federal period hang on the walls: Elizabeth used as a reception room, except
(1800–1820), the library was Shoumatoff’s painting of for a brief period during the
redecorated in 1962, and then Claudia (Lady Bird) Johnson, John Adams administration.
again in 1976. It had its latest Aaron Shikler’s portrait of
update in 2006 when it was Jacqueline Kennedy in her The Red Room
painted in classic cream and New York apartment, and an
red tones. Today, it is often unusual painting of Eleanor This room was decorated in
used for media tapings. Roosevelt, caught in various the Empire style by Jacqueline
Portraits of four Native moods, by Douglas Chandor. Kennedy in 1962 and was
American chiefs, painted by Also on display are portraits of refurbished in 1971, and
Charles Bird King, are displayed Lou Hoover, Mamie Eisenhower, again in 2000. Much of the
in the library. The chandelier and Pat Nixon. wooden furniture in the room,
was crafted in the early 1800s including the beautiful inlaid
and was originally owned by round table, was created by
the family of James Fenimore The China Room cabinetmaker Charles-Honoré
Cooper, author of The Last Edith Wilson created this room Lannuier in his New York
of the Mohicans. in 1917 to display examples workshop. Above the mantel
of tableware used in the White hangs a portrait of Angelica
House. Today it is used as a Singleton Van Buren, the
The Vermeil Room reception room. The rich red daughter-in-law of President
The Vermeil Room is named color scheme is suggested by Martin Van Buren, which was
after the collection of vermeil, the stunning portrait of Grace painted by Henry Inman in
or gilded silver, that is on display Coolidge, painted in 1924 by 1842. The room is used as a
in the cabinets. On show are Howard Chandler Christy. The parlor or sitting room; it has
18th-, 19th-, and 20th-century Indo-Isfahan rug dates from also been used for small
tableware, including pieces the early 20th century. dinner parties.
The State Dining Room
As a result of the growing
nation and its international
standing, the size of official
dinners in the White House
increased. Finally in 1902 the
architects McKim, Mead, and
White were called in to enlarge
the State Dining Room. The
plaster and paneling was
modeled on the style of
18th-century Neo-Classical
English houses. The mahogany
dining table was created in
The red and cream color scheme of the China Room 1997. The pieces of French

112-113_EW_Washington.indd 112 04/04/17 2:39 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2)
Date 14th November 2012
Size 125mm x 217mm