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The Diplomatic Reception Room serves as an entrance to the White House
from the South Grounds for the family and for ambassadors arriving to present their
credentials to the President. In the past, the area has had diverse uses: as a
boiler and furnace room and as the site of
President Franklin D.
Roosevelt's fireside chats.
Since 1960, the room has been furnished as a drawing room of the
Federal Period (1790-1820)--with many fine examples of the craftsmanship of New
York and New England cabinetmakers. The gold-and-white color scheme was chosen
at that time. A Regency chandelier of cut glass and gilt bronze was added in
1971. The current rug, installed in 1983, was woven specially for the room. Its
border incorporates emblems of the 50 states.
The striking panoramic wallpaper in this room, "Views of North
America," was first printed in 1834 by Jean Zuber et Cie in Rixheim, Alsace.
The complete set of 32 somewhat fanciful scenes, based on engravings of the
1820's, shows American landscapes that were particularly admired by Europeans.
Starting to the left of the doorway from the Ground Floor Corridor are the
Natural Bridge of Virginia, Niagara Falls, New York Bay, West Point, and Boston
Harbor. Wooden blocks were used to print on panels composed of small sheets of
paper.
Blue Room |
China Room |
Entrance and Cross Halls |
Diplomatic Reception Room
East Room |
Green Room |
Library |
Map Room |
Red Room
State Dining Room |
Vermeil Room
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