State Dining Room

George PA Healy's 1869 portrait of Abraham Lincoln has occupied a place of honor over the fireplace for many years The President's Dining Room The State Dining Room, which now seats as many as 140 guests, was originally much smaller and served at various times as a drawing room, office, and Cabinet room. Not until the Andrew Jackson administration was it called the "State Dining Room," although it had been used for formal dinners by previous presidents. The room is expanded from its original size and is now a little less than 49 feet by 36 feet. During the Eisenhower administration, Mamie Eisenhower regularly decorated the State Dining Room for each holiday, including Halloween skeletons, witches, jack-o'-lanterns, and stalks of corn, and St. Patrick's Day leprechauns, shamrocks, and green ribbon. History As the nation grew, so did the invitation list to official functions at the White House. The room that was once Jefferson's library and office became a dining room (and, at times, a billiards room) for state dinners so that the East Room could remain clear for an accompanying reception. It originally had one fireplace on the east wall, but when the house was rebuilt after the 1814 fire, a second fireplace was added on the west wall, which required that the two west windows be blocked, although new windows were eventually cut to open the space to the conservatories. During the renovation of 1902 by architects McKim, Mead, & White, the room size was enlarged after the main stairway from the west end of the Cross Hall was removed. The two Italian marble mantels installed by Monroe were moved to the Red and Green Rooms; a single larger fireplace was constructed on the west wall and the original window spaces repaired. The architecture of the room was modeled after that of neoclassical English houses of the late 18th century. Below a new ceiling and a cornice of white plaster, natural oak wall paneling with Corinthian pilasters and a delicately carved frieze was installed. A silver-plate chandelier and complementing wall sconces were added. During the Truman reconstruction, the 1902 mantel was replaced with a green marble mantel. The 1902 mantel was restored during the Kennedy renovation and includes the inscription placed there by Franklin Roosevelt, from a letter by John Adams to his wife written immediately after he first moved into the house in 1800:   TR's 1902 renovation inspired one cartoonist to poke fun at the State Dining Room's wildlife decor I pray Heaven to bestow the best of blessings on this House, and all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof. Furnishings When not set for a state dinner, the mahogany dining table, surrounded by Queen Anne-style chairs, displays part of Monroe's gilt service purchased from France in 1817. The ornamental bronze-doré pieces are used today as table decorations. The plateau centerpiece, with seven mirrored sections, measures 14 feet 6 inches in length when fully extended. Standing bacchantes holding wreaths for tiny bowls or candles border the plateau. Three fruit baskets, supported by female figures, may be used to hold flowers. The two rococo-revival candelabra date from the Hayes administration. Three console tables with eagle supports, made by the AH Davenport Co. of Boston, stand against the walls.

More Images

The State Dining Room in 2006 (White House)

The State Dining Room in 2006, looking northwest into the Butler's Pantry (Spificwoman13)

The State Dining Room in 2005, at Christmastime

President Bush poses with the Northwestern U women's lacrosse team in 2005; this photo caused a stir in the press
when reporters noticed that some of the girls were wearing flip flops rather than proper footwear (White House | David Bohrer)

The State Dining Room, circa 2004, looking southwest (White House)

The State Dining Room in 2001, at Christmastime (Wasylik)

The State Dining Room, circa 2001, looking northwest (Evan Wagner)

The State Dining Room, circa 1996 (Clinton Library)

The State Dining Room, circa 1997 (Lura)

The State Dining Room in 1992, looking northeast (HABS)

The State Dining Room in 1992, looking northwest (HABS)

The State Dining Room around 1991, looking southwest (White House Historical Association)

A state dinner in 1985, looking northwest (Reagan Library)

The room in 1977 (White House Historical Association)

The Carters hosting a dinner in 1977;
note the restored mantel (NARA - Carter Library)

Lyndon Johnson at a dinner for Haile Selassie in 1967 (Johnson Library)

The room after the Kennedy renovation in 1962;
note the copy of the McKim mantel (done in marble instead of gray stone) (Kennedy Library)

The Eisenhowers holding Christmas dinner in 1960 (Eisenhower Library)

The Eisenhower State Dining Room, circa 1960 (Eisenhower Library (National Geographic) | T Abercrombie & J Fletcher)

Skeletons and Jack-o'-lanterns for Halloween in the State Dining Room in 1954 (Eisenhower Library)

The State Dining Room in 1954, looking northwest (Truman Library - Abbie Rowe)

The State Dining Room in 1952, looking southwest;
note the green marble mantel (Truman Library - Report of the CREM)

State Dining Room, circa 1948, before the Truman reconstruction (Library of Congress - Theodor Horydczak)

State Dining Room, circa 1948, before the Truman reconstruction (Library of Congress)

The State Dining Room fireplace in 1948, with 1902 mantel, before reconstruction (Truman Library - Abbie Rowe)

Eleanor Roosevelt in the State Dining Room with high school students in 1942;
at the time, the White House was being prepared for air raids (Library of Congress)

William Howard Taft's State Dining Room, still with moose head, circa 1910 (Library of Congress)

Hand-tinted photo of Theodore Roosevelt's State Dining Room, complete with moose head, circa 1904 (Library of Congress - Frances Benjamin Johnston)

Detail of part of Theodore Roosevelt's mounted menagerie, circa 1904 (Library of Congress - Frances Benjamin Johnston)

North wall of Theodore Roosevelt's State Dining Room, after the expansion, circa 1904 (Library of Congress - Frances Benjamin Johnston)

Grover Cleveland's State Dining Room in 1890, looking northwest (Library of Congress - Frances Benjamin Johnston)

The old west staircase before the remodeling under Theodore Roosevelt, looking west, circa 1890

The old west staircase before the remodeling under Theodore Roosevelt, looking west, circa 1890

Illustration of a state dinner in 1888 (New York Public Library)

The State Dining Room around 1880 (New York Public Library)

The State Dining Room in 1873

Hand-tinted photo of the State Dining Room [same photo as above] (New York Public Library)

The State Dining Room around 1867; note the windows blocked up (New York Public Library)

The James Polk Cabinet in the old State Dining Room around 1843;
this is the first known photograph of a president's Cabinet (Secretary of State and future President James Buchanan is absent)
and the first known photograph taken inside the White House (Library of Congress)