White House Historical Association Provides Resources for State Dining Room Refurbishment

Jun 27, 2015 Washington, D.C. —

The White House Historical Association continued its fifty-four-year mission of supporting the preservation of State and public rooms of the White House with the newly unveiled refurbishment of the State Dining Room today. The $590,000 update was funded entirely by the private nonprofit through its White House Endowment Trust.

The Association’s support included the repainting and glazing of the walls, new draperies, rugs, and chairs. The project was completed over three years with the painting and rugs beginning in 2012. The selection of American designers and materials by First Lady Michelle Obama and the Committee for the Preservation of the White House is prevalent in the final design.

Notably, the new chairs commissioned for the room are based on the twenty-four armchairs that President James Monroe acquired for the East Room in 1818 from cabinetmaker William King, Jr. of Georgetown, D.C. Two of the three original chairs in the White House collection are in the ground floor Library.

“Providing resources for the continued preservation and enhancement of the State and public rooms is central to the White House Historical Association mission,” said Association President Stewart D. McLaurin. “We are committed to supporting the vision of our founder Mrs. Kennedy, for the White House to showcase the best of American history, design, craftsmanship, and creativity.”

The State Dining Room was last refurbished in 1998 with the Association’s support.