For the first time in history, the Old Family Dining Room within the White House, a space deeply intertwined with the lives of American presidential families, has been unveiled for public viewing. This room, steeped in history and evolving design, offers a unique glimpse into the more intimate side of presidential life and the tradition of the “Dining Family” within the nation’s most famous residence.
A Room with a Rich History of Family Meals
Established in 1825 by President John Quincy Adams and his wife, this smaller dining room adjacent to the State Dining Room was intentionally designed as a place for the First Family to share meals. For 38 presidential families, it served as a central hub for daily life, functioning as the primary “breakfast room” until 1961. Notably, the Hoover administration officially designated it the “breakfast room” as they preferred the grand State Dining Room for formal dinners. Prior to the Kennedys, this room hosted all meals for the presidential family, solidifying its role as a vital space for the “dining family” within the White House. After First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy relocated the family’s dining to their private quarters upstairs, the Old Family Dining Room transitioned into a space for smaller official engagements, including working lunches with international heads of state, yet still retaining its essence as a room connected to the concept of “dining family” within the presidential context.
Take a step back in time to visualize the room’s ambiance as First Lady Kennedy first encountered it, showcasing red draperies from a 1952 renovation during the Truman administration.
The Kennedy Transformation and Evolution of Design
In 1963, Mrs. Kennedy spearheaded a redesign, infusing the room with a new aesthetic. She replaced the red draperies with gold ones and introduced a yellow color scheme, a signature look that would define the room for years to come. This transformation marked a significant stylistic shift, reflecting the evolving tastes and preferences of the “dining family” inhabiting the White House.
In the years following, while the First Family’s daily meals were enjoyed elsewhere, the Old Family Dining Room played a supporting role in White House events. It frequently served as a staging area for state dinners and provided overflow space for staff during large events in the State Dining Room. Despite these functional shifts, the room remained a silent witness to the ongoing history of the “dining family” within the White House. Now, for the first time, the public is granted access to this historically rich space.
A Modern Renaissance: Unveiling the Refurbished Dining Space
Today marks another significant chapter in the room’s history as the First Lady reveals its newly modernized design. This refurbishment, generously funded by the White House Historical Association, positions the Old Family Dining Room as a showcase of contemporary American art and design. The transformation includes a fresh gray wall color, newly installed gilded medal and glass wall sconces, and striking red draperies. These new draperies are a modern interpretation, drawing inspiration from the less formal red drapes chosen by Mrs. Kennedy in 1963, subtly echoing the room’s design history while embracing a contemporary feel. Adding to the artistic ambiance, a pictorial weaving titled “Black, White, and Gray” by Anni Albers has been adapted into a bespoke wool rug, grounding the space with texture and visual interest. The Philadelphia bookcase, a fixture on the south wall, now displays a curated collection of 20th-century American tableware, while the tea service from the 1939 World’s Fair is elegantly presented on the sideboard, bridging historical significance with modern display.
Further emphasizing the room’s new direction, four pieces of American abstract art, a genre favored by the current First Family, have been added to the White House’s permanent collection and installed within the dining room. These significant works include:
- North Wall: Resurrection by Alma Thomas (1891-1978)
- West Wall: Early Bloomer [Anagram (a Pun)] by Robert Rauschenberg (1925-2008)
- South Wall: Study for Homage to the Square: Asking by Josef Albers (1888-1976)
- South Wall: Homage to the Square by Josef Albers (1888-1976)
This unveiling not only opens a historical room to the public but also celebrates the ongoing evolution of the White House and its enduring connection to the concept of “dining family,” from its origins as a private family space to its current role as a blend of history, art, and official function.
William Allman is Curator of the White House.
