the white house, three of five

Thursday, December 1, 2011

My favorite spaces are in the official "Residence" of the White House. For today, we'll start with the downstairs. The Diplomatic Room because I love the mural wallpaper, oh so beautiful. This is as it was in 1948, In 1963 (with fresh wallpaper) and 1995 as it remains today. If it isn't broken, don't fix it!

The China Room in 1954 and in 1995, personally I prefer the unpainted wood but that's just me.

Billiards Room turned Map Room as it was under Coolidge, again in 1979 similar to as it is today.
The Vermeil Room circa 1960 and again in 2008

The Library circa 1948, 1960 and 2006

I love to see utility spaces so here is the kitchen circa 1909, 1933, 1948 and 1992.

And lastly for today, for laughs, how many presidents can we photograph bowling? Bowling lanes were installed in ground floor of the West Wing as a birthday gift for President Truman in 1947. Truman didn't care for bowling, but allowed staff to start a league. The alley was moved to the main building in 1955. Photographed are President Truman circa 1948, Nixon circa 1970 and President Bush circa 2006 approx.

All photos via White House Museum
BCN said...

So fun, thanks for sharing! I also love the unpainted wood, and you really can't go back after that...