Green Room, State room in White House, Washington, D.C., US
The Green Room is a state reception room on the first floor of the White House in Washington with green silk wall coverings and Federal-era furniture. The space has six doors and is lit by a large window facing the south side of the building, while a fireplace adorns the north wall.
President Monroe ordered its transformation into a card room in 1818 and had the walls covered with green fabric, giving the space its name. After the death of Willie Lincoln in 1862, his coffin lay in state here, turning the space into a site of personal grief within the official residence.
The name reflects the green silk wall coverings chosen in 1818 by President Monroe and still used today as the main decorative element. Paintings from the early 19th century hang on the walls, including works by American and European artists that guests can view during informal receptions.
This room is used for social gatherings before official dinners and smaller receptions held throughout the year. Visitors touring the White House should note that not all state rooms are accessible at all times, depending on the schedule of events at the residence.
In 1862, the coffin of Willie Lincoln, the president's son, was placed here while his mother Mary Todd Lincoln was too grief-stricken to enter the space. This episode connects the formal reception room to a moment of deep family tragedy during the Civil War.
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