West Sitting Hall

The West Sitting Hall is a private living room in the White House featuring a large lunette window on its west wall. The window frames views of the West Colonnade, West Wing, and the adjacent Old Executive Office Building.

The room was modified in 1869 when President Ulysses Grant added seating areas by the window. During the Truman reconstruction in the mid-20th century, solid partitions separated this space from the central hallway.

The room serves as an informal gathering place for the presidential family on the second floor. It offers a more relaxed setting compared to the formal reception areas elsewhere in the residence.

The room is located on the second floor and is accessed through the Center Hall from the east. This location provides a private retreat for the family away from the main circulation areas of the residence.

Architects during the Truman era removed the original open connection to the adjacent hallway. This transformation created a fully enclosed private space that differed markedly from the original open floor plan.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Part of: White House

GPS coordinates: 38.89760,-77.03740

Latest update: December 10, 2025 15:58