The State Floor of the White House today, with its iconic Red, Blue, and Green Rooms, alongside the State Dining and East Rooms, presents a picture of defined spaces, each with a distinct color and purpose. However, this structured layout was not always the case. In the early days of the presidency, particularly during John Adams’s brief tenure, the rooms on this floor served different functions, reflecting the evolving needs and preferences of each president. While the term “John Adams Room 333” might not align with historical designations, understanding how Adams utilized the space that would later become part of the renowned Red Room offers a fascinating glimpse into the nascent days of the White House.
John Adams, the second president of the United States, resided in the White House for only a few months. During this time, he established his working office not on the State Floor, but rather on the Second Floor, a detail often overlooked in discussions of the White House’s iconic rooms. However, the State Floor was not without significance for Adams. He conducted his formal presidential receptions, known as levees, in what is now the State Dining Room, a grand space befitting such occasions. Interestingly, the room that we now recognize as the Red Room served a more intimate purpose for the Adams family. They repurposed this space as a family breakfast parlor, furnishing it with a mahogany table and chairs to create a comfortable and private dining area. This early use of the space contrasts sharply with its later formal designations and hints at the fluid nature of room assignments in the early White House.
Alt: The Red Room of the White House, showcasing its rich red decor, ornate furnishings, and historical significance as a parlor and reception room.
Following Adams’s departure, his successor, Thomas Jefferson, significantly altered the function of these State Floor rooms, marking a shift in presidential style and priorities. Jefferson, known for his more informal approach to the presidency, transformed the State Dining Room, previously used by Adams for levees, into his personal office and library. This change reflected Jefferson’s preference for a less formal and more scholarly environment. The room that Adams had used as a breakfast parlor, now known as the Red Room, was designated as an “antechamber” by architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe. It functioned as a waiting room for visitors seeking to meet with President Jefferson in his office. This repurposing highlights the adaptability of the White House spaces and how each president shaped the building to suit their individual needs and political philosophies.
The evolution of this “antechamber” continued under James Madison’s presidency. First Lady Dolley Madison, renowned for her vibrant personality and social gatherings, significantly transformed the room’s ambiance. She adorned the walls with a bright sunflower yellow color, a departure from the earlier, more subdued tones. Dolley Madison’s influence extended beyond mere decoration; her famed Wednesday night receptions, held in this room, became a central part of Washington social life. The room, now often referred to as “Dolley’s salon” or the “yellow drawing room” by Washington socialites, transitioned into a social hub, a far cry from its initial use as a breakfast parlor or a simple waiting area. This period underscores the growing social function of the State Floor and the increasing prominence of the First Lady in shaping the White House’s character.
Alt: Portrait of Dolley Madison, the First Lady known for transforming the White House antechamber into a vibrant yellow salon and social hub during her husband’s presidency.
Over subsequent presidencies, the room generally maintained its function as a parlor or receiving room, a space for both formal and informal gatherings. A significant addition to the room’s décor during James Monroe’s administration was the placement of the iconic full-length Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington. This portrait, a symbol of American history and leadership, lent the room a sense of gravitas and historical significance. As a result, visitors sometimes referred to the space as the “Washington parlor,” further illustrating the evolving identity of the room and its connection to key figures in American history.
The name “Red Room” finally emerged during James K. Polk’s presidency, marking a definitive shift in the room’s identity and color scheme. President Polk enlisted the expertise of William W. Corcoran, a wealthy Washington D.C. banker and art collector, to assist First Lady Sarah Polk in redecorating the White House. Corcoran, with his keen eye for aesthetics and knowledge of contemporary design trends, played a crucial role in transforming the room. Traveling to New York, he carefully selected red velvet curtains, along with rocking chairs, ottomans, armchairs, and lounges in varying shades of green and red. This furniture suite, crafted by New York cabinetmakers John and Joseph W. Meeks in the Louis XV style, included rosewood armchairs, two couches, and ten chairs, all upholstered in rich crimson plush. Significantly, Sarah Polk meticulously approved every detail, from designs to fabric types, before any purchase was finalized, highlighting her active role in the redecoration process.
Alt: Portrait of Sarah Polk, the First Lady who oversaw the redecoration of the White House room, leading to its transformation into the iconic Red Room with crimson furnishings.
By late 1845, these new furnishings were delivered to the White House, and the transformation was immediately noticeable. Elizabeth Dixon, wife of Congressman James Dixon, described the revamped room as the “Receiving or Red Room” after attending a White House dinner in December 1845, noting its “warm and comfortable” atmosphere. A reporter in the summer of 1846 for Dwight’s American Magazine further detailed the “crimson silk hangings…chairs of antique patterns, and ottomans, and couches of the richest coverings.” Although this writer referred to it as “a square room” within “a suite of apartments devoted to the reception of visitors,” the description clearly points to the emergence of the Red Room as a distinct space. Despite these detailed accounts, visual depictions of the Polk-era Red Room are scarce, making recent computer-generated images based on these descriptions invaluable for visualizing this historical transformation.
An account from a New Year’s Day reception at the Polk White House in 1849 provides further evidence of the name’s growing recognition. A visitor, waiting in line to greet the President and First Lady, described passing through the Entrance Hall and entering “what I believe is called the ‘Red Room.’” This anecdotal evidence suggests that while the name was becoming known, it was still relatively new and not yet universally established. The reception line then continued into the Blue Room, where President and Mrs. Polk greeted thousands of guests.
It took time for the moniker “Red Room” to fully solidify in popular usage. However, as more individuals experienced the Red Room in the White House, the name gradually gained traction. A pivotal moment in solidifying the name was Rutherford B. Hayes’s presidential oath of office, administered in the “Red Room” in 1877 at the request of outgoing President Ulysses S. Grant. Following this event, references to the “Red Room” in accounts of White House receptions became increasingly frequent. Later redecorations, notably by Louis Comfort Tiffany in 1882 and Charles McKim in 1902, further cemented the room’s identity and ensured that it would retain its crimson moniker.
In the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, the Red Room has remained a fixture of the White House State Floor. While furnishings, décor, and even wall coverings have changed across administrations, the room’s defining red color has persisted, representing a rich tradition and a consistent visual identity. Although “john adams room 333” may not be a historically accurate designation, understanding the early uses of this space during Adams’s presidency provides valuable context for appreciating the Red Room’s evolution and its enduring place in the White House narrative. From a family breakfast parlor to a formal reception space, the room now known as the Red Room embodies the dynamic history of the White House and the presidents who have shaped its spaces.
