Diplomatic Reception Rooms State Department Floor Plan

The department of state s diplomatic reception rooms are one of the greatest mirrors of america s remarkable cultural accomplishments in fine and decorative arts of the 18th and 19th centuries.

Diplomatic reception rooms state department floor plan.

The benjamin franklin state dining room before renovation the largest of the rooms was redesigned architecturally in the classical manner by john blatteau. In these state rooms the united states signs treaties conducts summit negotiations hosts swearing in ceremonies facilitates trade agreements and promotes peace. Gifts to the nation as written by clement e. Department of state constitute forty two principal rooms and offices where the secretary of state conducts the business of modern diplomacy.

Here visiting chiefs of state heads of government foreign ministers as well as other distinguished foreign and american guests are entertained. In 1961 when i accepted the challenge of building the collection of furnishings for the diplomatic reception rooms i never dreamed. Fine and decorative arts in the diplomatic reception rooms of the u s. For a description with illustrations of the diplomatic reception rooms see guidebook to diplomatic reception rooms department of state july 1975.

Conger 1912 2004 and published in treasures of state. Here visiting chiefs of state heads of government foreign ministers as well as other distinguished foreign and american guests are entertained. When the south wing of the state department first opened in 1875 it had three spectacular rooms designed to be showplaces for the department. Located on the seventh and eighth floors of the harry s truman building in washington d c the diplomatic reception rooms contain one of the nation s foremost museum collections of american fine and.

The largest of the diplomatic reception rooms was named after the father of the american foreign service benjamin franklin. Tours of the department of state diplomatic reception room have been cancelled until further notice. The diplomatic reception rooms at the u s. Today the secretary of state vice president and members of cabinet continue to conduct the essential business of diplomacy in the diplomatic reception rooms.

One of these was the office of the secretary of state located at the center of the second floor with three windows opening onto the south portico and a view. Also housed in the building besides the department of state are two agencies the arms control and disarmament agency and the agency for international development. Tours of the department of state diplomatic reception room have been cancelled until further notice.