Washington Palace

Washington Palace is both the home of the Washington family as well as the administration center of the government. It was founded on the former Mount Vernon. The vast majority of the palace's 600+ rooms are offices and public spaces. The palace is said to be a confusing nest of galleries, hallways, and stairways and is always filled with people. Each generation of royalty has added on different parts of the palace to leave their mark.

The palace is white in color due to white sandstone bricks. Iron gates block off entrance to the palace and lead to a circle driveway, above which the Royal Standard flies when the sovereign is present. The palace is noted to have high arched windows. The Columbia House can be seen in the distance.

The private apartments are on the second floor and marked with oval handles on the doors instead of the round found in the rest of the palace.

Parts of the Palace
Marble Courtyard- below Star Chamber

Star Chamber- where cabinet meetings take place

2nd floor- where the private apartments are

Door of Sighs- royal family’s private entrance to the grand ballroom; nondescript door tucked into the downstairs hallway like an architect’s afterthought; named this bc generations princesses lingered there when they were too young to attend

Grand Ballroom- where the Queen’s Ball and other big events happen

Throne Room- connected to Grand Ballroom; domed ceiling painted with famous mural of King George I crossing the sky in a flying chariot done by Charles Wilson Peale; 4 pillars in the corners are also painted by him and represent the four pillars of American virtue: truth, justice, honor, and family; three massive thrones

King George’s Throne: central and largest, upholstered in red velvet with interlocking initials (GR- Georgius Rex) stitched in gold thread

Bride’s Room- downstairs sitting room across from ballroom; named for generations of royal brides who had used it to change into their wedding gowns; epitome of girliness (peach wallpaper hand-painted with delicate white flowers); very little furniture (small love seat and side table with a bowl of potpourri made from old bridal bouquets, massive trifold mirror)

Southeast Corner- what remains of the original Mount Vernon; small set of rooms that are low-ceilinged and out-dated; not used for official functions

Beatrice’s Suite- sitting room is beautiful but impersonal (antique furniture, enameled lamps, pale blue walls hung with demure watercolors; near the door to her bedroom is a serpentine desk littered with invitations and official documents); her closet has a deep bay window and an old window seat piled high with cushions)