In 1799, the Yellow Room was the most expensively furnished guest bedchamber in the house.
The Yellow Room overlooked the Potomac River and was filled with a stately suite of carved mahogany furniture, draped in a vivid yellow damask.
Painted cream architectural moldings and mantel frame the space, while the yellow textiles and wallpaper distinguish it. Today, the Yellow Room holds the distinction of being the sole bedchamber that visitors actually enter, as they move from the central core of the Mansion into the Washingtons’ private living quarters.
The Washingtons’ Best Bedchamber
The Yellow Room incorporates changes from significant periods in the Washingtons’ lives, from when George Washington became the owner of Mount Vernon to decades later, when his status as gentleman, military hero, and national leader was fully established.
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Architectural Elements
In preparation for the Yellow Room’s partial restoration, the Architecture team performed thorough research and preliminary physical investigation of the room’s architecture, including the ceiling, floors, windows, framing, and woodwork.
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Paint and Wallpaper
In the 18th century, rooms were typically named after the color of their textiles, and the wall finishes were chosen to complement these. The name indicates that yellow defined the room’s textiles and wall finishes.
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Artwork
The 1800 inventory taken after George Washington’s death names four prints that hung in the Yellow Room. The prints, part of a collection of over 100 that Washington had amassed in Philadelphia, announced his emergence as a collector and a man of taste.
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Furnishings
The furniture suite centered on a grand yellow damask-draped bedstead accompanied by carved “Gothick” chairs and a serpentine dressing table. These furnishings made an impressive statement about the Washingtons, their wealth, and their participation in a British Atlantic world of consumer goods, design, and taste.
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What’s in a Name?
The Yellow Room is one of the few rooms in the Mansion to be mentioned by name in multiple contexts during the 18th and early 19th centuries.
Learn MoreThe Mansion, Room by Room
Throughout the Mansion's three floors are 21 beautifully interpreted rooms.
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