Ground Floor Corridor, John F. Kennedy Administration

This photograph of the repainted and lightly furnished Ground Floor Corridor was taken by Robert L. Knudsen on May 10, 1962, during the John F. Kennedy administration. The photograph shows the placement of sculptures and pier tables as well as Regency-style lighting fixtures donated by Henry du Pont. Like the Cross Hall connecting the rooms on the State Floor above, the Ground Floor Corridor provides access to the rooms on the lower level of the Executive Mansion, including the Diplomatic Reception Room, the China Room, the Vermeil Room, the Map Room, and the Library. Stretching between the East Wing and the West Wing, the Ground Floor Corridor was originally a dimly lit basement hallway, and the rooms along the corridor were service spaces. The arched ceiling vaults were intended to support the State Floor above, although they are now mainly decorative. During President Theodore Roosevelt's presidency, this hallway was transformed into a space for displaying artwork and china.