National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Resource History and Description of Existing Conditions
soundproofing from noise on the service stairs. There should be another oak door hung on the
service stair side which was removed.
The carved and painted mantel with an inner grey marble surround is similar to those in
the third floor guest rooms.
The original paper from 1898 was an embossed green paper, remnants of which exist at
the site. This room does not seem to have been repapered in 1932 when the Red Rooms, Blue
Room, and Mauve Room were, but was redone in 1964 by the NPS with a printed green paper
that has no sympathy with the original paper. 815 The draperies were tapestry with a green moiré
border and were put in storage in 1951, the same year the woodwork was washed. 816
The Green Bedroom was furnished with a grey enamel bedroom suite comprised of a
full-size bed, a night stand, a dresser, a washstand, and two side chairs. In addition there was an
upholstered lounge and armchair, a round table, and a small green enamel Japanese-style writing
table. 817
Mrs. Van Alen removed the rug from this room in 1939 which was described in 1938 as a
dark blue and red Shiraz measuring four by five feet. 818
It is not known who used this room as a guest. As it is part of a suite with the Mauve
Room it may have been used by a child of a person staying in the Mauve Room.
This room is not currently visited on the tour of the mansion and is used as a storage
area. It retains much less integrity than other rooms because of the wallpaper that does not
resemble the original.
Stairway to the Third Floor
The stairway to the third floor has twisted balusters. There are two patterns of balusters
that are alternated in the two-one rhythm. These balusters recall the Colonial Revival style
widely used by McKim, Mead & White during the 1880s. Indeed there are nearly identical
balusters in the LeRoy King House in Newport, Rhode Island, built in 1884 to 1886. 819 It is easy
to see how the style of the balusters would have altered the appearance and effect of the opening
of the light well, seen both from the Second Floor, as well as from the Elliptical Hall and how
Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt could very well have disliked this retardataire Colonial Revival element
in an otherwise grand Beaux-Arts space.
815 Albert McClure, Monthly Report, March 1964.
816 Curry Inventory, 1938, 56. Albert McClure, Monthly Report, May 1951.
817 Curry Inventory, 1938, 56. Original muslin covers for furniture in collection. Craig Jessup suggested
putting this room on exhibit as if closed for the season with the muslin covers on the furniture. I think
that this would add an important layer to understanding the use of the house by the Vanderbilts over the
course of a year. Some of the side chairs retain their original upholstery, as does the chaise longue and
armchair.
818 Fred Traudt Report, Vanderbilt #46, 1939, Curry Inventory, 1938, 56.
819 See Sam White, 107.
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