"Feeling Like a Dignitary Located on the 7th floor of the U.S. State Department, the 42-room Diplomatic Reception Room collection is used by the Secretary of State, Vice President, and Cabinet members to sign treaties, hold summit meetings, and entertain world leaders and dignitaries. Visitors can tour seven of the rooms, including the Franklin Dining Room, where the carpet is so large, it had to be brought in by crane. But the coolest part is viewing the incredible display of over 5,000 objects of early-American fine and decorative art from 1750 to 1825 such as an original Gilbert Stuart portrait of George Washington, the desk where Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, and John Jay signed the Treaty of Paris in 1783 ending the American Revolution, Thomas Jefferson's desk where he drafted the Declaration of Independence, and a silver bowl made by Revolutionary War patriot Paul Revere. Free tours are offered Monday-Friday at 9:30am, 10:30am, or 2:45pm. Call at (202) 647-3241 or reserve online at https://receptiontours.state.gov."
