The Members' Dining Room
Historical Highlight
Blog Post
/tiles/non-collection/m/mdr_intro_harpers_restaurant.xml
About this object This print shows the noisy, convivial atmosphere of the Members' Dining Room in the late 19th century.
/tiles/non-collection/m/mdr_the_dining_room_bar.xml
About this object Before Prohibition led to its closure, Members frequently entertained guests at the bar at the Members' Dining Room.
/tiles/non-collection/m/mdr_proprietors_burelson_menu.xml
About this object This signed menu from 1948 was one visitor's souvenir from a lunch in the Dining Room with Member Omar Burleson.
Eventually, food service became more official moving to H117-120—including two dining rooms, a bar and dumbwaiters to ferry food from the basement level kitchen. The Members’ Dining Room continues to operate out the very same space, and has since 1858, when Speaker of the House James Orr directed that the space be used to provide “wholesome refreshments.”