The Parlor

May 21, 2021 Posted by: Sarah Weber & Paula Hale, Park Guides

This week's blog posting features the McLoughlin House's Parlor. In the 1850s, the Parlor was what we might today refer to as the front room or living room. In this space, any number of activities could take place, from reading and card games to gatherings like parties and dances. The McLoughlin family entertained company frequently in this space. To accommodate their guests, much of the furniture on the first floor of the home has parts that fold away or roll on wheels to create a larger entertaining space.

The Parlor of the McLoughlin House as it appeared in 2020. (NPS Photo)

The Parlor would have been the center of almost all of the McLoughlin family's activities. It also features a large portrait of Dr. McLoughlin above the mantle as the room's "centerpiece." Standing at 6'4", Dr. McLoughlin was known for his large stature and long white hair, which gained him a nickname among local tribes as "The White Headed Eagle."

The furniture in the Parlor has some fascinating features to it, such as the family sofa. Unlike modern day sofas, this one was made with horsehair that was woven into a material used to upholster the couch. While modern-day visitors aren't allowed to touch the couch itself, we offer a touchable sample of the horsehair upholstery. Check it out in the image below.



During the current rehabilitation project at the McLoughlin House, the Parlor will receive new period-appropriate carpet, wallpaper, and curtains. These room finishes were chosen to make sure that the Parlor remains as grand as it would have been in the 1850s, and to make sure that visitors to the McLoughlin House are still impressed by this important room. In the photo below, get a sneak peek into the new carpet that will be installed in the Parlor!

historicpreservation