Treaty Room -- Historically speaking, the Treaty Room is perhaps the most important room in the house. The United States declared war on Britain in June 1812, thus entering into what’s today known as the War of 1812. After the White House was burned by British forces on August 24, 1814, President James and his wife Dolley Madison took up residence in the Octagon. James Madison used Tayloe’s study as his own. It was in this room he signed the Treaty of Ghent, ending the war officially on February 17, 1815. In the center of the room, you can see the table and chair used by President Madison to sign the Treaty of Ghent, the only treaty signed by the U.S. to never have been broken.
