The History of the Alexander Mansion > Alexander Mansion Interior Rooms > The Dining Room
Alexander Mansion Interior Rooms
The Dining Room
Beyond the French Room is the formal Dining Room. The stately space is framed in deep mahogany wainscoting that rises nearly six feet up the walls. A set of double pocket doors offers privacy when needed at the room’s entrance from both the Stair Hall and the French Room. A unique pair of leaded-glass casement windows sit atop the wood paneling in the northwest corner of the room. On the opposite side, a glass paneled door with a transom above opens to a side porch. Continuing to the far end of the room, a pair of leaded-glass French doors opens into an enclosed porch called the Solarium, offering glimpses of the garden beyond.
The chandelier overhead has its own story. In 1954, the original light fixture was moved to the Butler’s Pantry to make way for a large 19th-century Czechoslovakian crystal chandelier. The antique fixture remained for decades, becoming a hallmark of the room. However, in 2001, the ceiling above it gave way, and the chandelier tragically fell, breaking the dining table below. It was then replaced with the current crystal chandelier. Though not original to the house, the replacement continues the tradition of refinement and grace—and stands as a symbol of the care and continuity that Forum members have brought to the Mansion across generations.
Then and Now
This photo shows the Dining Room as it appeared in the 1920s. The ceiling features original plaster molding, and the original light fixture is an early 20th-century chandelier with a glass bowl suspended by chains. French doors line the back wall, allowing natural light into the space. The furniture includes a round dining table with matching chairs and a large sideboard. A decorative folding screen with floral designs stands in front of the curtains. The wallpaper has a damask pattern, typical of formal interiors from the period. A rug runs the length of the room, anchoring the furniture layout.
The Dining Room as photographed in 2024. The crystal chandelier is the 3rd light fixture to hang in this room. The original fixture was moved to the Butler’s pantry. The Dining Room retains its original wood paneling, leaded-glass transom windows, and French doors that open to the Solarium.
There is no fireplace in this room, but the architecture speaks for itself. The proportions are generous, the materials rich. Historic photos show patterned wallpaper and a coved ceiling once layered with even more texture and ornament. Today, the dining room still feels grand, yet intimate—a space well-suited for formal dinners, board meetings, afternoon teas, and cocktail parties.
Look Around and You Might Notice…
(Left) Hand carved mahogany wood wainscotting
(Center) Public address system speaker installed by the Dallas Woman’s Forum
(Right) Sconce lighting and leaded glass windows
