Committees back hand-knotted restoration of State Reception Room rug and related repairs

DES recapped the Oct. 5, 2025 vandalism that damaged the State Reception Room and its artifacts, then presented repair and replacement options for the 25.5-by-55.5-foot Mohawk rug and associated finishes. Jo Agan (DES) described the incident and subsequent work: the George Washington and Martin Luther King Jr. busts and the piano were repaired, but the rug, teak floor and drapery still require larger interventions.

Jo Agan described multiple repair and shipping approaches with distinct cost and risk profiles, noting conservation and shipping baseline estimates, lower-cost mover options that increase damage risk, and a hand-knotted loop pile restoration that most closely matches the original. "Repair with the hand knotted loop pile closest to original ... would be coming in at a $958,600," Agan said. The committees voted to adopt the recommended restoration package.

The motion adopted by SCC specified three elements: (1) repair the Mohawk rug using a hand-knotted loop pile closest to the original, (2) refinish the entire teak floor, and (3) repair the mohair drapery using original materials dyed to match. CDAC made and passed an identical recommendation. DES staff said the current remaining appropriation is approximately $291,000 after prior study costs and that final funding may depend on insurance decisions or a future legislative appropriation.

Committees emphasized the room's historic value and preservation standards while acknowledging the high cost of full restoration. DES indicated it can store the rug in climate-controlled conditions for 6–12 months while awaiting funding or insurance determinations.