#29: Spring Hill Ranch House Tour Stop 7: Dining Room and Sitting Room

History and description of the dining room and sitting room of the Spring Hill Ranch House at Tallgrass Prairie NPres

History and description of the dining room and sitting room of the Spring Hill Ranch House at Tallgrass Prairie NPres

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Historic Spring Hill Ranch House Dining Room and Sitting Room

The two rooms north of the back porch were the ranch house's original dining room and sitting room. A doorway to the north provided entry into the dining room from the outside. The sitting room located east of the dining room were where most evenings were spent when the parlors were not being used.

This room may have also become the primary household living room in the 20th century when the parlors downstairs were turned into storage rooms. The butler's pantry and the top of the staircase from the former downstairs kitchen are along the north wall. In the 1920s and 30s, the ranch house's kitchen was moved from downstairs into the butler's pantry. To make this possible, the butler's pantry was widened to accommodate a stove, refrigerator, and other modern appliances. A doorway was also added connecting the dining room to the sitting room/living room space.