Quincy House (U.S. Ambassador residence)
Encyclopedia
Quincy House is the official residence of the U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia
, and is located in Riyadh
.
between U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt
and King Abdul Aziz, the founder of the modern state of Saudi Arabia. The meeting occurred aboard the naval vessel USS Quincy
, operating on the Great Bitter Lake
, just outside the Suez Canal
, on February 14, 1945, and it was the first time the Saudi monarch left his native land.
There are many pictures and video of this historic meeting, which took place shortly before Roosevelt's death.
In 1995, to commemorate 50 years since the meeting occurred, then-U.S. Ambassador Ray Mabus
unveiled a detailed model of the meeting on the USS Quincy, paid for with private donations, and this model is still on display today at Quincy House.
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, and is located in Riyadh
Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
.
History
Quincy House is located in the Diplomatic Quarter, on the northest side of Riyadh, and is named in honor of an historic meeting that took place at the close of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
between U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
and King Abdul Aziz, the founder of the modern state of Saudi Arabia. The meeting occurred aboard the naval vessel USS Quincy
USS Quincy (CA-71)
USS Quincy , a Baltimore class heavy cruiser of the United States Navy. She was the third ship to carry the name.Quincy was authorized on 17 June 1940; laid down by the Bethlehem Steel Company, Shipbuilding Division, Quincy, Massachusetts as St...
, operating on the Great Bitter Lake
Great Bitter Lake
The Great Bitter Lake is a salt water lake between the north and south part of the Suez Canal. It is adjoined by the Small Bitter Lake . Before the Canal was built, their site was occupied by dry salt valleys. Together, the Bitter Lakes now have a surface area of about 250 km²...
, just outside the Suez Canal
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal , also known by the nickname "The Highway to India", is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Opened in November 1869 after 10 years of construction work, it allows water transportation between Europe and Asia without navigation...
, on February 14, 1945, and it was the first time the Saudi monarch left his native land.
There are many pictures and video of this historic meeting, which took place shortly before Roosevelt's death.
In 1995, to commemorate 50 years since the meeting occurred, then-U.S. Ambassador Ray Mabus
Ray Mabus
Raymond Edwin "Ray" Mabus, Jr. is the 75th United States Secretary of the Navy. Mabus served as the 60th Governor of the U.S...
unveiled a detailed model of the meeting on the USS Quincy, paid for with private donations, and this model is still on display today at Quincy House.