December 29th, 2007 
Holly I have decided this week not to talk about any piece of furniture, but the resolute desks that sit in both the white house and in Bedford MA. If you have seen the movie National Treasure you have an idea of the history of these desk already.
Both the Resolute Desk and another desk were made from the English ship the H.M.S resolute. The resolute has a long interesting history itself. It was one of five ships to be sent to find a group of men who were looking for a northern pass to china. The ship was lost but the crew was sent back to England. Eventually the ship was found by an American man who brought it home. The US government refitted it at their expense and gave it back to Queen Victoria as a gift.
Once the ship was dismantled the Queen had two desks made Resolute Desk and the Grinnell Desk . One for her and one was given to US President Rutherford B. Hayes. This desk has been used by almost every president since it was given to Hayes. The desk was originally located in the presidents office but in 1902 the office was moved to the new west wing, the desk stayed in the presidents study. 
President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked that a panel carved with the presidential coat of arms be added to help hide his leg braces, but he did not live to see it done as it was added in 1945.
The desk was first used in the oval office by president John F. Kennedy after his wife Jackie found the desk. The resolute desk eventually became part of the Kennedy library and traveled in an exhibit from 1964-1965. It also was on display at the Smithsonian.
In 1977 Jimmy Carter requested the Resolute desk be returned to the oval office to be used once again but the desk moved again during President Bush Sr’s time in office as President Bush had it moved to his residence office. Bill Clinton moved it back to the oval office while he was president and it is still there today being used by President Barrack Obama.
If you would like your own resolute desk, there is a company that is recreating them called Victorian Replicas.
You can learn more about the resolute desk by watching this video. (Taken from the Victorian Replicas website)
History of the Resolute Desk from uk2sfo on Vimeo.
I would appreciate your thoughts on this post, why not comment?
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i had no idea a desk could have so much history!
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Wow! I had no idea that’s where the desk came from. Mahalo for filling me in! I’m here visiting for the Postie Carnival.
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This blog does not tell which president Roosevelt had the pannel instaled.
No, I did not say who the exact Roosevelt was, but I will now and thank you for pointing that out. It was Franklin D. Roosevelt. He asked for the panel to be placed there to hide his wheelchair.
Just think of the great conversations that have been spoken around this fantastic piece of furniture, I cant wait to buy one…..
A company in my home town of Thomaston, GA makes a replica of the Presidents Desk (Resolute Desk) authentic down to the screws. Makes me want to play Commander-in-Chief. They’re called Thomaston Furniture Designs @ http://www.thomastonfurnituredesigns.com
the second desk is in New Bedford, MA not London.
When I wrote that post back in December, the information I had stated the other desk was in London. I have now done more research and found some information stating otherwise and thank you for pointing that out.
an object of historic, although that table but keep an inestimable historical value
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[...] is not responsible for any misunderstanding.Recently it was pointed out to me on my post on the Resolute Desk that I wrote back in December that the other desk that was made from the HMS Resolute is located in [...]