In honor of President’s Day, here are some fun facts about the Resolute Desk – one of the most famous and widely photographed desks in the world.

 

Fact #1: The Resolute Desk was located by First Lady Jackie Kennedy in the basement of the West Wing. It was heavy, stately and covered in dusty tarps.

 

Fact #2: The desk was made from wood of a British Royal Navy ship – the HMS Resolute, originally designed for Arctic exploration.

 

Fact #3: The HMS Resolute was trapped in ice before being located and extracted by an American whaler. It was later refurbished and returned to Great Britain as a peace offering for a territorial dispute.

 

Fact #4: Once the HMS Resolute was no longer seaworthy, Queen Victoria ordered three desks to be made from its wood. One large desk for President Hayes in America and two smaller writing desks to stay in Great Britain.

 

Fact #5: Every President from Hayes to Kennedy used the Resolute Desk in the private study. Eisenhower moved it the ground floor.

 

 

Fact #6: FDR altered the desk to include a hinged front panel (today this would be called a modesty panel) to cover the knee hole. The panel featured a Presidential seal.

 

Fact #7: The Resolute Desk spent some time in The Smithsonian during the Johnson presidency, after being seen in 27 cities as a traveling exhibit honoring JFK.

 

Fact #8: There are many replicas of the Resolute Desk, most painstakingly crafted from precise measurements and countless photos.

 

Fact #9: In 2015, SkyMall sold scale model replicas of the desk for $5,499 and in 2020, a full scale replica was auctioned for over $40,000.

 

Fact #10: The Resolute Desk has been used by Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

 

Fact #11: The desk measurements are: 32.5 inches wide by 72 inches long by 48 inches deep.

 

While this type of desk isn’t in our inventory, we do have a variety of beautiful options that will make you feel like a President. Visit our Denver showroom at 3860 Revere Street – Suite A in Denver to see some of the many options we offer. We have a huge selection of shapes, sizes and colors — all at budget-friendly prices. And yes, we’re open on President’s Day.