Resolute desk

The Resolute desk is a partners desk made of oak timber in the Oval Office of the White House, United States. This piece features carved moldings and floral decorations, covered with red leather and fitted with storage compartments behind cabinet doors on both sides.

The HMS Resolute was an Arctic exploration ship that became trapped in ice and was later recovered, with its oak beams turned into furniture in London. Queen Victoria presented this desk to President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1880 as a gesture of friendship.

This diplomatic gift has become one of the most recognized objects in the White House, representing a bond between two nations that continues to this day. Visitors notice the brass plaque that tells the story of how a ship turned into furniture used by world leaders.

Weighing about 1,300 pounds (590 kilograms), the desk has been modified several times to accommodate presidents, including a plinth for extra legroom and panels for added functionality. Visitors typically see it only through official photographs or during rare White House tours, as the Oval Office remains largely off limits to the public.

Since Jimmy Carter took office in 1977, every president has worked at this desk, using it for decisions and conversations that shaped the country. A famous photograph shows John F. Kennedy Jr. as a toddler peeking through a panel below the desk while his father worked above him.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Inception: 1880

Made from material: oakwood, HMS Resolute

GPS coordinates: 38.89734,-77.03742

Latest update: December 12, 2025 19:33